Getting initial CNA license issues

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

I am worried I will not get my initial CNA license. On the MD application it asks if you have ever had any misdemeanor, felony convictions or a PBJ.

21 years ago I was charged with Theft >300, Perjury and Insurance fraud. The court disposition was a PBJ for the theft, and the other charges were put on STET. After talking with a attorney the charges that were put on STET were never tried. As long as I stayed out of trouble they would not be tried. I have never been in trouble since, not even a traffic ticket. And the PBJ is not a conviction. Put I still have to report the PBJ on the application.

My question, because I have to write a explanation of the facts should I be forth coming and explain the whole circumstance of the case or just explain the PBJ?

If I was you I'd call your state department of human services to ask that question. With it being so long ago I cant imagine that they would hold it against you. Especially since you have not bee in trouble since.

Specializes in Pediatric Home Care, Dr Office/Clinic.

Be honest. Put it all down. Past is the past you are a different person now, the school may be able to look past it. Life is about 2nd chances. :-)

I agree with the others if you are honest about everything then let the chips fall as they may. But if you are not honest and hide it, 1 it will tie you in knots wondering when they might find out about it and wonder what will happen. 2 they will see you are dishonest and wonder what other things you might be hiding. The old saying honesty is the best policy is very relavent here. As the PP has said the past is the past but we all must own up to what our past is.

Specializes in Long term care.

Answer the question directly and honestly. Don't give more than what they are asking for.

Tell them about the PBJ. When/what it was, and the outcome of it. Tell them there has been nothing else since.

These are things that should have come up BEFORE you were even allowed to do the training. The place that provided the training should have made it clear to you that certain charges/convictions will make you ineligable for certification.

I agree 100% with being honest. Up until this point all background checks have only asked if I have had either felony or misdemeanor conviction or both. A PBJ is not a conviction. When I went to get fingerprinted it did ask if I have ever had a conviction or PBJ, which I did say yes to the PBJ. And on the CNA application it also asks I have ever had a conviction or PBJ. I am hoping like some have said because of the time since this has happened and I haven't been in any trouble since that they will look past this. I can only hope. I have been in EMS for the past 20 years and I am trying to transition to CNA then on to school for RN.

If you have already been working as an EMS I don't think it should be a problem with being a CNA. I would think They should be held at the same standards.

I'd call the state/place that issues your certification and ask them. Or look on their website. For example, mine is Prometric. On their website under my state, they have an info section for felonies and misdemeanors. I would assume since your troubles were over 20 yrs ago it's irrelevant. I mean prior you have already been fingerprinted (and had a background check) and nothing came of that. Best of luck.

What is PBJ and STET?

PBJ- After a defendant enters a guilty plea, or is found guilty by the judge or jury, the next step in a case is sentencing. However, in some cases, the judge strikes the guilty finding and offers the defendant Probation Before Judgment, or a PBJ (not the sandwich).

Unlike a guilty disposition, a PBJ is NOT a conviction, but requires a period of supervised or unsupervised probation. A PBJ is NOT a conviction, but requires a period of supervised or unsupervised probation. The defendant must successfully complete the probation. That means he or she must comply with all of the conditions the judge imposes, such as community service, and not get into any more trouble.

If the defendant successfully completes his or her probation, the defendant may be able to file an expungement request and have the case go away. Unless the defendant files for an expungement, the case stays on Maryland’s Judiciary Case Search where anyone can look up the case. Since a PBJ is not a conviction, the defendant can truthfully say he or she has never been convicted of a crime.

STET - 1. Stet docket means the case is “inactive”

A case placed on the Stet docket becomes inactive and technically closed in the court system.

2. A case that has been Stet is NOT a conviction!

This is important to understand and is the key benefit for a defendant to having a case go on the Stet docket. The case has been moved on the Stet and is “inactive” and it is not a conviction. The defendant does not enter a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to the charge(s) for a Stet case, is not convicted by a judge, and is not given a sentence.

3. Defendant must waive his or her right to a speedy trial

Every person accused of a crime has the right to a speedy trial under the U.S. Constitution and under Maryland law. The Stet docket means the case is being placed as inactive–if there is ever a trial, which there may never be, it could come a lot later in time–and so the defendant must agree to waive speedy trial rights.

4. Despite being inactive, the case can be reactivated

The State can bring the case back as active if the defendant fails to abide by the conditions agreed upon. Just because a case is stet does not mean the defendant is home free–if they fail to follow the agreement and complete the conditions, the State may bring the case back and the defendant could be facing these charges all over again. The Defendant can also bring the case back for any reason within one year.

I received the results from my fingerprint and background check, which came back saying I have no criminal background. All which I already knew but is still good to hear.

+ Add a Comment