A felony drug conviction can truly be a life altering experience.

If you are facing a felony drug offense you are probably scared and have a lot of questions on how this can affect your life. Truth be told, a conviction on this charge is very serious. Not only will be looking at years of imprisonment and heavy fines, you can also stand to lose your professional license.

It is very common to be charged with a felony drug charge, especially when dealing with Schedule I controlled substances like opiates. Even a small amount of opiates can put one in the felony offense tier. One can get a felony charge for carrying too much marijuana or being arrested with it in a school zone. In fact, according to the Administrative Officer of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC), out of 35,924 new drugs cases filed in 2018, 34.43% of those involved felony drug charges.

You will lose your License as a Social Worker.

According to Pennsylvania law, the board that oversees the licensing of social workers will not issue a professional license to anyone who has been convicted of a felony under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act for at least 10 years. This would also affect Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, and Licensed Professional Counselors. The statute 63 P.S. § 1907(a), (b), (d), (e) and (f) states:

An applicant shall be qualified for a license to hold oneself out as a licensed social worker, provided he or she submits proof satisfactory to the board that:

He or she has not been convicted of a felony under the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L. 233, No. 64), 1 known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, or of an offense under the laws of another jurisdiction, which, if committed in this Commonwealth, would be a felony under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, unless:

(1) at least ten years have elapsed from the date of conviction;
(2) the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates to the board that he has made significant progress in personal rehabilitation since the conviction such that licensure of the applicant should not be expected to create a substantial risk of harm to the health and safety of patients or the public or a substantial risk of further criminal violations; and
(3) the applicant otherwise satisfies the qualifications contained in or authorized by this act.

As used in this subsection the term “convicted” includes a judgment, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere.

If you are facing a felony drug charge, please call (717) 690-8643 to talk to one of the experienced attorneys at The McShane Firm so we can guide you through this trying time. We have helped many professionals keep their licenses and protected their future. We will work to protect the career that you worked so hard to secure. Call Now.

Justin McShane

PA DUI attorney Justin J. McShane is the President/CEO of The McShane Firm, LLC - Pennsylvania's top criminal law and DUI law firm. He is the highest rated DUI attorney in PA as rated by Avvo.com. Justin McShane is a double Board certified attorney. He is the first and so far the only Pennsylvania attorney to achieve American Bar Association recognized board certification in DUI defense from the National College for DUI Defense, Inc. He is also a Board Certified Criminal Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Approved Agency.