DUI and Your Professional License
What a DUI Can Mean for a License
An arrest for driving under the influence is a criminal matter and, for a licensed professional, it can also become a licensing matter. The licensing matter and the criminal case are separate proceedings with different standards and consequences, and a resolution in one may affect the other.
The points below apply to most Pennsylvania licensees.
- In Pennsylvania, even a first-offense DUI is graded as a misdemeanor.
- A DUI with a passenger under 18 in the vehicle is a first-degree misdemeanor, even for a first offense.
- A conviction, plea or ARD on a DUI charge must be reported to your board in writing within 30 days.
- Registered and practical nurses must also report pending criminal charges within 30 days of their filing (or on the renewal application, if sooner).
- A board may view a DUI, particularly a repeat offense, as a possible sign of a substance use disorder.
- For licensees of health-related boards, the matter may lead to a referral to the Professional Health Monitoring Program.
- A driver’s license suspension by PennDOT is separate from any action on a professional license.
Questions Licensees Ask
Will a single DUI result in the loss of my license?
Not necessarily. The outcome depends on the profession, the facts, any prior record and the licensee’s response, and some matters are closed without formal action. Concerns increase where there are repeat offenses, signs of impairment at work or a failure to report.
Should I accept ARD?
ARD, where it is offered, resolves a DUI charge without a conviction, but it is still reportable to the board within 30 days. The decision should be made with both the criminal and the licensing consequences in view.
Do I need a separate lawyer for the licensing matter?
The licensing matter is decided by a licensing board under its own law, not by the criminal court. Where a licensee faces criminal charges, the firm handles the licensing matter and coordinates with the licensee’s criminal defense counsel.
Can a DUI lead to a mental or physical evaluation?
Some practice acts allow a board, upon probable cause, to order a mental or physical examination, and under those acts a failure to submit may be treated as an admission of the allegations. A DUI involving alcohol or drugs may lead to that request, particularly for licensees of health-related boards.
Does a DUI affect a license application?
A board reviewing an application must follow Act 53 of 2020, which limits how a conviction may be considered; Act 53 also applies when a board considers discipline of a current licensee for a criminal offense. The Licensing With a Criminal Record page explains that process.
Meet Your Attorney
Steven A. Mimm, Esq.
Founder, Mimm Law, LLC. Admitted in Pennsylvania (2008) and New Jersey (2022).
From 2014 to 2022, Attorney Steven A. Mimm served as a prosecuting attorney bringing disciplinary actions on behalf of the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs before Pennsylvania's licensing boards. That experience informs how the firm evaluates evidence, negotiates with the Commonwealth and prepares cases for hearing. Where a licensee also faces criminal charges, the firm handles the licensing matter and coordinates with the licensee's criminal defense counsel.
Related: Licensing and FAQs · All Licensing Boards
Last reviewed September 2026. The information on this page is general in nature and is not legal advice. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.