Professional Licensing Appeal - Alabama

PROFESSIONAL LICENSING APPEAL — ALABAMA

Before you use this: This form is for judicial review of a final Alabama agency decision in a licensing contested case when Ala. Code § 41-22-20 supplies the review route. Identify the particular board and check its governing law for a different or additional review step. Complete and file the agency notice first, then the circuit-court petition. The current Legislature text displays Act 2026-319's amendment to § 41-22-20 effective October 1, 2026; apply the version in force when the court reviews the case.

1. Notice of appeal or review to agency

To: [NAME OF LICENSING BOARD/AGENCY AND FILING ADDRESS]

Agency case/docket number: [________________________________]

Licensee: [________________________________] License number: [________________________________]

NOTICE OF APPEAL OR REVIEW

I, [NAME], give notice under Ala. Code § 41-22-20(b), (d) that I seek judicial review of [AGENCY]'s final decision entered [__/__/____] and served on me [__/__/____], concerning my [PROFESSION] license. The particular decision and relief sought are [DESCRIBE ORDER AND RELIEF].

☐ I enclose a cost bond covering the reasonable costs of preparing the transcript.

☐ I request waiver of the cost bond from ☐ the agency ☐ the reviewing court based on substantial hardship, supported by [IDENTIFY ATTACHMENT OR MOTION].

The notice deadline is generally 30 days after receipt of notice or other service of the final agency decision. If an application for rehearing under § 41-22-17 was made, § 41-22-20(d) instead measures that notice period from receipt of notice or other service of the agency's decision on rehearing. Record any agency-specific deadline here: [________________________________].

Notice filing date and method: [________________________________]

Signature: [________________________________] Date: [__/__/____]

Name, address, telephone, email: [________________________________]

2. Petition for judicial review in circuit court

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF [COUNTY] COUNTY, ALABAMA

Case number: [________________________________]

PETITION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSING DECISION

Petitioner alleges:

1. Parties and action. Petitioner [NAME AND ADDRESS] holds or applied for [PROFESSION/LICENSE NUMBER]. Respondent [FULL AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS] entered a final decision in a contested case on [__/__/____]. The decision [SUSPENDED / REVOKED / DENIED / OTHERWISE AFFECTED] the license by [EXACT TERMS]. A copy is attached as Exhibit A.

2. Jurisdiction and exhaustion. Petitioner is aggrieved by that final decision and has exhausted the available remedies within the agency other than rehearing, as follows: [SPECIFIC STEPS AND DATES]. The agency's profession-specific statute or rule governing review is [CITE OR "NONE IDENTIFIED AFTER REVIEW"]. Petitioner seeks review under Ala. Code § 41-22-20(a).

3. Venue. Venue is proper in this court under § 41-22-20(b) because [SELECT AND STATE SUPPORTING FACTS]:

☐ This is Montgomery County.

☐ Respondent agency maintains its headquarters in this county at [ADDRESS].

☐ A party other than an intervenor resides in this county at [ADDRESS].

☐ A corporate party other than an intervenor has its Alabama registered office or principal place of business in this county at [ADDRESS].

☐ Another statute specifically provides this venue: [CITATION AND FACTS].

4. Two filing dates. Petitioner received or was served with the final decision on [__/__/____]. ☐ No rehearing was requested. ☐ Rehearing was requested under § 41-22-17, and notice or other service of the decision on that application was received on [__/__/____]. Petitioner filed the notice of appeal or review with the agency on [__/__/____], together with ☐ a cost bond ☐ a request for hardship waiver [STATE DISPOSITION]. A copy and filing proof are attached as Exhibit B. This petition is filed within 30 days after that agency notice was filed, as § 41-22-20(d) provides, subject to [ANY BOARD-SPECIFIC RULE].

5. Record and proceedings. The hearing, if any, was held on [__/__/____]. The decision's findings and grounds were [BRIEFLY STATE]. The record portions material to this petition are [IDENTIFY EXHIBITS, TESTIMONY, FINDINGS, AND RECORD PAGE REFERENCES].

6. Grounds and prejudice. Petitioner's substantial rights were prejudiced by the following agency action. State the specific error and supporting record or legal authority for every selected ground:

☐ Violation of constitutional or statutory provisions, § 41-22-20(k)(1): [________________________________].

☐ Action beyond the agency's statutory authority, (k)(2): [________________________________].

☐ Violation of a pertinent agency rule, (k)(3): [________________________________].

☐ Unlawful procedure, (k)(4): [________________________________].

☐ Other error of law, (k)(5): [________________________________].

☐ Clearly erroneous findings in view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence on the whole record, (k)(6): [________________________________].

☐ Unreasonable, arbitrary, or capricious action, abuse of discretion, or clearly unwarranted exercise of discretion, (k)(7): [________________________________].

Specific prejudice and requested correction: [________________________________].

7. Relief. Petitioner requests that the Court [REVERSE / MODIFY / REMAND / GRANT OTHER AVAILABLE RELIEF], specifically [DESCRIBE RELIEF], under § 41-22-20(k), plus [OTHER RELIEF SUPPORTED BY IDENTIFIED LAW].

Respectfully submitted,

Signature: [________________________________] Date: [__/__/____]

Printed name and capacity: [________________________________]

Alabama Bar number, if counsel: [________________________________]

Address, telephone, email: [________________________________]

Certificate of service

I certify that on [__/__/____] I served a copy of this petition on the agency and every party of record under § 41-22-20(d), by the methods permitted in this proceeding:

Signature: [________________________________]

3. Optional motion for stay of licensing decision

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF [COUNTY] COUNTY, ALABAMA

Case number: [________________________________]

MOTION FOR STAY OR SUPERSEDEAS PENDING JUDICIAL REVIEW

Petitioner moves under Ala. Code § 41-22-20(c) to stay [IDENTIFY DECISION AND EFFECT] while this petition is reviewed. Filing the notice or petition alone does not stay enforcement.

☐ The decision suspends or revokes a license. Section 41-22-20(c) provides a stay or supersedeas as a matter of right on reasonable conditions unless, on the agency's petition, the reviewing court finds a probable danger to public health, safety, or welfare. The proposed reasonable conditions are [________________________________]. Facts concerning public safety are [________________________________].

☐ The decision has another effect. Petitioner requests a discretionary stay on these appropriate terms: [________________________________]. The supporting facts are [________________________________].

Petitioner requests an order specifying the stay's scope and conditions. The supporting declaration or record pages are [________________________________].

Signature: [________________________________] Date: [__/__/____]

Filing record

Official source

• Alabama Code §§ 41-22-19 and 41-22-20