Licensing

Does anyone work in a career for example in any type of health care that requires licensing? If so when they ask if you have any conditions that impact your ability to perform your job do you disclose your bipolar? I've have one episode of psychosis that could have compromised my ability to do certain jobs in the future but I'm on meds so its being supressed. This kind of licensing is required for most healthcare professions in my state so while I'm considering retraining as a genetics counselor I question whether I could be licensed at the end of it all. Would appreciate any comments regarding this...thanks

Question is as follows...

Have you had or do you now have any disease or condition that interferes with your ability to perform the essential functions of your profession, including any disease or condition generally regarded as chronic by the medical community, i.e., (1) mental or emotional
disease or condition; (2) alcohol or other substance abuse; (3) physical disease or condition, that presently interferes with your ability to practice your profession?
If yes, attach a detailed statement, including an explanation whether or not you are currently under treatment

I work in healthcare but was only diagnosed in May so I haven't had to disclose anything to anyone. The way I look at it is, you don't know unless you try.

I am currently getting a state license for massage therapy and did not disclose my MI. However they did a criminal background check and discovered a dui I got back when I was a teenager many years ago that I forgot to put down. So now I have had to send off for a fbi criminal background check to get the particulars because I didn't remember. It takes 12 weeks to get it back.

I'm an OT and never disclosed. The way it was worded kept me from having to.

"...that presently interferes with your ability to practice your profession"

If you're in treatment and the disease is in remission, I would answer no.

this is tough ... I think it would mostly be affected by two things ... if (a or your) pdoc will write a statement it would not affect your work ... and how "picky" the hr dept is ... when it all boils down you will be dealing with (one person) who will say yes or no ... of course you always have a legal recourse if you so chose ...

I chose not to renew my federal security clearence so as to not have to offically state my MI ... of couse there some just see (crazies with guns) ... I have always feared disclosure in my permanent record ... but of course I am near retirement and paranoid as hell .... and had a involuntary ip ...

ps: please take anything I say with a grain of salt ... if it is your dream I say go for it ...

Being a little more specific will help with the answer.
Applications vary according to what the job requieres.

Most state licensing boards will ask about mental health. It's always best to be honest with them, because if they find out you've omitted your history, you can be denied licensure.

For what it's worth, I have renewed my nursing license twice without any trouble, despite having disclosed my BP. They didn't even ask for a letter from my psychiatrist. Of course, I'm not practicing anymore but I renewed the license just in case I need it for volunteer work.

Jobs, however, are another thing. Disclosing to an employer is usually a very bad idea as they will probably hold it against you. They may not be able to fire you for having bipolar, but they can find other ways to get rid of you. And the Americans with Disabilities Act has many loopholes that businesses exploit shamelessly... don't make the mistake of believing it will protect you.

Thanks everyone