Think a dismissal wiped your slate clean? For licensed professionals, the difference between an expunged record and a sealed one can make or break a career move. We sit down with Houston criminal defense attorney Justin Keiter to break down what employers, licensing boards, and federal programs still see—and how to keep a background check from derailing years of hard work.
We begin by clarifying the core terms: dismissal, expungement, and sealing. Justin explains how arrest data flows from local agencies to state repositories and national databases like TCIC and NCIC, often mirrored with the FBI. A dismissed case usually updates to “dismissed,” but the arrest remains visible to many checks. Expungement removes the entry from your criminal history and generally lets you lawfully deny the arrest. Sealing hides it from the public while keeping it viewable to hospital districts, school districts, government agencies, licensing bodies, and law enforcement, especially in fingerprint-based reviews.
From there, we dive into high-stakes scenarios. Applying for a master electrician or plumber license, hospital credentialing, can trigger deeper screenings that still surface sealed or dismissed cases. Justin outlines the biggest mistakes he sees: applying before expungement, assuming a sealed case is invisible, and relying on DIY packets that fail to properly notify agencies and boards. Once you apply, the data is captured and you cannot unwind it, which can lead to denials, delays, and awkward explanations that undermine credibility.
You’ll hear a practical roadmap to regain control: run your own state criminal history, check your driving record, use reputable consumer background tools, then engage an attorney who understands expunctions and licensing rules. Get the timing right—clear the record before you submit applications—and keep a clean paper trail of orders and agency confirmations. The payoff is clarity, accuracy, and confidence that your past won’t overshadow your skills and integrity.
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