Will my criminal record keep me from getting licensed

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A few years ago I got into a little trouble with the law. It all started when my driver's license was suspended over an unpaid seatbelt ticket. I didn't know they were suspended and I got pulled over while driving. I pled guilty in court and was sentenced to probation with fines, court costs, and public service. At the time I was going through a divorce and was a single mom. I didn't have the money to pay all of those fines. I had to be on probation until they were paid. Because I couldn't pay them, I could not reinstate my driver's license. I am ashamed to say but I did drive everyday without a license. I had to go to work and take care of my kids. I was just trying to survive back then. Almost a year later, I was caught driving again and arrested. I was then arrested again for violating my probation because of that arrest. Around the same time I got a driving charge in another county which was dismissed. I was convicted of the driving charges and the violation and served a short jail sentence in 2011. The whole thing sort of snowballed because of my financial hardship at the time. I realize that I broke the law and it was wrong. Since then, I paid $2000 to get my driver's license back. I have not broken any other laws and I am now an LPN student. On my record I have a few driving on a revoked license charges and a violation of probation charge. Will this keep me from getting a nursing license? I've worked as a nursing assistant for 8 years. I'm terrified please help.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I'd say you've had more than a "little trouble with the law". It's all minor offenses, to be sure, but when you look at it objectively, it adds up to a pattern of legal and financial irresponsibility that I hope you've resolved.

I'm not judging you, because I had a similar pattern of behaviors in my younger days that I was lucky to get out of with only one arrest and one misdemeanor conviction. I only want you to be aware that your state BON may hold you to a higher standard as a nurse than as a CNA, and I hope that you will talk to them about all of this before you invest a lot of time and money in your education.

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Specializes in LTC.

Contact your BON and find out for sure from them whether you are eligible for licensing. Don't rely on information from your school because they get to pocket your tuition money whether or not you get licensed.

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I thought if you get your record expunged before you sit for your boards, you should be ok?

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I think that it all depends on the standards of the BON in the state where you apply for a license. One thing that I can say for sure is that a friend of mine just got her RN, after a h/o DWI several years back. One of the things that her professors at school stressed to her is that she needed to make sure that she answered all questions on her application very clearly, stating what had happened, and owning up to what she had done. Some of what I remember from my professors explaining the boards process was that I think that in the case of most violations, part of what is being looked at is a person's honesty in disclosing the crimes to the board, as well as the severity and nature of the crimes. A person who has committed any type of offenses against vulnerable persons, such as children or the elderly, or types of fraud are especially scrutinized. I wouldn't go nuts stressing about it right now, but I would talk to your professors and if you can, contact the BON in your state and ask them.

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I thought if you get your record expunged before you sit for your boards, you should be ok?

Nope, you usually have to still report expunged information.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Nope, you usually have to still report expunged information.

True. Almost every BON will ask an applicant to disclose expunged records. So expungement will not let one sneak a conviction past the BON.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Its unfortunate that after you have been tried, convicted, fined, and jailed its extremely hard to live unlawful mistakes down. Our society is always pushing rehabilitation, but there are miscellaneous stipulations attached. You will get through this. Please keep trying, ask for letters of recommendation from employers/professors, and write a heart felt criminal history disclosure letter repenting. Include those documents with your NCLEX application. I pray it will be enough. Be encouraged. This too shall pass.

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Thanks everybody. I just have to be honest and accountable for my mistakes. Better or worse I have to be true to who I am and admit my short comings. That is what is going to make me a good nurse.

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Nope, you usually have to still report expunged information.

That sucks....a conviction of probation 22 yrs ago and expunged still has to be reported?

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That sucks....a conviction of probation 22 yrs ago and expunged still has to be reported?

In my experience, yes. I had to report things from ten years ago when I was only fourteen years old.... Nothing shows up on my record and I still had to report everything.

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Did you get accepted? I am going through a hardship myself. When I got licensed as an LPN I was unaware I had a driving with no insurance from 2011 as well as a withdrawal. I answered no to all of this. I got called from the BON asking me for court documents from a 2014 driving with no insurance. I sent them the paper work and all was ok. Then in 2015 I got pulled over again for driving with no insurance. I pled guilty in court, but come to find out my insurance covered me so the sentence was dismissed. I tried sending them paperwork of my revoked license, they said they never got it. So now they want a folder. They still don't know about the 2011 driving with no insurance or withdrawal from 2013. I also have two charges of no drivers license/expired license from 2015&2016. I am very afraid my license will be taken away..

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