The Act requires the department to promulgate rules establishing uniform procedures for administrative warnings. Complaints are screened by several board members and the supervisor of the DOE prosecutors and the supervisor of the DOE investigators. The complaint screening process results in a decision to open or not open a complaint for investigation. Sometimes additional information is requested of the complainant at this stage of the process. Most boards are now moving toward screening complaints at least once a month.
Teams consist of prosecutors, investigators, legal assistants and, in some cases, auditors.
A specific prosecutor and investigator is assigned to the case and the investigator commences an investigation as soon as possible. The investigation generally includes corresponding with the complainant, the credential holder and other people with relevant information. Documents are reviewed and the investigator often interviews people to obtain more information. A board member is assigned to the case as an advisor. The board member offers suggestions to the investigator and, after the investigation is concluded, the advisor recommends that the case be closed for a certain specified reason or that the case proceed to possible disciplinary action.