Alcohol-related crimes can affect the status of dozens of Texas occupational professional licenses.
In Texas, a DWI conviction carries more penalties than a suspended driver's license, fines, and the possibility of incarceration. A DWI on your record can limit your options for housing, education, and financing. For people with professional licenses, a DWI can be devastating for their careers. In Texas, the status of many types of professional licenses can be affected by criminal convictions, including driving while intoxicated (DWI).
It's always smart to defend yourself against DWI charges, but the need to fight back is even more critical if your career depends upon being licensed. Amanda Webb - DWI Lawyer has been protecting the rights and freedoms of people accused of DWI in the Houston Area for over a decade. We understand the full impact a DWI can have on a person's life and the processes available to restore professional licenses. If you have been charged with DWI in the Greater Houston Area, contact us for a free case evaluation to learn more about your options. Here's what professionals in Texas need to know about how a DWI affects professional licenses.
Texas DWI license considerations
Texas has dozens of professional occupational licensing authorities responsible for issuing and renewing hundreds of occupational licenses. Occupational licensing entities include the Texas Medical Board, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Texas Health and Human Services, Texas Real Estate Commission, and Texas Board of Nursing. Every professional license has regulations regarding criminal behavior and license status that apply to new applicants as well as license holders. Because there is so much variation in application and regulation, it is best to consult a DWI defense attorney as soon as possible after an arrest to determine how an alcohol crime can affect license status and what can be done if a charge or conviction leads to a license being revoked or suspended.
Some professional occupational licenses don't consider DWI an issue, while others have harsh penalties. However, in Texas, any type of repeat criminal conviction on any kind of charge may be a reason to review the status of a professional license. When determining whether a criminal conviction should be grounds to deny issuing or reinstating a license, Texas considers the following and other factors:
- The nature and seriousness of the crime.
- The relationship between the crime and the nature of the professional license.
- The extent to which a license may offer the opportunity to engage in further criminal activity.
- How old the person was when the crime was committed, and how much time has since elapsed.
- Work conduct and activity since the criminal activity.
List of Texas licenses affected by DWI
Here are some, but not all, of the professional licenses affected by DWI and/or other alcohol-related crimes in Texas:
Texas Medical Board and other medical licensing authorities
A DWI or, in some cases, another type of alcohol-related charge, can affect the status of occupational licenses issued by the Texas Medical Board, including those issued to a physician, physician assistant, acupuncturist, medical radiologic technologist, non-certified radiological technician, respiratory care practitioner, medical physicist, and perfusionist. Medical professionals with criminal histories or recent charges should request a Criminal History Evaluation Letter (CHEL) from the Texas Medical Board, the Texas Physician Assistant Board, or the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners to determine whether charges or convictions will affect their licenses and, if so, how to appeal. The Texas Board of Nursing also considers crimes related to the use or possession of drugs or alcohol to be highly relevant to a nurse's fitness to practice.
Texas Real Estate Commission
The commission considers DWI directly related to the responsibility of real estate brokers and real estate sales agents' "trustworthiness." A request for a Fitness Determination, which is similar to a CHEL, should be considered before applying.
Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation
The following professional licenses issued by the TDLR may be affected by a DWI and/or other alcohol-related charges and/or convictions:
- Athletic trainers.
- Behavior analyst.
- Code enforcement.
- Dieticians.
- Driver education and safety instructor.
- Dyslexia therapists and practitioners.
- Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems.
- Hearing instrument fitters and dispensers.
- Laser and hair removal.
- Massage therapy.
- Midwives.
- Motor fuel metering quality.
- Motorcycle operator training and safety instructor.
- Offender education.
- Orthotists and prosthetists.
- Podiatry.
- Sanitarians.
- Speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
- Tow truck operators and permit holders.
Contact an experienced Conroe, TX DWI lawyer for help.
A DWI or other alcohol-related crime can ruin your career. Not only can a conviction cause some to lose their professional licenses, social factors and employer standards cause a person to face disciplinary actions, which means they could get in trouble at work. They might be suspended from their job or even lose it. This is just one of many reasons why it is important to take all DWI and alcohol-related charges seriously in Texas. If you are facing DWI charges in the Houston Area, our Conroe-based DWI defense law firm can help you fight accusations and negotiate or litigate aggressively for the best outcome. Contact Amanda Webb - DWI Lawyer for a free case evaluation to learn more about how alcohol charges may affect your Texas professional license and your options for a strong legal defense.