If you’re a licensed professional in North Carolina under investigation by your licensing board, one of your first questions is likely: “How long will this take?” The honest answer is that it depends. Some investigations are resolved within a few weeks; others can take months or even years before a board reaches a decision.

A summary suspension is one of the most drastic measures a North Carolina licensing board can take. It allows the board to immediately suspend a professional’s license—often at the very beginning of an investigation—sometimes based only on the allegations in the initial complaint.

If you’ve gone through the entire disciplinary process with your licensing board and exhausted all administrative remedies, North Carolina law (N.C. Gen. Stat. §150B, Article 4) allows you to appeal the board’s final decision to Superior Court. However, time is of the essence.

If you’re a licensed professional in North Carolina and receive a complaint from your licensing board, it can be tempting to ignore it—especially if you believe the allegations are unfounded. This is a critical mistake.