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How will a DWI affect your professional license

On Behalf of | Apr 29, 2022 | DWI

A DWI conviction can negatively impact your career and job prospects. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) can revoke your license to practice.

If an independent board regulates your profession, that governing body can take disciplinary action.

Action by the TDLR

The TDLR regulates many professions. The TDLR has licensing requirements for careers such as massage therapist, real estate inspector, podiatrists, dieticians, speech pathologists and electricians. Under Texas law, the TDLR can deny your license application if you get a DWI. The agency can also suspend or revoke existing licenses.

To deny an application, the person seeking the license has to have a DWI conviction within five years of applying for the license related to the profession’s duties. The TDLR will revoke a professional license for any felony conviction. You can have a felony conviction for a DWI.

Private licensing boards

Some professions, such as nurses, doctors, lawyers and accountants, have their own standards for professional regulation. If your job has its own licensing board, the consequences for a DWI conviction get decided by that authority. Most professional governing bodies look to the TDLR standards for penalties related to criminal convictions, but each decides its own punishments. Types of sanctions you might face from a professional board include fines, license suspension, mandatory education, conditions added to the license, or revocation.

If you have the misfortune of getting cited for a DWI, you need to protect your rights. A conviction for DWI can have severe impacts on your life and ability to earn income.