If you’re planning to apply for your California Registered Nurse license, you will likely have to disclose a past conviction to the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). However, the regulations concerning when you must disclose a past court case are complicated and can be confusing.
To ensure that you’re disclosing everything you should while keeping your past private where possible, consult with an experienced California professional license defense lawyer. Your lawyer will give you more personalized advice about what you must disclose when applying for an RN license.
Disclosing Expunged Convictions When Applying for a California RN License
Nursing license applicants must disclose all expunged convictions, whether they were convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor. Expunged convictions may have been included in a plea deal or permitted once you completed all court requirements, including probation, and paid all applicable fines.
You don’t need to disclose an expunged conviction to apply for most jobs. However, the BRN will need to know about it. The board will take into account the nature of the crime and how much time has elapsed when deciding whether to approve your application.
Disclosing Deferred Judgments and Dismissed Convictions When Applying for an RN License
Deferred judgments and dismissed convictions are most common for drug charges. If your sentence for possession of a controlled substance included completing a drug treatment program and paying fines, then your charge may have been deferred or dismissed.
Different states have different terms for these types of convictions. In California, they are called deferred judgments, but other states may refer to them as dismissed cases. These cases don’t need to be disclosed when applying for most jobs, but they do have to be disclosed to the nursing board.
If your deferred judgment was for a controlled substance case, the BRN might deny your license. In these cases, a professional license defense lawyer can make a difference in your licensure.
Do I Have to Disclose Dismissed Charges When Applying for a Nursing License?
You might have been arrested but not charged, or the district attorney might have dropped the charges you were arrested for. In that case, you do not need to disclose the arrest to the BRN.
If you unnecessarily note this arrest on your application, the BRN may opt to investigate further and deny your application based on what they discover. Your professional license defense lawyer will likely advise you not to disclose anything you aren’t required to.
How Can I Know What I Do and Don’t Have to Disclose to the BRN?
The best way to ensure you adhere to the disclosure process is to seek the advice of a professional license defense lawyer deeply familiar with California licensing requirements.
Suppose that you don’t disclose a deferred or expunged conviction on your nursing license application. In that case, the BRN may request more information, including supporting documentation, or may simply deem your application fraudulent and deny the license. If it does deny the license, you must wait a full year to reapply.
How Can a Professional License Defense Lawyer Help Me?
If you are having difficulty obtaining your RN license in California or have questions about your application, contact us. We can provide advice and insight into your best course of action.
