A felon’s plans can easily be upset after a conviction. The career that you planned for may be gone. What now? Can you start over by working toward a medical career? Let’s answer the question.

Can a felon work in the medical field?

In this blog post, we’ll cover the following:

• Preparing for a Medical Career
• Medical Fields Less Difficult to Enter
• Medical Fields More Difficult to Enter
• Background Check?
• Licensure
• A Plan for Success

Preparing for a Medical Career

For those felons wanting to enter the medical field, the first step will be to get the education needed for a medical career. Of course that will depend on what area of the medical field you are interested in.

Each field has its own requirements, including education, training, and possibly some type of apprentice or internship.

A healthcare program can take anywhere from 16 months to four years to complete, depending on the particular field.

It’s a long road to become a medical professional even for those with no criminal record. It starts with the education to earn a college degree and maintaining a high GPA, usually above 3.0 or even 3.5. 

While there is no set major required for a medical career, it’s usually best to pursue a degree in a science-related field.

Just getting into college can be a challenge for someone with a felony conviction as more than 60% of colleges currently consider criminal histories in decisions. 

Medical Fields Less Difficult to Enter

Not all medical fields are as difficult for felons to enter, but it is still a major challenge. A lot of that depends on the closeness of patient contact that you have. 

Those medical fields that demand less contact with patients or the general public are easier to pursue.

Some of this is the same in any job that felons may seek. Those jobs that have less contact with the public are often easier for getting a start.

While medical professions are certainly not the same as typical jobs, the same idea applies.

If you want to work in an area of the medical profession that involves basic lab work or working within a specific area, you may have a better shot at it.

Some of the typical medical fields that may be slightly easier to work in are such areas as a medical assistant or a nurse aid. These are positions that require more supervision and may be a better chance for employment.

A home healthcare aid position may also be easier to get into. Medical coding also may be an area that will be more possible for felons.

A medical administrative assistant career may also be more possible. Again, this is the type of career that requires less direct patient contact and has more stringent supervision.

Medical Fields More Difficult to Enter

Just as there are particular medical fields that are somewhat easier for felons to enter, there are also a number of medical careers that are quite difficult to attain.

Some of these are ones that require a higher degree of patient contact and are also often seen as demanding a higher level of public trust. 

Of course, felons are not generally known for being trustworthy or having the degree of integrity that is required to work in these areas.

A felony that involves a sexual offense, crimes of violence such as murder or manslaughter, a drug-related offense, and any type of theft will work against you in getting into the medical field.

Crimes involving theft, fraud, or any kind of dishonesty and deceit will also make it very challenging to enter the medical field. These crimes of moral turpitude will create major concern relating to protecting patient information and ensuring privacy.

Some of these medical careers are working as a doctor, nurse, physician assistant, paramedic, radiologist, surgical tech, and others.

Background Check?

Most positions in the medical field have a rather strict background check. For example, most medical schools run background checks. 

The types of background check in the medical field look for felonies and other serious crimes in addition to arrests, misdemeanors, and other convictions. These are all important factors in any decision relating to starting a medical career.

Having a felony charge may still appear on a background check even if the charges were dropped, especially if fingerprints were taken. Many medical schools or other medical training programs use a national fingerprint database when doing a background check.  

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) uses a national background check service for member schools. The strict hiring policies of hospitals, medical centers, and nursing facilities demands a rigid background check.

Licensure

Most healthcare jobs require a license after completing an accredited education program. There are different licensing requirements and policies regarding granting licenses to convicted felons.

It depends on the specific medical area as well as the state regarding licensing requirements. Many medical fields have independent licensing boards, each of which has specific rules and regulations regarding felony and other criminal offenses by any applicants.

As an example, to become a medical assistant, there are three different licensing boards: American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), American Medical Technologists (AMT), and National Healthcare Association (NHA). 

Each has different policies regarding licensure, especially as that relates to felons.

A felony conviction may make it difficult to obtain a license to practice in some states. Each state sets specific requirements for obtaining a medical license. In most states, certain types of felony convictions makes you ineligible for a license. 

A Plan for Success

While it is quite challenging to get into the medical field, there are some steps you can follow to give yourself the best chance at success.

First, it is essential to be honest in reporting all information on applications. To not do so is itself a crime that could lead to your perhaps being incarcerated again.

All efforts that you make toward rehabilitation, such as going through a drug program for any drug-related offense could make a difference.

Pursuing some type of volunteer work will help you make a positive contribution and re-establish your connection to the community.

Of course, references are always important. Having someone who knows and trusts you vouch for you on an application will make a difference.

Also, take time to come up with a current resume that documents your work history and your positive accomplishments after your release can be quite beneficial.

Many professional schools look at applications on a case-by-case basis. If you can show that there were mitigating factors that led to your felony conviction, you may be granted an exception.

If yours was a one-time crime instead of a series of convictions, you stand a better chance of getting a favorable review.

It is essential that as you seek to live an honest lifestyle, that you follow the law and be honest in all information you provide.

Not doing so will jeopardize your freedom and could result in going back to jail.

Don’t take that chance. You are not defined by your past mistakes but by how you respond to them. Make a good choice.

What do you think about this blog post? Have you or someone you know been in the situation of trying to work in the medical field with a felony? What was that like, and what happened? Please tell us in the comments below.