Can I become a teacher with a DUI felony charge from 11 years ago?

Posted by on . 6 comments.

When I was 18 I got into a drinking and driving accident and was ticketed a dui. I think it was a felony because I blew a .15 or higher. Now I am 29 and wanted to get my Master's in teaching but I just read on the application "have a history free of convictions of criminal miseameanors and/or felonies" does this mean I cannot teach?


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  1. jonesey says:
    November 29, 2009 at 7:26 am

    It varies. Many states have morality clauses.

    Get someone you trust to call the state department of education and ask for clarification. Don’t call yourself and give your name! What you quote indicates that you can’t, though.

  2. laughter_every_day says:
    November 29, 2009 at 7:26 am

    Sounds like you cannot teach in that district. Every state sets its own standards. I doubt if you were convicted of a felony. If you had been, you would remember because you would have been in prison.

  3. Golden says:
    November 29, 2009 at 7:26 am

    each district has it’s own rules, but those you mention are popular these days. look into getting your record expunged.

  4. aeriol7 says:
    November 29, 2009 at 7:26 am

    Yes, I doubt seriously if you were charged as a felon, it might have seemed like it then. If you were a first time offender and that young. The chances are your file was destroyed or closed because of your age and the penalty was dispensed. You can mount a search if you wish but I would not. If I was desperate to know I would hire a lawyer w/ police connections or talk candidly to a reporter off the record about a public record search in your state. You have probably really nothing to fear and most likely will be a definite credit to Your profession. Good luck

  5. Levi L says:
    November 29, 2009 at 7:26 am

    I would try http://www.duihelpnow.info

  6. Heaven K says:
    November 29, 2009 at 7:26 am

    When i first read your topic question I was ready to hear all about how you killed someone under the influence. I nearly laughed when you described your question though.

    Let’s first discuss what a DUI is.

    At it’s base a DUI is a misdemeanor. In my state if you blow a .18 or kill someone while under the influence the CHARGE is elevated to a felony DUI. http://www.lasvegasnevadadui.com/html/laws.html

    If you are convicted of a felony DUI, the penalty is STATE PRISON. Now the question is: Did you go to state prison? http://www.lasvegasnevadadui.com/html/penalties.html

    The way you’re talking, i doubt you went to state prison, which would lead me to believe you were not convicted of a felony DUI.

    Be that as it may, you say you were still convicted of a DUI, i.e. misdemeanor. The time period now comes into play also. Most states keep a DUI on file, for purposes of penalty, for 7 years. Your time period is now 11 years. So your record is technically fresh. http://www.lasvegasnevadadui.com/html/penalties.html

    Be that as it may, the DUI is still on the driving record. Does a DUI misdemeanor, which is a driving VIOLATION, elevate to the level of "criminal misdemeanor" as stated in the application? My opinion is that it doesn’t.

    Could someone embarrass you with the information? Probably.

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