When you were young, having a lucrative and fulfilling career may have not been your primary concern. As an adult, though, a conviction from young adulthood may interfere with your ability to obtain a professional license.
If you cannot work in your chosen field because of an offense-related lack of licensure, you may have some hope. A Certificate of Restoration of Opportunity is a civil order that may clear the way for you to apply for your professional license.
Eligibility for a CROP
To be eligible for a CROP, your conviction must be for a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or less-serious felony offense. Sometimes, individuals who are ineligible for expungement under state law qualify for CROP relief. Still, you likely must go through a waiting period of between one and five years before seeking a CROP.
License-related benefits of a CROP
If you need a license for your chosen career, you should check with the licensing body or agency to determine if it accepts CROPs.
Unfortunately, the following individuals may not receive much benefit from a CROP, even if they are able to obtain one:
- Police officers, private investigators and security guards
- Accountants
- Teachers
- Doctors, nurses and long-term care facility workers
Otherwise, if you receive a CROP, government licensing bodies typically consider it. Stated differently, if you have a CROP, many government licensing boards probably cannot disqualify you due to your earlier criminal conviction.