(1) A person, government or private entity may submit a written complaint to the board charging a licensee or license applicant with a violation of board statutes or rules, and specifying grounds for the complaint.

(2) Complaints must be in writing, and shall be filed on the proper complaint form prescribed by the board.

(3) Upon receipt of the written complaint form, the board office shall log in the complaint and assign it a complaint number. The complaint shall then be sent to the licensee or license applicant complained about for a written response. Upon receipt of the licensee's or license applicant's written response, both complaint and response shall be considered by the screening panel of the board for appropriate action including dismissal, investigation or a finding of reasonable cause of violation of a statute or rule. The board office shall notify both complainant and licensee or license applicant of the determination made by the screening panel.

(4) If a reasonable cause violation determination is made by the screening panel, the Montana Administrative Procedure Act shall be followed for all disciplinary proceedings.