Getting arrested for DUI is stressful for anybody, but there are potentially severe consequences for your medical license. If the court convicts you of DUI, it is possible that the State Board may decide to limit or even revoke your license. However, not all arrests for DUI end in conviction.
An alternative to conviction for many persons arrested for DUI in Pennsylvania is to join the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program. According to the government of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program is for first-time offenders who do not have prior convictions.
What does the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program do?
This program is not specifically for medical professionals. Rather, the intent is to keep non-violent first time offenders of all kinds out of the criminal justice system to save state resources. The program looks for defendants who are likely to respond well to rehabilitation.
Generally speaking, if you are eligible for and decide to take place in the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program, you will be under supervision for 2 years. The majority of persons in this program have an arrest for DUI.
How will this influence my medical license renewal?
Being a part of the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program is not a conviction for DUI, strictly speaking. However, you will need to disclose that you have received probation without a verdict. This could possibly cause the State Board to investigate the situation and it may result in license restrictions.
The best course of action is to talk with a lawyer prior to reapplying for your medical license if you are a participant in the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program.