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Getting hired with arrest record?


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The biggest obstacles are going to be background checks, and licensing.

 

As far as background checks go, nobody can predict who is going to require it until it happens. If it comes up, be honest. IMHO 10 year old arrests aren't going to stop you here.

 

As far as licensing goes, it's going to vary state to state. In NC, you have to include all arrests in your application. An arrest usually means you have to go to Raleigh and explain it before the board. Then, it will be on a case by case basis. Again, I don't think a 10 year old arrest without conviction is going to prevent licensing.

 

Good luck.

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Gloww, I'm going to caveat this by saying I am not a PA, I do not serve on any admission board, licensing board or hiring committee. I am a potential PA student like you. I did, however, spend 5 years as a uniform wearing, 911 call responding cop.

 

If you are asked about convictions, the answer is "no". If you are asked about arrests, the answer is "yes". It's that simple. Remember, anyone can be arrested, it's convictions that count. That being said, arrests do say something about your character and, all things being equal, the guy without arrests will probably get in. Just like the guy with no traffic tickets would be a better candidate than the guy with a whole bunch of speeding tickets, when all other aspects of the candidate's profile are the same.

 

 If you have serious heartburn over this, look at the websites for the schools you like and the State licensing board where you want to work. If you still can't get an answer, shoot off an e-mail or phone call. What's it hurt?

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... That being said, arrests do say something about your character...

 

 

No they don't.  An arrest means that one individual thought they had probable cause that you broke the law, which may or may not be moral or ethical.  An arrest often has NOTHING to do with a person's character anymore.

 

I was arrested for, after giving an out-of-control teenager numerous warnings to leave my house, taking her by the arm and leading her out the front door.  I didn't bounce her off any walls, I didn't push her through the door (it was open), or hurt her in any way.  But I was in Massachusetts where if you are a male, and you touch someone, you are arrested for FELONY battery. Despite the LAWS in Massachusetts allowing for the forcible removal of an unwanted person from your home, I was facing more than a YEAR in PRISON for protecting my children and removing an out-of-control teenager from my house.

 

  It cost me over SIX GRAND in legal fees and a YEAR of unnecessary stress in my life before the District Attorney finally decided to drop the charges.  Why did it take a YEAR, and cost so much?  Because the DA kept wanting me to plead guilty to "lesser charges" in lieu of going to trial.  Eisenhower warned us about the military-industrial complex, but a more real threat to many citizens, including professionals, is the legal-industrial complex where the police arrest you and the DA charges you with crimes that have excessive punishment.  On top of paying bail ( because bonds are posted at levels which nobody can afford, so they have to post bail and lose their money), and legal fees at $150-250 an hour, this forces good people to plead guilty to "lesser charges" that THEY DIDN'T DO simply because they cannot risk being found guilty of a felony.

 

Six years later, my arrest (again, charges dropped without prejudice) caused me to have a 3 month delay in the issuing of my permanent medical license.

 

An arrest may have nothing to do with a person's character, but can have everything to do with a broken legal system.

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www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/arrest_conviction.cfm

 

Boats, obviously I hit a sore spot with you.  That wasn't my intention.  That being said, arrests can be used as part of a basis for character based decisions.  I'm sorry you had a horrible experience with the legal system.  It's the system we've got and the one we all have to function in.  It is far from perfect, and that was a major part of why I left it.  But, you yourself said that your arrest "caused [you] to have a 3 month delay in the issuing of [your] permanent medical license".  It was a part of your assessment, and I'm just letting Gloww know that that can be the case.

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Call licensing board in your state ask if they ask about arrests or only convictions.

 

Run a background check on yourself - I believe it will come up clean but just check.

 

Some jobs ask about arrests others only convictions.

 

Do your homework but I believe you can still succeed as a PA.

 

Plenty of good people are arrested for right and wrong reasons. Plenty of horrible people are walking around with a clean record. It may slow your process down but I wouldn't give up!

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