Why Live Scan?
Live Scan systems provide a means for individuals to produce consistent, high quality fingerprint images, thereby reducing rejection rates and saving time and money in processing and other related administrative costs. Live Scan  captures your fingerprints directly into an inkless, digital format. The antiquated method of the traditional ink and paper is now a thing of the past. The Live Scan technology replaces the process of recording an individual's fingerprint patterns through a rolling process using ink. Rolled ink fingerprints would become smudged through handling and mailing, causing prints to become illegible. This slowed the process of criminal background clearances to a period of WEEKS and MONTHS. The Live Scan process gets results to the employer or licensing agency within days.

How long does it take to get the results back from DOJ and/or FBI?
In most cases, the results from DOJ come back within 72 hours. Please note, due to various reasons, results can be delayed. For any significant delay, DOJ will contact the requesting agency. The results are either emailed or sent to the requesting agency listed on the Request for Live Scan Service form. Once the Live Scan process has been completed at our facility, please direct all inquiries to the agency handling your employment or licensing.  If the requesting agency has not recived the results you may contact the Applicant Processing Program at 916-227-3823.  This department is the only one who can check to see if your record was dropped or not completly processes. California Fingerprinting Authority cannot resubmit a record without written permission from the DOJ.  This process may take up to 30 days.

24-hour Automated Telephone Service Available: 916-227-4557.  
If a requesting agency does not have results yet and digital Live Scan fingerprints were submitted, you can use the automated telephone system to check on your submission. You will need the following information: (1) your date of birth; and (2) the 10-digit Automated Transaction Identifier (ATI) number that appears at the bottom of the Department of Justice form requesting Live Scan fingerprint background checks. The ATI number always appears in the following sequence: 1 LETTER; 3 NUMBERS; 3 LETTERS and 3 NUMBERS.

Are there any prerequisites to establishing a fingerprinting account with California Fingerprinting Authority?
All agencies must first be approved to receive criminal information and supplied an ORI (Originating Router Identifier) number by the DOJ. Please contact us for details.  We can help set up your account upon request.

Where can I get a request for Live Scan form?
The requesting agency (entity that is requesting the background check) will provide the live scan forms.

Can I get the forms I need from California Fingerprinting Authority?
Yes and No. All Live Scan forms must be provided to you by the agency that wants you fingerprinted.  These forms contain information that is unique to each agency and this information must be provided before arriving to have your prints taken.  Most Live Scan forms are available form us for a small fee.  If you lost your form most are available by the internet.

How can I see what is on my record?
To see what is in your record you need to complete a "Personal Records Check" form.  You can come in and request a records check at anytime.  The results will be mailed within 7-10 days if your background is clear.

How do I know what"Level of Service" I need?
The level of service is to be predetermined by the agency that wants you printed.  If you are unsure of the level of service needed or the boxes have not been checked off, then you must contact the agency that wants you printed for them to fill it out for you.

Why do I have to be fingerprinted again if I've already been fingerprinted in the past?
 (1)  Per DOJ policy, sharing of criminal history is not permitted.
 (2)  For identification purposes.
 (3)  Each job/license/permit application can require a different level of service, i.e., some require DOJ, some require both DOJ and FBI, in addition to other checks

Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI), including responses that no criminal record exists, are confidential. Sections 11142 and 11143 of the Penal Code provide for criminal penalties for the release of this information to unauthorized individuals.

Article I, Section 1 of the California Constitution grants California citizens an absolute right to privacy. Individuals or agencies violating these privacy rights place themselves at both criminal and civil liability. The California right of privacy was created to curb, among other things, the over broad collection and retention of personal information by government agencies, the improper use of information properly obtained for a proper purpose, and the lack of a reasonable check on the accuracy of existing records. (White v. Davis (1975) 13 Cal.3d 757, 775.)

CORI shall be accessible only to the records custodian and/or hiring authority charged with determining the suitability for employment or licensing of an applicant. The information received shall be used by the requesting agency solely for the purpose for which it was requested and shall not be reproduced for secondary dissemination to any other employing or licensing agency.
 The retention and sharing of information between employing and licensing agencies are strictly prohibited. The retention and sharing of information infringe upon the right of privacy and fails to meet the compelling state interest defined in Loder v. Municipal Court (1976) 17 Cal.3d 859. In addition, maintenance of redundant information separate from the information maintained by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) avoids the updates and makes it impossible for DOJ to control dissemination of CORI as outlined in section 11105 of the Penal Code.

If my fingerprints have been rejected because they are difficult to read, how many times must I re-submit by prints?
You are only required to have your fingerprints done two times. If after two unsuccessful attempts to capture your prints, your suitability will be determined by the Department of Justice by using an alternate method of verification.

Why do fingerprints get rejected? If my prints are rejected would I be required to pay additional fees?
Fingerprints will and can be rejected for several reasons. The most common are characteristics with the Applicant's fingerprints that makes them difficult to capture. This would include wear of the surface skin, cuts, cracks, scars, calluses and other skin conditions. If an Applicant's fingerprints are rejected on this basis, the originating Live Scan agency should re-take the Applicant's fingerprints at no additional cost.

An Applicant's application for Live Scan service may also be rejected if the Applicant's BCII 8016 form is incomplete or improperly filled out. In this instance, a fee would be charged to the Applicant to provide them with repeated Live Scan service. It is important that the Application for Live Scan form BCII 8016 is complete and accurate when presented to the Live Scan technician for service.

Rarely there will be an instance where an Applicant's fingerprints are rejected because of error on the part of the Live Scan technician. If this is the basis of the rejection the originating Live Scan agency must re-take the Applicant's fingerprints at no additional cost.

If I received a letter that my prints have been rejected, what do I do?
Bring your letter of rejection from the agency that sent it. This letter contains your original ATI (Applicant Transmission Identifier) number which is necessary for resubmission. 

Partial List of who needs Live Scan:

Links to the most common Live Scan request forms (please report broken links here)

Board of Accountancy

Board of Vocational Nursing

Bureau of Security and Investigative Services

California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Committee on Dental Auxiliaries

Department of Health Services

Department of Motor Vehicles

Department of Real Estate

Medical Board of California

Notary Public

Veterinary Medical Board

Bureau of Security and Investigative Services - (BSIS)
CA Board of Nursing

CA Board of Pharmacy
CA Board of Psychology

CA Board of Physical Therapy
California Department of Justice (CDOJ)
Department of Insurance - (DOI)
Department of Motor Vehicles
Department of Social Services - (DSS)
Emergency Medical Services Authority (Paramedics)
Respiratory Care Board
Trustline Registry
Vocational Nursing

State Bar of California