Iowa Code » Chapter 272C — REGULATION OF LICENSED PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 272C.6 (2026)

Hearings — power of subpoena — decisions

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. Disciplinary hearings held pursuant to this chapter shall be heard by the board sitting as the hearing panel, or by an administrative law judge, or by a panel of not less than three board members who are licensed in the profession, or by a panel of not less than three members appointed pursuant to subsection 2. Notwithstanding chapters 17A and 21 a disciplinary hearing shall be open to the public at the discretion of the licensee.

2. When, in the opinion of a majority of the board, it is desirable to obtain specialists within an area of practice of a profession when holding disciplinary hearings, a licensing board may appoint licensees not having a conflict of interest to make findings of fact and to report to the board. Such findings shall not include any recommendation for or against licensee discipline.

3. a. The presiding officer of a hearing panel may issue subpoenas pursuant to rules of the board on behalf of the board or on behalf of the licensee. A licensee may have subpoenas issued on the licensee’s behalf.

(1) A subpoena issued under the authority of a licensing board may compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of professional records, books, papers, correspondence\n\nTue Dec 09 22:18:08 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 272C (41, 0) §272C.6, REGULATION OF LICENSED PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS 8\n\nand other records, whether or not privileged or confidential under law, which are deemed necessary as evidence in connection with a disciplinary proceeding.

(2) Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to enable a licensing board to compel an attorney of the licensee, or stenographer or confidential clerk of the attorney, to disclose any information when privileged against disclosure by section 622.10.

(3) In the event of a refusal to obey a subpoena, the licensing board may petition the district court for its enforcement. Upon proper showing, the district court shall order the person to obey the subpoena, and if the person fails to obey the order of the court the person may be found guilty of contempt of court.

b. The presiding officer of a hearing panel may also administer oaths and affirmations, take or order that depositions be taken, and pursuant to rules of the board, grant immunity to a witness from disciplinary proceedings initiated either by the board or by other state agencies which might otherwise result from the testimony to be given by the witness to the panel.

4. a. In order to assure a free flow of information for accomplishing the purposes of this section, and notwithstanding section 622.10, all complaint files, investigation files, other investigation reports, and other investigative information in the possession of a licensing board or peer review committee acting under the authority of a licensing board or its employees or agents which relates to licensee discipline are privileged and confidential, and are not subject to discovery, subpoena, or other means of legal compulsion for their release to a person other than the licensee and the boards, their employees and agents involved in licensee discipline, and are not admissible in evidence in a judicial or administrative proceeding other than the proceeding involving licensee discipline. However, investigative information in the possession of a licensing board or its employees or agents which relates to licensee discipline may be disclosed to appropriate licensing authorities within this state, the appropriate licensing authority in another state, the coordinated licensure information system provided for in the nurse licensure compact contained in section 152E.1 or the advanced practice registered nurse compact contained in section 152E.3, the District of Columbia, or a territory or country in which the licensee is licensed or has applied for a license. If the investigative information in the possession of a licensing board or its employees or agents indicates a crime has been committed, the information shall be reported to the proper law enforcement agency. However, a final written decision and finding of fact of a licensing board in a disciplinary proceeding, including a decision referred to in section 272C.3, subsection 4, is a public record.

b. Pursuant to the provisions of section 17A.19, subsection 6, a licensing board upon an appeal by the licensee of the decision by the licensing board, shall transmit the entire record of the contested case to the reviewing court.

c. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 17A.19, subsection 6, if a waiver of privilege has been involuntary and evidence has been received at a disciplinary hearing, the court shall order withheld the identity of the individual whose privilege was waived.

5. Licensee discipline shall not be imposed except upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the licensing board.

6. a. A board created pursuant to chapter 147, 154A, 155, 169, 542, 542B, 543B, 543D, 544A, or 544B may charge a fee not to exceed seventy-five dollars for conducting a disciplinary hearing pursuant to this chapter which results in disciplinary action taken against the licensee by the board, and in addition to the fee, may recover from a licensee the costs for the following procedures and associated personnel:

(1) Transcript.

(2) Witness fees and expenses.

(3) Depositions.

(4) Medical examination fees incurred relating to a person licensed under chapter 147, 154A, 155, or 169.

b. The department of agriculture and land stewardship, the department of insurance and financial services, the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing, and the department of health and human services shall each adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A which provide for the allocation of fees and costs collected pursuant to this section to the board under its\n\nTue Dec 09 22:18:08 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 272C (41, 0) 9 REGULATION OF LICENSED PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS, §272C.9\n\njurisdiction collecting the fees and costs. The fees and costs shall be considered appropriated receipts as defined in section 8.2. [C79, 81, §258A.6; 82 Acts, ch 1005, §8] 86 Acts, ch 1211, §15; 92 Acts, ch 1125, §1 C93, §272C.6 2000 Acts, ch 1008, §13; 2001 Acts, ch 55, §29, 38; 2005 Acts, ch 53, §10; 2010 Acts, ch 1061, §94; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1030; 2024 Acts, ch 1170, §65; 2024 Acts, ch 1185, §164 Referred to in §10A.506, 105.23, 139A.22, 147.135, 147A.23, 148.2A, 148.7, 153.36, 155A.39, 155A.40, 155A.45, 156.16, 203.16, 203C.24, 272C.3, 272C.7, 542.11, 543D.21, 543E.18, 543E.20, 602.3205 Board of medicine procedure for licensee discipline, see §148.7 \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1993–2025 · leading case: McMaster v. Iowa Bd. of Psychology Examiners, 509 N.W.2d 754 (Iowa 1993).
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McMaster v. Iowa Bd. of Psychology Examiners, 509 N.W.2d 754 (Iowa 1993). · cites it 2× “" (currently codified at Iowa Code § 272C.6 (1993)). That section provides subpoena powers to licensing boards authorized to perform various functions set out by the legislature under a general regulation chapter called "Continuing Education and Regulations—Professional and…”
Citizens' Aide/Ombudsman v. Miller, 543 N.W.2d 899 (Iowa 1996). · cites it 2× “” Iowa Code § 272C.6(3). The release of information obtained by a licensing board during the course of an investigation is limited: In order to assure a free flow of information for accomplishing the purposes of this section, and notwithstanding section 622.”
Portz v. Iowa Bd. of Med. Examiners, 563 N.W.2d 592 (Iowa 1997). · cites it 3× “See Iowa Code § 272C.6(3); Iowa Admin. Code r.”
Doe v. Iowa Bd. of Med. Examiners, 733 N.W.2d 705 (Iowa 2007). “It is this first exception that is at issue in the present case. Doe argues, relying on our holding in Physical Therapy, that section 272C.”
In Re Inquiry Concerning Stigler, 607 N.W.2d 699 (Iowa 2000). “6 (contemplates discovery by both the complainant and respondent in attorney disciplinary proceedings); Iowa Code § 272C.6(4) (recognizes right of other professional licensees to discovery in disciplinary proceedings).”
Miller v. Bd. of Med. Examiners, 609 N.W.2d 478 (Iowa 2000). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 272C.6(4). In Doe, this court interpreted section 242C.”
Domenico Calcaterra v. Iowa Bd. of Med. (Iowa 2021). · cites it 2× “See Iowa Code § 272C.6(4).” The Board suggests that once the investigation is completed and the disciplinary case is brought, such information can be released so long as patient identity is protected.”
Domenico Calcaterra v. Iowa Bd. of Med. (Iowa 2021). · cites it 2× “See Iowa Code § 272C.6(4).” The Board suggests that once the investigation is completed and the disciplinary case is brought, such information can be released so long as patient identity is protected.”
Shock v. Kettman (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). “Kettman and his clinic moved for summary judgment on three grounds, arguing the alleged defamatory statements were (1) “statutorily privileged, confidential, and inadmissible” under Iowa Code § 272C.6(4)(a) (2017);3 (2) nonactionable opinion; and (3) protected from liability by…”
John Doe Vs. Iowa Bd. Of Med. Examiners (Iowa 2007). “Doe argues, relying on our holding in Physical Therapy, that section 272C.”
— Iowa Code § 272C.6(3) — 2 cases
Citizens' Aide/Ombudsman v. Miller, 543 N.W.2d 899 (Iowa 1996). “” Iowa Code § 272C.6(3). The release of information obtained by a licensing board during the course of an investigation is limited: In order to assure a free flow of information for accomplishing the purposes of this section, and notwithstanding section 622.”
Portz v. Iowa Bd. of Med. Examiners, 563 N.W.2d 592 (Iowa 1997). “See Iowa Code § 272C.6(3); Iowa Admin. Code r.”
— Iowa Code § 272C.6(4) — 8 cases
Doe v. Iowa Bd. of Med. Examiners, 733 N.W.2d 705 (Iowa 2007). “It is this first exception that is at issue in the present case. Doe argues, relying on our holding in Physical Therapy, that section 272C.”
Citizens' Aide/Ombudsman v. Miller, 543 N.W.2d 899 (Iowa 1996). “” Iowa Code § 272C.6(3). The release of information obtained by a licensing board during the course of an investigation is limited: In order to assure a free flow of information for accomplishing the purposes of this section, and notwithstanding section 622.”
In Re Inquiry Concerning Stigler, 607 N.W.2d 699 (Iowa 2000). “6 (contemplates discovery by both the complainant and respondent in attorney disciplinary proceedings); Iowa Code § 272C.6(4) (recognizes right of other professional licensees to discovery in disciplinary proceedings).”
Portz v. Iowa Bd. of Med. Examiners, 563 N.W.2d 592 (Iowa 1997). “See Iowa Code § 272C.6(3); Iowa Admin. Code r.”
Miller v. Bd. of Med. Examiners, 609 N.W.2d 478 (Iowa 2000). “Iowa Code § 272C.6(4). In Doe, this court interpreted section 242C.”
— Iowa Code § 272C.6(4)(a) — 3 cases
Domenico Calcaterra v. Iowa Bd. of Med. (Iowa 2021). “See Iowa Code § 272C.6(4).” The Board suggests that once the investigation is completed and the disciplinary case is brought, such information can be released so long as patient identity is protected.”
Domenico Calcaterra v. Iowa Bd. of Med. (Iowa 2021). “See Iowa Code § 272C.6(4).” The Board suggests that once the investigation is completed and the disciplinary case is brought, such information can be released so long as patient identity is protected.”
Shock v. Kettman (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). “Kettman and his clinic moved for summary judgment on three grounds, arguing the alleged defamatory statements were (1) “statutorily privileged, confidential, and inadmissible” under Iowa Code § 272C.6(4)(a) (2017);3 (2) nonactionable opinion; and (3) protected from liability by…”
— Iowa Code § 272C.6(5) — 1 case
Miller v. Bd. of Med. Examiners, 609 N.W.2d 478 (Iowa 2000). “Iowa Code § 272C.6(4). In Doe, this court interpreted section 242C.”
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