Please read the following information before filing a complaint.

What constitutes a violation?
The DAPE Council has the responsibility to investigate complaints based upon substantiated facts relating to specific violations of the Delaware's licensing law and Engineering Code of Ethics.  The Council has the authority to discipline its licensees (individuals, corporations, and partnerships) for violations that may include:

• Gross negligence in the practice of engineering.
• Incompetence in the practice of engineering.
• Misconduct in the practice of engineering.
• Fraud, deceit or misrepresentation in the practice of engineering.
• Fraud or deceit in obtaining their license to practice.
• Violation of any Canon of the Code of Ethics.

• Unlicensed practice of engineering.
• Unlicensed offer to practice engineering.
• The use of any name, title, description or designation that will lead to the belief that such person, corporation or partnership is entitled to practice engineering.

How do I file a complaint with the Council?
Complete, sign and submit the Complaint Form to the DAPE Office.  To obtain a form, you may call or write the office or download the form from the bottom of this page.

Can I submit a complaint orally?
Yes.  The  DAPE Staff will help you fill out the information required by the Complaint Form.  Anonymous complaints are not accepted.

What information should I provide in completing the Complaint Form?
Complete all the areas of the Complaint Form.  In describing your complaint be sure to include:

• The work the licensee was hired to perform.
• If not a licensee, what work was offered to be done or was done.
• The location of the project involved.
• The problem(s) encountered.
• What you have done to try and resolve the problem(s).
• Specific facts in date order.
• As much data as possible, such as plans, pictures, maps, etc.  Submit copies, not originals, of any attached documents.
• Any other information that you believe will assist your case.

Who reviews complaints?
The Law Enforcement and Ethics Committee meets approximately every six weeks to review the status of all active files.  The DAPE staff handles the routine investigations and helps those in violation of the law with obtaining compliance.  Sub-committees are formed as necessary to investigate complaints about Code of Ethics alleged violations.

When will I know that my complaint is being acted upon?
You will be notified within one week as to what action (if any) is planned in the matter.  When the investigation is complete, charges against the licensee may be preferred and Council will hold a hearing within three months of the date charges are sent to the licensee. (See the Delaware's licensing law Section 2824 for more information.).

What types of disciplinary actions may be taken if the Council decides that a violation of the Code of Ethics has occurred?
Depending on the severity of the violation, the penalty may consist of:

• Issuing a public reprimand.
• Requiring additional training or educational courses be successfully completed before engineering may again be practiced.
• Refusal to grant or renew an individual's, corporation's, of partnership's license to practice engineering in Delaware.
• Revoking an individual's, corporation's, of partnership's license to practice engineering in Delaware.

All cases where licensees have been found guilty of violations are entered into a National Data Base accessible by all State Licensing Boards.

Downloading the Complaint Form.
The Complaint Form is a one page document and is available for downloading in a portable document format (PDF).  In order to read and print this form, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.  A free download is available from Adobe.  Please print form on white paper.

Download the Complaint Form.