
You can be a personal trainer with a DUI – there is no law preventing you from doing so. However, California law states that gyms have an obligation to hire personal trainers as employees and not independent contractors. As such, certain gyms may not be willing to hire someone with a criminal record, even if a DUI is the only offense you have.
What does this mean for your career? While you may not automatically be disqualified from personal trainer positions, it may be harder than usual for you to secure one. Fortunately, you can fight to have a DUI conviction removed from your record. A Los Angeles DUI lawyer can fight on your behalf.
Can a DUI Prevent You from Becoming a Personal Trainer?
While a DUI does not automatically disqualify you from becoming a personal trainer with a California gym, a DUI can make it more difficult to apply for work. Because California gyms have to hire personal trainers as employees, aspiring trainers must meet a gym’s requirements to begin working under a gym’s umbrella.
This is to say, a gym establishes a policy stating that it will not hire anyone with a DUI or criminal record, a DUI may disqualify you from working as a personal trainer at that facility.
Fortunately, most gyms in California have highly individualized hiring policies. If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a personal trainer, you can look for a gym that hires someone with a DUI on their record.
How Can You Navigate Background Checks During the Hiring Process?
It’s always in your best interest to be honest and straightforward when you’re interviewing for a personal trainer position. Don’t try to lie about your criminal record. Instead, understand that your future employer has the right to learn more about your criminal history and driving record.
When your employer brings up questions about the DUI you have on record, be upfront. Acknowledge that you have a DUI, but make sure to emphasize what you learned from your experience within the criminal system. You can highlight the efforts you’ve made to rehabilitate yourself or experience personal growth.
If you want to be a personal trainer with a DUI, we also encourage you to secure character references or letters of recommendation that you can share with an interviewer. If you have a statement from a rehabilitation center representative, you can more effectively argue that you’ve changed and are ready to take on new responsibilities in the workplace.
What DUI Factors May Complicate Your Career as a Personal Trainer?
The variables that can impact the influence a DUI has on your efforts to become a personal trainer include the following:
- The severity of your DUI: are you recovering from your first DUI offense, or do you have several on your criminal record? If you have a history of DUIs or if officers pair your DUI with accusations of reckless behavior, employers may have concerns about your ability to remain professional at work.
- When you went through the system: did you receive your DUI ten years ago, or did you receive it a week ago? The older a DUI charge is, the less of an impact it’s likely to have on your chances of employment.
- Your rehabilitation efforts: have you taken steps to curb your drinking habits? Have you participated in DUI education programs or pursued independent counseling? If you have, make sure you have records of them included alongside your DUI conviction. Proof that you’ve taken steps to improve your health can lessen the impact a DUI has on your opportunities for employment.
Can an Attorney Help You Challenge Accusations of Driving Under the Influence?
Experienced criminal defense lawyers can help you challenge accusations of driving under the influence after you’ve been arrested or otherwise accused of misconduct. If you request representation from an attorney shortly after your arrest, you can:
- Question the validity of your arrest
- Challenge the prosecution’s right to bring certain kinds of evidence against you in court
- Question whether or not the prosecution meets California’s burden of proof
- Assert that officers misinterpreted readings of your blood alcohol content or arrested you out of bias
We can discuss what defenses might suit your case best when you meet with our criminal defense attorneys for a free case consultation.
If you don’t meet with an attorney until after you’ve been convicted of a DUI, you can still discuss whether or not you can be a personal trainer with a DUI.
We can help you explore how to represent your criminal history in interviews best and highlight steps you can take to have a DUI conviction removed from your criminal history.
When Should You Pursue DUI Expungement?
If you have a DUI on your criminal record and want to reduce its impact on your employability, no matter your field of practice, you can explore your right to have the charge expunged. You can collaborate with a criminal defense attorney to determine what criteria you need to meet to qualify for expungement.
After you have a DUI expunged, your conviction cannot impact whether or not a business hires you or whether or not you qualify for a promotion.
We Want to Help You
Are you struggling to figure out whether or not you can be a personal trainer with a DUI on your criminal record? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. You have the right to ask for support from Los Angeles DUI Lawyer. We take pride in connecting people in need with experienced attorneys who can help them better understand the criminal system.
We want to make it as easy as possible for you to pursue your career goals, even if you have a DUI on your record. The attorneys we connect you with can help you pursue record sealing, expungement, or other legal options that may clear your criminal record.
You do not have to let a DUI dictate how you live your life. If you’re ready to get the advice you need, you can begin working with Los Angeles DUI Lawyer today.