The Oregon Board of Psychologist Examiners (OBPE) has 120 days from the time you contact the Board’s office to investigate your complaint and take an action. Once you contact the OBPE, it will create a file and assign your complaint to a Board Member investigator. While it is not mandatory to file your complaint in writing or on the OBPE’s form, it does ensure that the OBPE receives enough basic information to complete a proper investigation. The OBPE encourages you to use its form to expedite this process.

During the 120 days, the OBPE’s investigator will collect evidence and interview witnesses, in preparation for a final report to the OBPE with a recommendation for further action. The investigator’s report to the OBPE will describe the evidence gathered, the results of witness interviews and any other information considered in the report’s preparation. The investigator makes the report in the OBPE’s Executive Session of its regularly scheduled meeting. Executive Sessions are not open to the public.

Oregon law requires the OBPE to keep all of the information gathered during the investigation and the report’s contents confidential. This means that while your complaint is under investigation, the investigator will not give you any information regarding the course of the investigation. The investigator must also protect any details permitting the identification of either you or the licensee, except where necessary to complete a thorough investigation.

The investigator may request that the OBPE extend the 120 day period in 30 day increments for good cause. Good cause may occur when the investigator does not receive documentation in a timely manner, if necessary witnesses are unavailable, or for other reasons that make extra time necessary. You can assist the investigator in making a timely report by making your self available to answer questions, and by providing requested information promptly.

When the investigator reports to the OBPE, the investigator may recommend an appropriate sanction due to violation of the OBPE’s statutes, administrative rules, or the ethical principles of psychology; or the investigator may recommend that the Board dismiss the complaint because there was no evidence of a violation, or, the investigator does not find sufficient proof of a violation to justify a sanction.

The Board’s actions in regard to your complaint only become a public record when a majority of the Board votes to issue a notice of disciplinary sanction, a final order resulting from a notice of disciplinary action, a consent order, or a stipulated agreement that involves the licensees conduct. These documents will all contain a factual summary of the basis for the Board’s disposition of the matter.

For the Board to complete a thorough investigation, your caregiver needs to receive specific permission from you, to discuss your care with the Board.   You may be asked to sign a release of information that will allow your caregiver to provide the Board with necessary information.