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How the Georgia Board of Examiners of Psychologists handles complaints against psychologists

5 min read · Updated July 2026

A complaint to the Georgia Board of Examiners of Psychologists can feel like a judgment on your career, but it is the start of a defined, statute-driven process — and most complaints never result in formal discipline. This guide explains who regulates psychologists in Georgia, who can file a complaint and on what grounds, how the Board investigates and resolves cases, the confidentiality protections that apply, and the penalties available, so you understand the pathway before you respond.

Who regulates psychologist complaints in Georgia?

In Georgia, psychologists are licensed and disciplined by the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists — a six-member board (five psychologists and one consumer member) that receives, investigates, and adjudicates complaints. The Board is attached to the Secretary of State's Professional Licensing Boards Division, whose investigators carry out the fact-finding.

The framework is O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 39 — the psychology licensing law, with the disciplinary provisions in § 43-39-13 — together with the general licensing statute, § 43-1-19. The Board's rules, including a Code of Conduct that draws on the APA ethical principles, sit at Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 510.

Who can file a complaint against a Georgia psychologist?

Almost anyone can file a complaint with the Board — clients and their families most commonly, but also colleagues, employers, other agencies, and courts. The Board also acts on information such as a felony conviction or disciplinary action taken against a psychologist in another state.

Georgia's rules also impose self-reporting duties: a psychologist must report certain matters to the Board, generally within 30 days. Because many cases begin from these sources rather than a client complaint, sound records and clear professional practice are a psychologist's best protection long before any complaint is filed.

What conduct can lead to a complaint?

Section 43-39-13 lists grounds specific to psychologists — fraud or deception in obtaining a license, a felony conviction, practising under a false name, habitual intemperance that incapacitates practice, and negligence or wrongful actions in the performance of one's duties — and it also incorporates the general grounds in § 43-1-19(a).

In day-to-day practice, the most common allegations concern boundary violations and multiple relationships, breaches of confidentiality, failure to obtain informed consent, practising outside one's competence, and impairment — each measured against the Code of Conduct in Chapter 510.

What happens after a complaint is filed?

The Division reviews the complaint and, where warranted, investigates. Investigators may examine records relating to a licensee's fitness, and the Division Director may issue subpoenas where there are reasonable grounds to believe a violation may have occurred. An Assistant Attorney General advises the Board as the case develops.

The Board then decides how to proceed. Minor or technical matters may close with no action or a letter of concern; others may be resolved by a consent order; and serious cases may be referred to the Attorney General for a formal hearing. The complainant is notified of the action taken and may ask about the status of a pending complaint.

Are complaints against Georgia psychologists confidential?

To a significant degree, yes — while the matter is pending. The investigative files the Board and Division compile are treated as confidential under Georgia law, and the Board deliberates on complaints in executive session.

The position changes once the Board acts publicly. A public consent order or a final disciplinary order is a public record. Some lesser matters are resolved by a private consent order, which is not public. So the investigation is confidential, but a public disciplinary outcome is not.

What outcomes can the Board reach?

The Board's options run from closing the case or issuing a letter of concern, through a negotiated consent order — private or public — up to a formal disciplinary order after a hearing. Its sanctions include a reprimand, a fine of up to $500 for each violation, recovery of the Board's investigative and legal costs, probation with conditions, restriction or suspension of the license, and, in the most serious cases, revocation.

Most complaints resolve well short of revocation. Many close or are dealt with by a letter of concern or a consent order that includes required education — particularly where the psychologist engages professionally and shows insight.

What should you do if a complaint is filed?

Take it seriously from the outset. Note any deadline, and do not contact the person you believe complained. Do not alter or add to your records; changes are readily detected and turn a defensible case into a serious one. Notify your malpractice carrier, as many policies fund license-defense counsel, and retain an attorney experienced in Georgia Board matters before you respond.

Beyond the immediate response, the psychologists who fare best can show insight and, where appropriate, remediation — evidence that they have reflected on the issue and taken concrete steps to prevent recurrence. Building that record early consistently strengthens your position.

This article is general information for psychologists, not legal advice. Regulatory processes change and every case turns on its own facts — confirm current requirements with the Georgia State Board of Examiners of Psychologists and your own attorney before acting.