Many people are required to obtain a license in order to work in their field, including nurses, teachers, real estate agents, and accountants. These professionals need their licenses in order to stay employed and earn income, which means a license suspension or revocation can be devastating. If you have been charged with a crime, it’s important to learn how a criminal conviction can affect your professional licensing.
The state board that is responsible for issuing licenses in your field needs to be notified as soon as possible if you are convicted of a crime. Each board may have its own rules regarding how long you have to report a conviction. For instance, attorneys that are licensed to practice in Colorado must report any criminal conviction besides traffic offenses within 14 days.
After being notified, the board will review the details of your conviction and determine if any penalties should be imposed. In most cases, the board will schedule a hearing, which you will be required to attend.
Each board has its own rules regarding how criminal convictions will affect the individual’s license. For example, the Colorado Board of Accountancy’s rules state that a license can be revoked or suspended if an accountant is convicted of any felony crime. On the other hand, the licensing board for teachers in the state of Colorado lists out specific crimes that could warrant a revocation or suspension of a teacher’s license. Some of the crimes on this list include indecent exposure, child abuse, sexual assault, felony drug crimes, and unlawful sexual contact.
Other boards do not have as many restrictions. The board that regulates real estate property appraisers only takes disciplinary action if the crime that the individual was convicted of is related to the job, such as fraud, theft, embezzlement, and bribery.
The board will take a number of factors into consideration when determining what disciplinary action to take, including your prior record and the nature of the crime. If the board decides to suspend your license, the suspension will go into effect immediately. This decision, as well as the decision to revoke your license, can be appealed.
Do you have a professional license? If you have been charged with a crime, contact Reisch Law Firm today. Our criminal defense attorneys will fight tirelessly to protect you from the penalties of a conviction. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 303-291-0555 or filling out this online form.
