Step 4: Research any job barriers you may face because of your arrest or conviction history

Some jobs are harder, or maybe even impossible, to get for individuals with certain arrests or convictions on their record. It is important to be hopeful, but also realistic, as you plan for your education and future career. Knowing potential barriers and how to overcome those barriers (if possible) is critical to achieving your goals.

Jobs that give employees access to private or sensitive information (like financial records), vulnerable people (like children, the elderly, patients, or incarcerated people), or high-security locations (like airports or federal buildings) tend to have more barriers for people with conviction histories. Jobs that require a state license or certification also tend to have more barriers for people with criminal records. 

Jobs with Legal Restrictions for People with Criminal Records. Although this list is incomplete, below are some examples of jobs that have legal restrictions for people with certain criminal convictions. In general, these are jobs where employees have access to private or sensitive information (like financial records), vulnerable people (like children or the elderly), or high-security places (such as airports) where there is a greater risk of harm to the public.

    Airport security screeners (or anyone with unsupervised access to secure airport areas);[2699]
    Federal law enforcement officers;[2700]
    Defense contractors;[2701]
    Prisoner transportation workers;[2702]
    Port workers;[2703]
    Bank employees;[2704]
    Insurance employees;[2705]
    Jobs that manage employee benefits plan;[2706]
    Childcare workers in federal facilities or agencies;[2707]
    Working for a school district in a position that requires certification or in a supervisory capacity (if you have been convicted of a felony defined as serious or violent);[2708]

Occupational Licenses. In California, roughly 200 careers require a state license or certificate. There are 50+ licensing boards, agencies, and bureaus that oversee the license application process, and many licensing boards have restrictions about issuing licenses to people with certain convictions (see next question for more information). So even though this information can be difficult and frustrating to learn, it will help you to design the best path for yourself—one that you are passionate about but that is also realistic. Given the laws and barriers in place regarding certain professions and license, this information may be useful to consider when making decisions regarding your educational path. For more information about legal and professional/occupational licensing restrictions, see the EMPLOYMENT CHAPTER, PG. 601.

Applying for a professional/occupational license generally requires submitting your fingerprints, paying various application fees, and proving that you meet certain educational and/or work experience requirements, which are set by the particular licensing board that you’re applying to.[2709]

There are over 200 jobs in California that require a professional/occupational license. Here is a list of a few of the most common jobs that require a license:

    Barber
    Cosmetologist
    Security guard
    Child care worker or Family child care provider
    Teacher
    Contractor
    Real estate agent
    Pharmacist or Pharmacy technician
    Nurse or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
    Home health aid (HHA) or Personal care aid (PCA)
    Dentist, Dental assistant, or Registered dental hygienist
    Physical therapist or Physical therapist assistant
    Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic

To find out whether the specific job you want requires a professional/occupational license, contact the Department of Consumer Affairs at (800) 952-5210. You can also ask the DCA for information to contact the specific licensing board that oversees that type of work. To learn more about specific licensing requirements for the job you want, you will need to contact the specific licensing board that oversees that type of work.

    For a list of licensing boards and their contact information, go to http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/dca_booklet.pdf.
    For links to each of the licensing boards, go to http://www.dca.ca.gov/about_dca/entities.shtml.

To learn more about legal restrictions and professional/occupational licensing restrictions for people with criminal records, and ways you may be able to get a license, see the EMPLOYMENT CHAPTER, PG. 600.

  1. 2699

    49 U.S.C § 44935(e)(2)(B).

  2. 2700

    5 U.S.C. § 7371(b).

  3. 2701

    10 U.S.C. § 2408(a).

  4. 2702

    42 U.S.C. § 13726b(b)(1).

  5. 2703

    46 U.S.C. § 70105(c).

  6. 2704

    12 U.S.C. § 1829.

  7. 2705

    18 U.S.C. § 1033(e).

  8. 2706

    29 U.S.C. § 1111(a).

  9. 2707

    42 U.S.C. § 13041(a).

  10. 2708

    Cal. Veh. Code § 44830.1(a).

  11. 2709

    See, e.g., Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 478.