There are many professions where a professional license is required to practice. In the US, there are actually few professions where a license isn’t needed! Examples of professions where you need a license include accountancy, social work, teaching, law, and medicine.
Licensing requirements vary, but in all cases, it can be a convoluted process to acquire one, so the last thing any professional needs is to lose their license. Unfortunately, there are several scenarios where your professional license is at risk. If that happens, you will no longer be able to practice your profession, which will lead to a loss of income, status, and worse.
The Consequences of Losing Your License
Licensed professionals are usually viewed as fine, upstanding members of the community. Often, they are in positions of trust, such as teaching or accounting. If a professional person is subsequently accused of or found guilty of a crime, it not only reflects badly on them – it also casts a shadow on whatever institution they work for.
Not only will this lead to a loss of earnings, but it could also cause significant embarrassment, for you and your family.
People also lose their licenses when personal problems affect their professional life, such as alcohol or drug dependency.
Why You May Have Lost Your License
Being associated with criminal activities is likely to lead to you having your professional license suspended or revoked. If you are guilty, there may not be much you can do to avoid losing your license, but you may have been wrongly accused.
Sometimes, professionals face losing their license because of a mistake or because someone makes a complaint that simply isn’t true.
Either way, if it happens to you, it is sensible to consult a professional licensure attorney, who can look more closely at the specific licensing actions of the case.
All is not lost if you have had your professional license suspended or revoked. There are cases where licenses are reinstated, although it will depend on the exact circumstances of your case. This is where an experienced lawyer can help you.
What Happens Next?
Your lawyer will guide you in the next steps, but if your license is not quickly reinstated, you will need to come to terms with a new normal. Since you won’t be able to practice anymore, it’s a good idea to start looking at retraining for a new job, networking to build new contacts, and making a new life for yourself.
Depending on the severity of your infractions, you may be able to apply to have your license reinstated after 1-3 years. If this is your plan, bear in mind any reinstatement of a professional license only happens after the petitioner has proven they have taken steps to prevent the same thing from happening again and are now suitable qualified to do their job.
If you do decide to petition for the reinstatement of your license, make sure you consult a lawyer first to maximize your chances of a successful outcome.