State Disciplines Local Unlicensed Professionals in April

The Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs has taken disciplinary actions against 131 licensed or commissioned professionals and organizations in April including three unlicensed individuals in Bucks County.

According to a release, the bureau’s 29 boards and commissions license and oversee more than 780,000 active professionals and businesses, including a range of occupations in health and business-related fields.

Violations of the law or state regulations may result in disciplinary actions of civil penalties and the suspension or revocation of a license.

Local sanctions in April included:

• Board of Accountancy:  William Champion, unlicensed, of Bensalem, was assessed a $2,000 civil penalty for issuing a review report of financial statements without being a licensed certified public accountant or licensed public accountant.
• Board of Landscape Architects: Robert Gasper, unlicensed, of Richboro, was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $8,800; cease and desist from using any word or title that would convey to the public that he or his company could provide landscape architect services; and destroy, recall or publically correct any materials, statements, electronic media or any other device or publications that convey any impression to the public that he or his company are landscape architects because he affixed a word or title that held himself out, implied, offered to, or actually engaged in the practice of landscape architecture without being licensed.
• Board of Veterinary Medicine: Susan M. Donnelly, unlicensed, of Doylestown, had her application for licensure as a certified veterinary technician denied based on findings that she may be unable to safely practice due to alcoholism or drug addiction.

Anyone who suspects unlicensed activity by an individual or facility, or who has been a victim of unethical treatment, can file a complaint either online or through the bureau’s hotline at (800) 822-2113.