New Florida Professional License law keeping out convicted felons.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) March 20, 2010 -- Effective July 1, 2009, applicants to the Department of Health, Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Office of Financial Regulation and the Department of Insurance will NOT be issued a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant has been:

“Convicted or plead guilty or nolo contende to a felony violation of chapters: 409, 817, or 893 of the Florida Statutes; or 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396, unless the sentence and any probation or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the application.”

This is a devastating new law which is effectuating a 15 year waiting period is going to keep talented individuals from ever becoming licensed. However, applicants need to speak with a Florida Licensing attorney before submitting their application to determine if they fit the exact criteria of this exclusion. Applicants should also know that there are mitigating factors found in the Florida administrative law code to this ruling under 69B-211.042(10)(a)(b). Applicants can receive up to a 4 year reduction in their wait time if they can submit mitigating evidence that they feel their wait time should be shortened, were under 21 at the time of the felony offense, went through a drug treatment program and other mitigating factors.

For more information on how to properly submit a Florida professional license application if you were previously convicted of a felony, contact Soreide Law Group, PLLC, at (888) 760-6552 or visit www.floridaprofessionallicense.com