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How Does a Criminal Conviction Affect a

Teaching License in Pennsylvania?

Criminal Convictions and a Teaching Career do not mix well in Pennsylvania, for becoming a teacher and while working in the Teaching profession. Like many professions, Teachers must attend years of schooling as now master’s degrees are preferred, work as a student teacher for a semester, and pass the Pennsylvania Teacher Certification exam. The Pennsylvania Department of Education monitors the Teaching profession in Pennsylvania. The hard work, dedication, sacrifice, expense, and job security of becoming a licensed and certified Teacher in Pennsylvania are not things worth losing over a foolish mistake, such as a DUI arrest. So: How Does a Criminal Conviction Affect a Teaching License in Pennsylvania?

Paul S. Peters III, Esq. understands the dire consequences of losing your Teaching license, such as threatening your ability to work and provide for yourself and your family. If you find yourself in danger of losing your Teaching license through action by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, you will need an experienced, trusted, and aggressive lawyer at your side to advocate on your behalf. Paul S. Peters III, Esq. will provide you with that needed advocacy and legal defense; he is a former teacher himself. Call Paul S. Peters III, Esquire at 215-291-2944.

Criminal Convictions and Teaching in Pennsylvania

Background Checks

Teachers in Pennsylvania must pass multiple background checks that include a Pennsylvania State Police Background Check, FBI Fingerprint Check, and Department of Human Services Child Abuse Check. Given that Teaching means you are around society’s most vulnerable and precious citizens, children, the Pennsylvania Department of Education takes criminal convictions and other questionable actions exceptionally seriously. Teachers in Pennsylvania must adhere to a high standard of ethics and character.

Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, specific criminal convictions automatically result in a person being ineligible to ever teach in Pennsylvania and suspension of one’s teaching license. Pennsylvania Statute 24 P.S. §1-111(e) states the following:

No person subject to this act shall be employed or remain employed in a public or private school if a background check indicates the person has been convicted of any of the following offenses under Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes:

Any violent or sexually related offense in your past or while Teaching will certainly disqualify you from participating in the profession of education.

DUI and Suspension of a Nursing License in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, while a DUI conviction does not result in an automatic disqualification from Teaching, schools have the freedom to make disciplinary decisions based on the DUI conviction alone, including denial or termination of employment. A DUI raises a red flag to educational institutions about your fitness, character, judgment, and trustworthiness relating to children. Not only can you lose your ability to teach at a specific school, the Pennsylvania Department of Education can suspend your teaching license. A termination of employment or suspension of your license could be highly likely if drugs were involved in your DUI conviction.

Pennsylvania Statute 24 P.S. §1-111(f)(3) provides some guidance to schools relating to DUI offense by stating:

If the report of criminal history record submitted by an employee indicates the person has been convicted more than once for an offense under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802(a), (b), (c) or (d) (relating to driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance) and the offense is graded as a misdemeanor of the first degree, the person shall be eligible for current or prospective employment only if a period of three years has elapsed from the date of expiration of the sentence for the most recent offense.

Therefore, if you are a multiple DUI offender, schools face hurdles to even give you the benefit of the doubt.

You may be able to avoid putting your teaching license at risk if you hire an experienced DUI and Teaching License Defense Attorney such as Paul S. Peters III, Esq. Attorney Peters can aggressively advocate for your entry into the ARD Diversion Program if the DUI is your first offense. The ARD program will avoid a conviction and allow you to expunge the DUI arrest from your record. The avoidance of a DUI conviction can, in turn, act to prevent a Teaching license suspension.

If you are a teacher faced with consequences from a DUI conviction, it is essential to have an aggressive, experienced, and trusted lawyer for both your DUI matter and hearing before the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Paul S. Peters III, Esquire, is the legal advocate you need. As a former teacher himself, he can relate to the stress and concerns you will experience and is fully aware of the high stakes you face.

Learn About PA DUIs and ARD

Other Crimes and Suspension of PA Teaching License

Other offenses impacting a Teaching license are ones involving theft or fraud relating to the school, misuse of school property, accepting gifts or bribes that affect your judgment, physical or mental mistreatment of a student, or the disclosure of a student’s confidential information.

For felonies and misdemeanors not explicitly listed above, Pennsylvania Statute 24 P.S. §1-111(f)(1 and 2) states:

– If a report of criminal history indicates the person has been convicted of an offense graded as a felony other than one of the offenses enumerated under subsection (e), the person shall be eligible for continued or prospective employment only if a period of ten years has elapsed from the date of expiration of the sentence for the offense.

– If a report of criminal history indicates the person has been convicted of an offense graded as a misdemeanor of the first degree, other than one of the offenses enumerated in subsection (e), the person shall be eligible for continued or prospective employment only if a period of five years has elapsed from the date of expiration of the sentence for the offense.

Learn More About Felonies and Misdemeanors

Crimes of Moral Turpitude

Any serious felony offense such as Murder, Arson, Kidnapping, Burglary, or Rape, will undoubtedly prevent you from obtaining or result in a loss of your Teaching License. As will any conviction for all levels of sexual offenses and offenses involving harm to children. Crimes for theft can also result in a license suspension. These crimes call into question a person’s morals, ethics, character, and judgment. The crimes fall into the category of crimes of “MORAL TURPITUDE” requiring disclosure.

Mandatory Reporter

As a licensed Teacher, you are considered a MANDATORY REPORTER in Pennsylvania regarding suspected child abuse. If you fail to uphold the duties and requirements of a MANDATORY REPORTER you will face criminal charges and consequences, as well as the loss of your job and medical license.

Teachers are typically the first Profession thought of when hearing the term MANDATORY REPORTER

Substance or Alcohol Abuse and PA Teaching License

If accused or suspected of substance or alcohol abuse while Teaching, both your teaching position and license will be threatened depending on the nature and circumstances. Substance and alcohol abuse issues are extremely concerning for teachers for apparent reasons. If abuse is suspected, you can face an investigation and hearing by the school and Pennsylvania Department of Education. The investigation can result in a requirement that you attend and complete drug and alcohol counseling, submit to random drug screens, and have your position or licensee placed on probation, restrictions, or terminated and suspended.

How We Can Help

All categories and levels of criminal charges are taken extremely seriously by schools and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. If you are facing criminal charges of any kind, your ability to be a teacher in Pennsylvania is in jeopardy. For the criminal case, and hearings before the school and Pennsylvania Department of Education, it is vital you have competent and aggressive legal representation. Paul S. Peters III, Esquire, with his 20-years of legal experience in criminal defense and licensing defense, will provide the trusted, experienced, and zealous legal advocacy needed to protect your liberty and teaching license. His legal ability and understanding are unique in this situation, given he is a former teacher.

If you are a Teacher and facing DUI or other criminal charges, you must immediately obtain an experienced, trusted, and aggressive Criminal and License Defense Lawyer. You will need representation for both the DUI or other criminal charges and defense of your Teaching license before the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Paul S. Peters III, Esq. is the trusted, experienced, and aggressive legal partner needed to defend your rights and Teaching license in Criminal Court and before the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Paul S. Peters III, Esq. handles matters in Pennsylvania arising in: Montgomery, Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, Lehigh, Lancaster, Northampton, and Berks, County, just to name a few.

Do not waste one minute, contact the Aggressive, Experienced, Trusted, and Compassionate Pennsylvania Criminal and Teaching License Defense Lawyer, Paul S. Peters III, Esq.