The California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is a department under the California State and Consumer Services Agency. DCA's stated mission is to serve the interests of California's consumers by ensuring a standard of professionalism in key industries and promoting informed consumer practices. The department provides the public with information on safe consumer practices, in an effort to protect the public from unscrupulous or unqualified people who promote deceptive products or services.
DCA licenses or certifies practitioners in more than 255 professions. Currently, there are over 2.4 million practitioners licensed by the DCA. The Department consists of more than 40 bureaus, boards, committees, commission, and other entities that license and regulate practitioners. Regulatory duties include investigating complaints against licensees and disciplining violators. Boards, committees, and one commission operate independently but rely on DCA for administrative support. Fees paid by these licensees fund DCA operations almost exclusively. Bureaus, programs, divisions, and offices are under the full control of DCA.
Consumer Support
DCA provides the public with live telephone assistance in more than 170 languages for consumer-related questions and concerns. The Department publishes a number of publications on consumer-related issues, the most popular being the California Tenants Guide. Publications are free to the public and are made available on the department's website.
DCA's enforcement staff works with the Office of the Attorney General of California and local district attorneys to investigate fraudlent activity in the marketplace. Many investigations are initiated as a result of complaints from consumers.
DCA has a Complaint Resolution Program to help resolve disputes between consumers and businesses.
History
Consumer protection in California began with the passage of the Medical Practice Act of 1876. The Act was designed to regulate the State's medical professionals, who up to that point had operated virtually unchecked. Additional professions and vocations were brought under State authority in the next 30 years. By the late 1920s, the Department of Vocational and Professional Standards was responsible for licensing or certifying accountants, barbers, cosmetologists, dentists, embalmers, optometrists, pharmacists, physicians, and veterinarians. The Consumer Affairs Act was passed in 1970, giving the Department its current name.
DCA regulates many fields, including: medicine, dentistry, podiatry, physical therapy, psychology, osteopathy, acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, occupational therapy, pharmacy, registered nursing, vocational nursing, respiratory therapy, optometry, speech-language pathology, audiology, veterinary medicine, architecture, landscape architecture, accountancy, boxing, martial arts, automotive repair, barbering, cosmetology, social work, family therapy, educational psychology, geology, geophysics, guide dog training, engineering, surveying, pest control, electronic and appliance repair, professional fiduciaries, psychiatric technicians, hearing aid dispensers, private investigators, security guards, court reporters, funeral homes, and cemeteries.
DCA is a department under the California State and Consumer Services Agency.
Read more about California Department Of Consumer Affairs: List of Bureaus, Boards, and Commissions
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