Well-paid, stable careers usually don’t happen by accident. Professionals spend years establishing themselves so that they can earn a competitive wage. Those who want to work in accounting, law or medicine may need college degrees. They may also require a professional license.
There are dozens of professions in Florida that require a state license to practice. Professionals have to submit to a background check and must prove that they meet the educational requirements to qualify for a specific professional license. They may need to continue their education to remain eligible for their license and may have to renew it every few years.
Sometimes, a professional becomes ineligible to renew their license. Other times, they may be at risk of disciplinary action that could suspend the license they need to work. A criminal conviction is one issue that could affect professional licensing.
Drug crimes can become issues for many professionals
There are certain careers where a prior drug offense is an obvious source of professional risk. For example, those working in medicine, including nurses, pharmacy techs and physicians, could harm their patients because of a substance abuse disorder that leads to criminal charges. Those who drive for a living could also endanger themselves and others because of a substance abuse issue involving drugs.
There are many licensing boards that have zero-tolerance policies for serious criminal convictions and drug offenses in particular. Professionals who plead guilty to offenses in the hopes of avoiding certain criminal penalties may unknowingly expose themselves to professional issues that could diminish their earning potential for years to come.
If a professional facing drug charges manages to defend against those allegations, then they don’t have to worry about a criminal record or professional discipline related to those charges. Those who have already entered a guilty plea and have recently realized the mistakes that they made and they still have an option to protect their professional license. They can have an attorney represent them during the disciplinary hearing and help them seek less severe consequences for the alleged violation that occurred.
Understanding the various consequences that Florida drug charges can cause can help people better evaluate their options when responding to pending allegations. Professionals who need to maintain a state license could potentially lose their careers if they don’t respond appropriately to pending drug charges.