LVN licensure concerns

[Adamant]

At this moment I am only thinking about the LVN program. I still have to finish my prerequisites before I can even be accepted, but before I start this journey I want to make sure I actually have a real chance at attaining it before I proceed. I can't imagine the nightmare it would be to get into the LVN program and even successfully complete it just to be told by the BON that they will not license me and/or wont let me sit for NCLEX.

I have given myself a rather casual timetable for this whole thing. At the pace I have set for myself, I will be ready to apply for the LVN program sometime in 2016 (maybe even 2017 depending on how often my college offers the program). At this moment it has been roughly 6 years since my conviction, but by the time I'm ready to begin LVN school, it will have been 8+.

Roughly 6 years ago I was charged with three felony counts (1 count of Embezzlement and 2 counts of Second Degree Burglary) but ultimately convicted of one count misdemeanor embezzlement. Long story short, I paid back all the resitiution and completed the informal probation with no problems. I actually even got released from it early, by half. (1.5 years rather than the full 3) and ultimately had the whole thing expunged.

Since then I have stayed on the straight and narrow. My only other issues were one minor traffic violation (80mph in a 70mph) and a ticket/violation for swimming without a life jacket more than 50 feet from shore at my local lake. Both were taken care of shortly after they happened (it's been a couple of years+ since these two incidents occured).

Otherwise, since then, I have volunteered at my local hospital, held a retail job, a City job, took an EMT course which I successfully completed (wasn't nationally certified because I took the course for the units rather than to become an EMT), worked as a home health aide, and ultimately became a licensed phlebotomist. So these past six years haven't been bad.

But now I am ready to move up in the medical world and becoming an LVN is a fantasic step in that direction. I plan on calling the California BON and talking with them, but in the mean time I wanted to ask you guys if you had any opinions on the matter? Do you think realistically I could become an LVN? Should I expect any problems with licensure from the BON? Do my initial charges count against me versus what I was actually convicted of? I wont start this journey if I have no chance of making it. But if I do, I'm ready to go.

[LittleCandles]

My understanding is if was expunged it is like it never happened. So you should be fine to get licensed. A lot of schools won't accept you into their program if you can't sit for your NCLEX anyway.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I think you have to report expunged items. But, based on what I've seen, having a few convictions won't prevent you from getting a license. Good luck to you!

[Adamant]

I will disclose it for sure. I'm just wondering if the charges are a big deal, or just the conviction itself?

And I wonder if I will still have to jump through all the hoops of providing paperwork and references and all that stuff? I guess with my timetable I have plenty of time to gather it all up. But it just seems like a lot of work for something that was so long ago (and will be even longer yet by the time I'm ready to enter the LVN program starts). As it is, I can't remember every single detail about everything that happened. I remember all the major points and the jist of it, but thefine detais are blury. I imagine they'll only blur more as time goes on.

Is it out of the realm of possibility for them to see my background check, see that I've disclosed everything, and let me be on my way with no further leg work by me?