A domestic violence (DV) charge in Washington can feel like your entire career is on the line overnight. However, a charge and a conviction are two very different things, and they trigger very different consequences for your job, your license, and your military status.

Right now, your brain is probably racing through worst-case scenarios. Will your nursing board find out? Can your employer fire you before anything is proven? Does the military end your career just because you were charged? 

At Lewis & Laws, our Seattle domestic violence attorneys have worked with nurses, doctors, engineers, software developers, and active duty service members across Washington State who were facing these exact situations. We have seen firsthand how a charge alone does not automatically trigger licensing board action or immediate termination in most cases, and we know how to protect your career while your case is still moving through the courts.

Knowing what to do right now, before a conviction or dismissal, is the difference between keeping your career intact and letting the process make that decision for you.

What a DV Charge Actually Does to Your License, Clearance, or Job Right Now

Here is the thing most people get wrong. A charge is not a conviction. 

In Washington, your professional license does not automatically get pulled the moment someone files a DV charge against you. The Washington State Department of Health, which oversees nursing and other healthcare licenses, does not have an automatic system that flags you the second an arrest happens.

Healthcare Professionals

If you are a nurse, doctor, or allied health professional in the Seattle, WA area or anywhere in the state, your license is not in immediate danger from a charge alone. The Washington State Nursing Care Quality Commission and similar boards typically act based on a conviction or a guilty plea, not on an arrest or a pending charge. 

That said, some hospitals and health systems have their own internal policies that go further than state law requires. Your employer may place you on administrative leave while the case is active, even before anything is proven.

Tech Industry Workers

If you work in tech, your situation looks different. Washington has no state law that requires tech companies to report or act on a domestic violence charge. Your employer's response depends entirely on their own HR policies and your specific role. 

If your job involves working with vulnerable populations or you hold a security-sensitive position, you might face swifter penalties. But for most software developers and engineers, a charge alone does not end your job.

Military and Security Clearances

This is where things get more serious because the military does not wait for a conviction. Under federal regulations, a DV charge can trigger a review of your security clearance or your fitness for duty. 

The Lautenberg Amendment also means that a domestic violence conviction, specifically, can permanently bar you from possessing firearms, which creates additional complications for service members. A charge alone does not automatically trigger that bar, but it does put you on notice that your branch will be watching this closely.

If you hold a security clearance, the National Industrial Security Program requires you to self-report certain legal issues, including arrests. Failing to do so can actually cause more damage to your clearance than the charge itself.

Will Your Employer, Board, or Branch Actually Find Out?

This is the question that keeps most people up at night, and the honest answer is: it depends on your field and your specific employer.

Washington State does not have a single universal reporting law that forces every employer to learn about a DV charge. Court records in Washington are generally public, which means anyone can look them up. But most employers do not sit around checking court records daily. The people who do check are licensing boards, security clearance agencies, and military command structures.

Here are the steps you should take right now while your case is still active:

- Talk to a criminal defense attorney within the next 48 hours. Do not wait. The decisions you make in the first week set the tone for everything that follows.

- Do not discuss the charge with your employer, your licensing board, or anyone at work until you have legal advice. Saying the wrong thing early can create problems that did not need to exist. 

- Check your employment contract and any security clearance paperwork for self-reporting requirements. Missing a deadline on those is a separate issue that can follow you long after the charge is resolved.

- Document everything. Keep records of your cooperation, any counseling you complete, and all communication related to the case.

Your Career Is Worth Protecting. Talk to Lewis & Laws Today.

A DV charge does not have to define your career. But it will, if you do not act fast and act smart. Do not wait until a charge becomes a conviction. Do not guess about what your employer or licensing board will do. Get in front of this now, while you still have options.

Contact Lewis & Laws today to schedule a confidential consultation.