Office of Administrative Hearings

The mission of the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) is to conduct fair, impartial and timely hearings for the professions and occupations regulated by the New York Department of State.  The OAH is mandated by law to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public, and to safeguard the due process rights of current licensees and applicants for licensure.

We conduct hearings and issue decisions for current licensees and applicants for licensure.

We serve professions and occupations regulated by the New York Department of State and the general public.

An Administrative Law Judge at the New York State Department of State's Office of Administrative Hearings is an impartial judicial officer who presides over hearings concerning professional licensing issues. They are responsible for conducting hearings for various professions to determine whether an applicant is qualified for a professional license or decide whether a current licensee has engaged in conduct that warrants disciplinary action, which could include fines, revoking or suspending a license.  At the conclusion of a hearing, the judge will issue a written decision, based on their findings of fact and conclusions of law.