Possession of Paraphernalia charge..Help

[Tenry]

I just recently finished nursing school in Arizona and I am submitting my licensure application through the Washington State Board of nursing. In April this year I was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia (I did not have any marijuana in my possession, only the pipe with residue). When I went to court the charged was dropped and I had to attend a drug class, however, I know it will still show up on my background check. I would like to get it expunged, but at this time money is pretty tight. I am worried that when I submit my application in Washington, the board is going to deny me. Anyone have any similar situations or advice?

[Persephone Paige, ADN]

I just recently finished nursing school in Arizona and I am submitting my licensure application through the Washington State Board of nursing. In April this year I was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia (I did not have any marijuana in my possession, only the pipe with residue). When I went to court the charged was dropped and I had to attend a drug class, however, I know it will still show up on my background check. I would like to get it expunged, but at this time money is pretty tight. I am worried that when I submit my application in Washington, the board is going to deny me. Anyone have any similar situations or advice?

Expungement is only expensive if you use an attorney. I did my own and it was like $75 for the application fee and another fee for the fingerprint process. It's super easy to do yourself and it's faster. Mine went through in half the time my friend's did and she paid $500 for an attorney. I think they leave it to sit on their desks for 6 mos.

[Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM]

I'm confused, it sounds like you were arrested, but if the charges were dropped and you went to a class, you weren't convicted of anything. Dropped doesn't equal conviction.

Read the application and answer the questions it asks for.

In terms of it showing up on your background check...well, it depends on what the requesting agency ordered. If they ordered arrests to be included, yes, if they want only convictions to be included, no.

Best way to solve this mystery is to order a background check on yourself through an investigations company and see what comes up.