Obtaining the right to practice medicine in the United States is an honor that some doctors work for over the course of years or even decades. They may commit themselves to years of rigorous study as well as internships and residencies during which they may become more experienced with hands-on practice in their area of medicine. A doctor who practices in Pennsylvania or another state likely also went through the process of applying for and receiving their medical license.
The process of obtaining a medical license can take several months, and that period of time includes the weeks it may take an applicant to prepare their application and the months it may take for the licensing board to make a determination. According to the American Medical Association an applicant for a medical license may have to wait around 60 days to learn if they have been granted one by the applicable governing board.
An application for a medical license requires a person to provide a lot of information about their education and personal history. When an applicant has criminal allegations or convictions on their past record they may fear that they will not be approved for the license they need to practice in the fields of their training. However, in the course of preparing their application a person may provide an explanation of the allegations or criminal matter to the governing board to mitigate its impact on their review of the applicant’s request for a license.
A prior arrest or conviction may not be a bar to practicing medicine. When it comes to tackling these tough issues in applications for medical licenses individuals may want help to make sure they get the wording right. Attorneys who support medical professionals can guide them through the important task of explaining prior criminal conduct on their license applications.
