How a DUI Conviction Can Affect Your Employment and Professional Licenses in Manassas Virginia 

A DUI conviction can have a significant impact on your professional licensure or employment in Virginia. An employer may be unwilling to hire or maintain the employment of a person with a criminal conviction. If driving is a part of your job, this can affect your ability to do the job. It can also affect professional licenses such as nursing, medical certifications, and many others. When facing a Virginia DUI/DWI, you need to understand the full impact of a potential conviction.

Our Manassas criminal defense lawyers at Battlefield Law Group PLLC know the full impact a DUI conviction can have on your professional life. We help you defend against the underlying criminal charges and handle any fallout from a conviction. 

Impact on Your Employment After a Virginia DUI

A DWI charge can be frightening and stressful enough, even before you consider how it might affect your employment. You face potential jail time, high fines, and impacts on your driver’s license. This can collaterally impact your employment in several ways.

You may have trouble with your existing employment after a DUI. Your jail sentence or DUI classes could impact your ability to go to work. If you do not have enough time off to handle this, you may lose your employment. Some jobs require you to drive, but a DUI conviction may suspend or revoke your driver’s license. If you cannot perform driving as an essential job function, your employer may let you go.

A DUI conviction can also make it difficult to find a new job in the future. Many employers utilize background checks on potential new employees. DUIs can never be removed from your criminal record, so every future employer will see it. Some may care more than others, and DUIs far in your past may not affect you as much as a recent one. However, jobs that require driving will look closely at your past DUI record in determining whether to give you the job over another person.

DUI and Professional Licenses in Virginia

Professional licensure is critical to many jobs. Medical, legal, accounting, and other professional licenses are granted by licensing boards. The same is true of teachers and many other professions. A DUI will likely be considered as part of an application for a professional license or may result in rescission of an existing license in severe cases.

A regulatory board may review your individual case to determine whether a DUI conviction impacts your ability to be professional and meet the requirements of your license. You may also be required to disclose your DUI conviction to the regulatory body. Failure to do so may impact your license more than the conviction itself, so it is important to know your licensing and reporting requirements.

DUIs and the Impact on a Commercial Driver’s License

A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is necessary for many workers who drive as part of their employment. This is especially true for those who drive large trucks or carry special cargo. Losing your driver’s license after a DUI conviction can make it impossible to work. Your employer may wait until you can drive again, or they may simply terminate you. 

A DUI will also appear on an initial or reapplication for a CDL. It is not impossible to get a CDL with a DUI on your record, as many have done so in the past. However, it will impact your application. How you handle your DUI case may impact your future CDL rights, so it is important to consult a Manassas DUI attorney about your case.

Know the Impact of a Virginia DUI Conviction on Employment and Professional Licenses

A DUI conviction can have a substantial impact on your employment and professional licensure. Every case is unique, so it is crucial to speak with a qualified DUI attorney about your situation. 

At Battlefield Law Group PLLC, our DUI/DWI attorneys defend your case and your other rights. Contact us today for a free consultation of your case.