Has anyone been arrested but cleared and had trouble being eligible to take boards?

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Arrested for DUI but CORI (criminal history report) shows cleared. Did have to pay fines and attend alcohol awareness classes (required by state law for ALL arrestees). Will state board deniy application to take licensing exams because of the arrest/criminal history. They did deeper than just the CORI to determine good moral character. Again, not convicted but assuming deeper background check will uncover the arrest. Any one experience this???

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

questions we seem to be encountering more and more often have to do with the effects of a criminal history on nursing licensure:

  • is it possible to become licensed as a nurse if you have a criminal history and if so, can i get a job?
  • is it possible to become licensed as a nurse if you have a mip, dui, or other related charges?
  • what happens if you are charged or convicted of a crime after licensure?
  • can i go to nursing school and/or be licensed/be employed if my record has been sealed or expunged?
  • what if i have a “deferred adjudication”? will i have to declare this as a conviction?
  • will i be able to go to nursing school and/or attend clinicals with a criminal record?
  • what can happen if i receive a mip/dui/dwi or other charge while still in school

these are questions that the members of allnurses.com cannot answer. the only reliable source of information is your state board of nursing.

if you are currently licensed as a nurse and have been charged with or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor including dui/dwi or any criminal offense, you need to contact the bon in every state you hold a license/wish to be licensed and ask their reporting requirements.

if you are a nursing student or are interested in becoming a nurse you need to contact your bon and/or your school of nursing directly. you need to be completely candid with them as to the nature and disposition of the crimes. each board of nursing makes a determination on a case by case basis and some are willing to issue a declarative statement in advance.

i moved your thread to nursing licensure with a criminal history. you might want to read through some of the other threads in this forum. good luck!

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Was not convicted? You paid fines and went to alcohol awareness classes. That is either a conviction or a PTI (pre-trial intervention) or a withheld adjudication. ALL of those will be seen by the BON. Your NS and future employer may not see them, but the board will.

From what I have seen with others here, one DUI is not usually a deal-breaker but the BON will look at time since offense and what you have done to rehabilitate since then.

Just be candid. I think you should be OK, but my opinion isn't gonna sway the BON! ;) LOL....

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

With the utmost respect, the fact that you paid fines and attended classes sounds like it may have been a conviction--if you were acquitted, why pay any fines?

But I'm not a lawyer, and I would talk to one to see what your exact status is (i.e., were you really convicted or not?) so you know how to handle this question when it comes up on license and job applications.

Best of luck!

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Specializes in Rehab.

I had a dui misdemeanor and had ard no conviction and the bon just approved me it only took 9 days for approval but I did all the requirements of my ard and was cleared so im happy don't get discouraged but every bon is different.and I have no previous record besides this arrest good luck

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dont worry youll be fine ......

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