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Regulatory boards are concerned about your criminal history. In some cases, despite your qualifications, your criminal history can prevent you from obtaining your license.

Under the old law, you could ask to have your records sealed if you had two misdemeanors and no felonies, or one misdemeanor and once felony. Now, if you have no more than five felonies of the fourth or fifth degree, or unlimited misdemeanors, you can ask to have your records sealed. You cannot seal convictions if the offense involved violence or it was a felony sex offense.

If you have one or more misdemeanors, you must wait one year. If you have a felony, you must wait three years. If you have two felonies, you must wait four years. If you have three, four, or five felonies, you must wait five years.

If your records are sealed, you do not have to admit to the conviction on job applications. The public no longer has access to these records through the court or police department. Regulatory agencies have different opinions on how the sealing of records affects your ability to hold a license.

If you have any questions about obtaining or retaining your license if you have a criminal history, you should consider contacting an attorney at Graff & McGovern. John Izzo of Graff & McGovern can be reached at 614-228-5800, extension 5, or johnizzo@grafflaw.com.