What provides the legal framework for disciplinary actions within a profession?

The legal framework for disciplinary actions within a profession is primarily established by the statutes and rules governing the licensing board. These statutes and rules outline the specific conduct expected from licensed professionals, define violations, and prescribe the consequences for such violations. They serve as the authoritative source for disciplinary measures, ensuring that all actions taken against professionals are grounded in law and due process.

While professional ethics codes contribute to the standards of practice and can influence disciplinary action, they are not legal documents and lack the enforceability that statutes and rules have. Continual assessment exams and state educational regulations, although important for maintaining professional standards and educational requirements, do not directly provide a framework for administering disciplinary actions. Thus, the statutes and rules stand out as the foundational legal source for guiding the actions taken by licensing boards against practitioners.