Sec. 12. (a) It is an incurable deceptive act for an individual, while soliciting or performing a consumer transaction, to claim, either orally or in writing, to possess a doctorate degree or use a title, a word, letters, an insignia, or an abbreviation associated with a doctorate degree, unless the individual:

(1) has been awarded a doctorate degree from an institution that is:

Terms Used In Indiana Code 24-5-0.5-12

  • Attorney: includes a counselor or other person authorized to appear and represent a party in an action or special proceeding. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Consumer transaction: means a sale, lease, assignment, award by chance, or other disposition of an item of personal property, real property, a service, or an intangible, except securities and policies or contracts of insurance issued by corporations authorized to transact an insurance business under the laws of the state of Indiana, with or without an extension of credit, to a person for purposes that are primarily personal, familial, charitable, agricultural, or household, or a solicitation to supply any of these things. See Indiana Code 24-5-0.5-2
  • in writing: include printing, lithographing, or other mode of representing words and letters. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Incurable deceptive act: means a deceptive act done by a supplier as part of a scheme, artifice, or device with intent to defraud or mislead. See Indiana Code 24-5-0.5-2
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the commonwealths, possessions, states in free association with the United States, and the territories. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
(A) accredited by a regional or professional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation;

(B) a religious seminary, institute, college, or university whose certificates, diplomas, or degrees clearly identify the religious character of the educational program; or

(C) operated and supported by a governmental agency; or

(2) meets the requirements approved by one (1) of the following boards:

(A) Medical licensing board of Indiana.

(B) State board of dental examiners.

(C) Indiana optometry board.

(D) Board of podiatric medicine.

(E) State psychology board.

(F) Board of chiropractic examiners.

(G) Indiana board of veterinary medicine.

(H) Indiana board of pharmacy.

(I) Indiana state board of nursing.

     (b) It is an incurable deceptive act for an individual, while soliciting or performing a consumer transaction, to claim to be a:

(1) physician unless the individual holds an unlimited license to practice medicine under IC 25-22.5;

(2) chiropractic physician unless the individual holds a license as a chiropractor under IC 25-10-1; or

(3) podiatric physician unless the individual holds a license as a podiatrist under IC 25-29.

     (c) The attorney general shall enforce this section in the same manner as any other incurable deceptive act under this chapter.

As added by P.L.175-1997, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.246-1999, SEC.1; P.L.12-2000, SEC.1; P.L.48-2022, SEC.4.

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