The Department may investigate the actions of any applicant or of any person or persons holding or claiming to hold a license. The Department shall, before suspending, revoking, placing on probationary status, or taking any other disciplinary action as the Department may deem proper with regard to any license, at least 30 days prior to the date set for the hearing, notify the accused in writing of any charges made and the time and place for a hearing of the charges before the Board, direct him or her to file his or her written answer to the Board under oath within 20 days after the service on him or her of the notice and inform him or her that if he or she fails to file an answer default will be taken against him or her and his or her license may be suspended, revoked, placed on probationary status, or have other disciplinary action, including limiting the scope, nature or extent of his or her practice, as the Department may deem proper taken with regard thereto. The written notice and any notice in the subsequent proceeding may be served by personal delivery or by regular or certified mail to the applicant’s or licensee’s address of record. In case the person fails to file an answer after receiving notice, his or her license may, in the discretion of the Department, be suspended, revoked, or placed on probationary status, or the Department may take whatever disciplinary action deemed proper, including limiting the scope, nature, or extent of the person’s practice or the imposition of a fine, without a hearing, if the act or acts charged constitute sufficient grounds for such action under this Act. At the time and place fixed in the notice, the Department shall proceed to hear the charges and the parties or their counsel shall be accorded ample opportunity to present such statements, testimony, evidence and argument as may be pertinent to the charges or to their defense. The Department may continue the hearing from time to time. At the discretion of the Secretary after having first received the recommendation of the Board, the accused person’s license may be suspended, revoked, placed on probationary status, or whatever disciplinary action as the Secretary may deem proper, including limiting the scope, nature, or extent of said person’s practice, without a hearing, if the act or acts charged constitute sufficient grounds for such action under this Act.