Welcome to the California Department of Consumer Affairs

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About DCA

More About the Department of Consumer Affairs

DCA At A Glance  The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is here to protect and serve California consumers while ensuring a competent and fair marketplace. DCA helps consumers learn how to protect themselves from unscrupulous and unqualified individuals. The Department also protects professionals from unfair competition by unlicensedpractitioners.

DCA Today   To protect and serve consumers, the Department issues licenses in more than 100 business and 200 professional categories, including doctors, dentists, contractors, cosmetologists and automotive repair facilities. The Department of Consumer Affairs includes 40 regulatory entities (nine bureaus, one program, twenty-five boards, three committees, one commission, and one office). These entities establish minimum qualifications and levels of competency for licensure. They also license, register, or certify practitioners, investigate complaints and discipline violators. The committees, commission and boards are semiautonomous bodies whose members are appointed by the Governor and the Legislature. DCA provides them administrative support. DCA's operations are funded exclusively by license fees.

DCA Past   One of the California Legislature's earliest efforts to protect the public was through the passage of the Medical Practice Act in 1876. The Act was designed to regulate the state's medical industry, which up to that time had operated virtually unchecked. Over the next thirty years, the state regulated more professions. By the late 1920s, 10 state boards were in existence under the Department of Vocational and Professional Standards. The Department licensed or certified accountants, architects, barbers, cosmetologists, dentists, embalmers, optometrists, pharmacists, physicians and veterinarians. The Consumer Affairs Act of 1970 gave the Department its current name.

DCA Tomorrow   The Department of Consumer Affairs is dedicated to enhancing individual consumer access to services and resources. The Department will expand its role as a primary resource on consumer issues. To help fulfill its mission of promoting and protecting the interests of consumers, DCA will continue to build and maintain effective relationships with:

  • consumer and public interest groups
  • the business and professional community
  • law enforcement agencies
  • other government agencies

To keep pace with advances in technology and the marketplace, the Department will continue to develop responsive, effective and innovative services. The California Legislature conducts an ongoing evaluation and review of the Department's regulatory entities to determine which of them should be retained, which ones should be "sunsetted" out of existence, and which ones should become part of the Department.

California Department of Consumer Affairs Mission, Vision and Values

Our Mission:
To protect and serve consumers while ensuring a competent and fair marketplace.

Our Vision:
To be the recognized leader in providing innovative services that educate and empower consumers to make informed decisions. Consumers, licensees and businesses will have a safe, fair, and competitive marketplace.

Our Values:
As a government agency dedicated to protecting consumers and regulating a variety of professions, occupations and businesses, the success and effectiveness of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) depends on:

  • Serving our stakeholders with committed, knowledgeable, well-trained employees.
  • Providing prompt and fair investigation and adjudication of violations of law.
  • Educating consumers so they are capable of making informed decisions in a complex and changing marketplace.
  • Licensing applicants to ensure job markets are easily accessible.
  • Creating productive partnerships with consumers, licensees, and businesses.
  • Developing automation systems that provide efficient and effective support to consumers, DCA employees, licensees, and businesses.
  • Improving consumer access to critical health and safety information and educate them on the health benefits of clean air.

Major DCA Functions Licensing, Education, Enforcement, Consumer Hotline, Mediation, Smog Check, Where can I get more information?