Virginia Law

A. An applicant whose application for certification or recertification has been denied by the department, or a certified business whose certification has been revoked by the department (complainant), may request an informal review before the designated representative of the department to present the grounds upon which the complainant believes the denial of certification should be reconsidered. A decision of the department will only be reconsidered if the complainant can demonstrate that a material mistake of fact formed the basis for the department's decision, or if the department's decision was not in accordance with applicable laws or regulations.

B. A request for an informal review pursuant to subsection A of this section must be submitted in writing to the department within 10 days of the date on which the notice of denial of certification or recertification or the notice of revocation was sent by the department. The request shall include a clear, brief summary of all factual errors and legal grounds upon which the complainant intends to rely. Within 30 days of the receipt of a timely request for an informal review, the department shall issue a notice stating the date and time of the informal review. The informal review will not be scheduled less than seven and not more than 45 days from the date of the notice and may be conducted by telephone, video conference, or in person at the department's offices or such other location as the department deems appropriate. Within 60 days from the date on which the informal review was held, the department shall issue a notice, in writing, stating the final decision of the department.

C. Either party to the informal review is entitled to have counsel present, but no party shall be required to be represented by counsel at or in connection with the informal review.