Architecture Life

2 Responses on Is a clean record needed to become an Architect?

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  By Patrick M at July 3rd, 2008

  Employers have become increasingly concerned about knowing if an applicant has a criminal record. More employers are conducting pre-employment background checks for criminal records. Employers have been the subject of large jury verdicts for negligent hiring in cases where they hire a person with a criminal record that harms others, and it could have been avoided by a criminal record check. That is because employers have a legal duty to exercise due diligence in the hiring process, and that duty can be violated if an employer hires someone that they either knew or should have known in the exercise of reasonable care was dangerous or unfit for a job. The concern from the employer’s point of view is that a person with a criminal past may have a propensity to re-offend in the future.

  On the other hand, society also has a vested interest in helping people with a past criminal record obtain and maintain employment. It is difficult for an ex-offender to become a law abiding, tax-paying citizen without a job. Unless society wants to continue to spend its tax dollars on building more and more jails and prisons, ex-offenders need the opportunity to rejoin the workforce.

  Not many colleges will refuse to take people that have done a minor offence, so yeah you can have a shot at being an architect

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  By tngandhkm at July 4th, 2008

  Your problem will be in any licensing and if you have a felony conviction. If it’s not a felony and just a misdemeanor you are probably going to be OK. If it’s a felony, that’s a difficult hurdle to clear. Check the licensing laws of your state (or the state you would be practicing in) and see if they have any rules for obtaining a license. For example, I live in Florida and here is what the licensing board asks:

  Have you ever been convicted of a crime, found guilty, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere (no contest) to, even if you received a withhold of adjudication? This question applies to any violation of the laws of any municipality,county, state or nation, including felony, misdemeanor and traffic offenses (but not parking, speeding, inspection, or traffic signal violations), without regard to whether you were placed on probation, had adjudication withheld, were paroled, or pardoned. If you intend to answer “NO” because you believe those records have been expunged or sealed by court order pursuant to Section 943.058,Florida Statutes, or applicable law of another state, you are responsible forverifying the expungement or sealing prior to answering “NO.” YOUR ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION WILL BE CHECKED AGAINST LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL RECORDS. FAILURE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION ACCURATELY MAY RESULT IN THE DENIAL OR REVOCATION OF YOUR LICENSE. IF YOU DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THIS QUESTION, CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY OR CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT.

  If you answered “YES”, please provide the full details of any criminal conviction, lawsuit or judgment, or administrative action including the nature of any charges, dates, outcomes, sentences, and/or conditions imposed; the dates, name and location of the court and/or jurisdiction in which any proceedings were held or are pending; and the designation and/or license number for any actions against a license or licensure application……it goes on to tell you what forms are required for these documents.