Professional Licenses & DWI Convictions
A DWI or DUI conviction can have negative effects on your professional goals. Employers or industries may think of a conviction as an inability to do your job properly. Certain industries will invoke punishments in the effect that a conviction occurs. This includes possible the suspension of professional licenses.
Any person, who is fearful that a conviction will affect their career, should contact an experienced criminal defense attorney. Qualified legal representation can help the alleged offender avoid long-term professional licensing consequences due to criminal convictions.
DWI Attorney for Austin, Texas
Are you a licensed professional who was recently arrested for a DWI in the greater Travis County area? If so, it is highly recommended that you contact a practiced criminal defense attorney.
The Law Office of Kevin Bennett has years of experience in formulating defenses to avoid license revocation. Kevin Bennett has compassion for his clients and understands that mistakes do happen. He has been recognized for his legal excellence by admittance into several esteemed law associations including the Austin Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association (ACDLA), and the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. The Law Office of Kevin Bennett understands the amount of passion, work, and money that goes into receiving a professional license. Kevin Bennett wants to preserve that for you.
Kevin Bennett has represented clients throughout the greater Travis County and Williamson County area and surrounding cities including San Marcos, West Lake Hills, Pflugerville, Bastrop, Austin, Georgetown, and Lockhart.
Call (512) 476-4626 or submit an online contact form today.
Overview for Professional License Revocation in Texas
Professional Licenses in Criminal Cases in Texas
The Texas Occupational Code § 53.021 gives licensing agencies the ability to suspend or revoke a license when they see fit. In conjunction with this, a licensing agency also has the power to disqualify a person from receiving a license or deny a person the opportunity to take a licensing exam.
A licensing agency can take authoritative action if the person has been convicted of:
- A sexually violent offense
- A offense that directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the licensed occupation
- A offense that does not directly relate to the duties of the licensed occupation and that was committed less than five years before the date the person applies for the license
- A offense involving kidnapping, capital murder, indecency with a child, compelling prostitution, disabled individual, sexual performance by a child, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, murder, sexual assault, burglary, criminal solicitation, or trafficking of persons
However, a licensing board is not able to consider a person who has been convicted of an offense if the alleged offender meets all the following requirements.
- The person entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere
- At the end of the period of supervision, the judge dismissed the proceedings and discharged the person.
- The judge deferred further proceedings without entering an adjudication of guilt and placed the person under the supervision of the court or an officer under the supervision of the court.
Note that the above exceptions do not apply if the person is in the following careers:
- Financial Services
- Safety Services
- Public Health
- Education
- Law Enforcement
Texas Licensed Professionals
The following are the licensing agencies that Texas professionals must adhere to.
- Board of Law Examiners — Attorneys
- Texas State Board of Medical Examiners — Physicians
- Texas Board of Nursing — Registered Nurses (RN) / Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN)
- Texas State Board of Pharmacy — Pharmacists
- Texas Commission on Law Enforcement — Law Enforcement Officers
- State Board for Educator Certification — Teachers
- Texas State Board of Public Accountancy — Certified Public Accountants
- Texas Board of Professional Engineers — Professional Engineers
- Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors — Professional Counselors
- Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services — Child Care Administrators
- Texas Board of Architectural Examiners — Architects, Interior Designers, Landscape Architects
- Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners — Occupational Therapists
- Texas Department of State Health Services — Massage Therapists, Medical Radiologic Technologists, Respiratory Care Practitioners, Code Enforcement Officers, Emergency Medical Technicians, Midwives, Opticians, and Chemical Dependency Counselors
- Texas Department of Insurance — Insurance Adjusters and Insurance Agents
- State Securities Board — Securities Dealers / Investment Advisors
- Court Reporters Certification Board — Court Reporters / Stenographers
- Texas Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) or the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) — Interpreters For The Deaf
- Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners — Chiropractors
- Texas Board of Orthotics and Prosthetics — Orthotists / Prosthetists
- Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying — Land Surveyors
- Texas Commission on Fire Protection — Fire Protection Personnel / Firefighters
- Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services — Long Term Care Nurse’s Aides and Nursing Facility Administrators
- Texas Department of Agriculture — Pesticide Applicators and Fish Farmers / Aquaculturists
- Texas Department of Public Safety — Private Investigators and Security Guards
- Texas Funeral Service Commission — Funeral Directors / Embalmers
- Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner — Pawnbrokers
- Texas Real Estate Commission — Real Estate Brokers / Sales Agents and Real Estate Inspectors
- Texas State Board of Dental Examiners — Dental Hygienists and Dentists
- Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists — Psychologists
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners — Plumbers
- Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners — Social Workers
- Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners — Veterinarians
- Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers — Athletic Trainers
Professional Licensing & Certification Unit Criminal History Evaluation – Visit the website for the Texas Department of State and Health Services and see which health professions that are included in the Amendments made to Texas Occupational Code, § 53.
Texas Occupational Code § 53 – Visit Texas Legislature and read the legal language surrounding a licensing agency’s right to investigate into potential and current licensed professionals. Read the specifics around criminal history evaluation letters, the adjoining legal definitions, and how a licensing authority may legally determine eligibility.
Find a Professional License Attorney in Austin, Texas
A criminal conviction can be detrimental to your career. If you are a licensed professional and you are worrying that a criminal conviction might revoke your license, contact The Law Office of Kevin Bennett.
The Law Office of Kevin Bennett is practiced in formulating defenses to preserve alleged offender’s licenses. Kevin Bennett is a dedicated individual who is passionate about maintaining his client’s rights. Do not hesitate and put your career in danger. The Law Office of Kevin Bennett has been approved by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating, an organization that vets businesses with a given score by a council of impressive professionals.
The Law Office of Kevin Bennett represents clients who have been arrested throughout the greater Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area including surrounding counties such as San Marcos in Hays County, Austin in Travis County, Lockhart in Caldwell County, Georgetown in Williamson County, and Bastrop in Bastrop County.
We want to help you maintain your professional goals. Call (512) 476-4626 or submit an online contact form today.
