Pursuant to Chapter 53 of the Occupations Code and 22 TAC 882.41, the Council can provide an individual with a preliminary evaluation of his or her criminal background to determine if the individual’s background would prevent him or her from obtaining licensure.
To request such a determination, an individual must submit a complete Application for Criminal History Evaluation Letter, along with the correct fee and any supporting documentation. The Council cannot conduct an evaluation without all of these items.
The Application for Criminal History Evaluation Letter is available for download on the Forms and Publications webpage.
Individuals who intend to to submit an Application for Criminal History Evaluation Letter should wait until they have submitted the application before completing their fingerprint criminal history check. The Council is prohibited by state and federal law from accessing an individual’s criminal history record information until that individual has submitted an application. Individuals who obtain their fingerprint criminal history check prior to submitting an application will be removed from the Council’s access que in the DPS system and may suffer delays in the evaluation process as a result thereof.
The State Auditor’s Office, in collaboration with occupational licensing authorities, has developed a guide to provide an overview of the occupational licensing application process for an individual with a criminal conviction or deferred adjudication for a felony or misdemeanor offense. The guide presents the process outlined in Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 53, but is not intended to serve as legal advice. You may view or download the guide by clicking on the following link: Best Practices Guide: Applying for an Occupational License After Conviction or Deferred Adjudication.
