What You Need to Know About Felony Friendly Medical Careers

Are there any felony friendly medical careers? Can you be a Medical Assistant with a felony? What about an MD?

The medical field is highly regulated to ensure patient safety, making it challenging to pursue a medical career with a felony.

Challenging doesn’t mean impossible though. Felons have even established successful careers as doctors and registered nurses which are both highly regulated professions.

What You Need to Know About Felony Friendly Medical Careers

Can I work in the medical field with a felony? Your ability to work in the medical field will depend on the felony you were convicted of, the type of work you want to do, and the occupational licensing laws in the state you’re in or plan to move to.

If your chosen occupation requires a license, and the licensing board disqualifies all or some felons, you won’t be able to proceed with your plans in that state.

While there are some options for entry-level careers in healthcare that don’t require a license, you’ll need to have a state-issued license for the majority of medical careers.

State Licensure Requirements

Your ability to get the license you need for the medical career you want to pursue will depend on:

• The nature of your felony
• State law governing licensing decisions

Licensing boards run background checks on all applicants. Your felony may mean you won’t meet the board’s moral character requirement or be able to satisfy their safety and ethical standards.

Some states have limits on how far back licensing boards can go on criminal background checks and how they can use criminal records.

Check the law in your state at The Restoration of Rights Project. You might need to consider moving to a more felon-friendly state to have better employment options.

Restoration of Rights Project: https://ccresourcecenter.org/state-restoration-profiles/50-state-comparisoncomparison-of-criminal-records-in-licensing-and-employment/

Employment Policies

Unless your state limits how far back a criminal background check can go, employers will always be able to see your felony.

Your ability to get hired will depend on the policies of the healthcare facilities you apply to and how well you can demonstrate your rehabilitation efforts.

Convictions related to drugs, violence, and sex offenses will make it hard to find employment.

Research the healthcare employers in your area. You should be able to find detailed eligibility requirements on employers’ websites.

Easiest To Enter Medical Careers For Felons

• Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
• Medical Assistant
• Phlebotomist
• Home Health Aid
• Dental Assistant
• Patient Care Technician
• Sterile Processing Technician

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

(Certification often required, no licensure)

Medical Billing and Coding Specialists manage patient data.

Duties include translating medical procedures and diagnoses into the standardized codes used for billing purposes, recording patient information correctly, and submitting claims to insurance companies for reimbursement.

Medical Assistants

(Certification preferred, licensure varies by state)

Medical Assistants support physicians and other healthcare professionals in clinical and administrative settings.

Clinical duties may include taking patient histories, measuring vital signs, administering injections, preparing patients for exams, and assisting with minor procedures.

Administrative tasks include scheduling appointments, managing patient records, processing billing, and coordinating with insurance companies.

Phlebotomist

(Certification often required, licensure varies by state)

Phlebotomists draw blood from patients for tests, transfusions, donations, and research.

Main duties involve preparing the patient, ensuring proper labeling and handling of blood samples, and maintaining sterile and safe techniques throughout the process.

Phlebotomists are also responsible for maintaining patient records, preparing specimens for laboratory analysis, and following health regulations to prevent contamination and infection.

Home Health Aide

(Certification may be required, licensure varies by state)

Home Health Aides provide care to patients in their homes, assisting with daily living activities and basic healthcare needs.

Responsibilities include helping patients with bathing and dressing, preparing meals, and ensuring patients take their medications as prescribed.

Home Health Aids also assist with mobility, monitor patients’ vital signs, and perform light housekeeping tasks.

Dental Assistant

(Licensure required in some states)

Dental Assistants carry out a range of tasks to help dentists care for patients.

Duties include preparing examination areas, sterilizing dental instruments, and assisting the dentist during procedures.

Dental Assistants also take dental X-rays, maintain patient records, educate patients about good oral hygiene, schedule appointments, and ensure the dental office runs smoothly.

Patient Care Technician

(Certification preferred, licensure varies by state)

Patient Care Technicians assist patients under the supervision of nurses and doctors.

Responsibilities include monitoring vital signs, assisting with mobility and personal hygiene, changing bedding, and feeding.

PCTs may also collect stool and urine samples, administer medications, and use medical equipment to perform basic diagnostic tests.

Sterile Processing Technician

(Certification often required, licensure varies by state)

Sterile Processing Technicians are responsible for sterilizing and preparing the medical instruments and equipment used in healthcare facilities.

Duties involve cleaning and disinfecting surgical instruments, operating sterilization equipment, and assembling instrument trays for surgeries and medical procedures.

Sterile Processing Technicians also manage inventory, track sterilization processes, and maintain detailed records of sterilization procedures.

Non-Clinical Medical Careers For Felons

• Medical Transcriptionist
• Medical Receptionist
• Public Health Professional
• Medical Sales Representative
• Clinical Data Manager
• Certified Diabetes Educator
• Patient Advocate

Medical Transcriptionist

(Certification often required, no licensure)

Medical Transcriptionists use transcription software to convert voice recordings from healthcare professionals into written reports and documents.

Duties include transcribing medical histories, discharge summaries, and diagnostic reports.

Medical Receptionist

(No licensure required)

Medical Receptionists manage front desk operations in healthcare facilities.

Responsibilities include scheduling appointments, answering phone calls, and handling patient check-ins and check-outs.

Medical Receptionists also manage patient records and process insurance paperwork.

Public Health Professional

(No licensure required)

Public Health Professionals work with government agencies and nonprofits to improve community health through education, policy, and research.

Responsibilities involve collecting and analyzing data, designing and implementing health programs, conducting research on health trends, and advocating for public health policies.

Medical Sales Representative

(No licensure required)

Medical Sales Representatives promote and sell medical products, equipment, and services to healthcare providers.

Main duties include identifying potential clients, conducting product demonstrations, negotiating sales contracts, and providing ongoing customer support.

Clinical Data Manager

(No licensure required)

Clinical Data Managers work with researchers and oversee the collection, management, and analysis of clinical trial data during the development of new drugs and medical treatments.

Responsibilities include designing data collection systems, ensuring data accuracy, and complying with regulatory standards.

Certified Diabetes Educator

(Certification required, no licensure)

Certified Diabetes Educators help patients manage diabetes through education and support.

Duties include assessing patients’ educational needs, creating personalized management plans, and teaching patients about blood sugar monitoring, medication, nutrition, and lifestyle changes.

Patient Advocate

(No licensure required)

Patient Advocates guide patients through the healthcare system, ensuring they receive appropriate care and services.

Responsibilities include helping patients understand their diagnoses and treatment options, assisting with insurance and billing issues, and representing patients’ interests in medical decision-making processes.

Which States Allow Felons To Practice Medicine

Contact state medical boards to find out which states you can practice medicine in with your particular criminal background.

Some states have a process in place allowing applicants with criminal backgrounds to get a preliminary decision on their ability to get approval from the medical board.

In those states, you can ask for a preliminary assessment at any time. Whether you’re just exploring career options, are part way through your studies, or want to return to practice after completing your sentence.

In other states, a medical board employee will only give you an unofficial opinion.

States with more lenient licensing policies only allow disqualification based on criminal records that have a direct relationship to the license sought. These states include:

• California
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Mississippi

Check the detailed state overviews at the Restoration of Rights project for more information.