Is my speeding ticket going to hold me back?

For which state? In many states it's "careless" not "reckless" for up to 20 mph over.

 

As you know CDL license holders are NOT eligible for defensive driver courses in regard to having tickets/points dismissed or removed by such an action (I know he doesn't have his CDL yet) and since his tickets are already over and done with a defensive driving course won't benefit him at all. Each state may be different with the time allotted after already paying the ticket but in my state, once the ticket is paid, you can't retroactively go back and take a class and have it dismissed.