Live Scan Background Checks
Live Scan is an inkless, electronic means of capturing fingerprints in a digitized format to positively identify a person biometrically, confirming their unique identity for criminal background checks prior to employment, licensure, or certification.
Live Scan is a state-run system administered by the California Department of Justice (DOJ). The California Department of Justice (CDOJ) uses this information to compile records of arrest and prosecution, known as “RAP sheets,” for individuals and disseminates the information for law enforcement and regulatory (employment and licensing) purposes. All criminal background check requests must be authorized by statute; some are mandatory, while others are permissive. In the past few years there has been a heightened awareness of the availability of criminal background checks to aid in regulatory hiring decisions, and thus there has been a large increase in the need for these services.
The Live Scan Request form has sensitive information about you. I store your information under lock and key as required for one year by the Department of Justice. I also pay for secure destruction of those documents because I care about your privacy. I want you to know that I am a trusted professional and have held several sensitive positions that have required proper storage of confidential information.
Our state of the art equipment continuously updated to specifications my rejection rate due to quality is low. Rejection due to quality may be for various reasons, age, creases, scars, callouses or worn.
Live Scan Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Who needs a Live Scan?
A: It is most often used for candidates for positions working with and around vulnerable populations (children, the elderly, and disabled), including law enforcement agencies, public and private schools, non-profit organizations, and in-home supportive care agencies. However, all institutions and professions with applicants for employment, licensing or certification may require it for positions, such as:
- Attorneys
- Bus drivers
- Caregivers for children and elderly
- Contractors
- Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)
- Dental assistants
- Gaming personnel
- Healthcare: nurses, doctors, hospital staffs
- Insurance personnel
- Law enforcement personnel, security guards
- Lottery retailers
- Notaries
- Pharmacists
- Pilots
- Realtors and real estate brokers
- Sports coaches
- Stock brokers
- Summer camp counselors
- Teachers, teaching aides, and other school staff
- Volunteers at a variety of institutions
- And other positions not listed here
Q: Are you a qualified Live Scan Vendor for attorney fingerprints?
Yes, as of June 2018, the State Bar of California has required a repeat of fingerprints by all attorneys who are licensed in the State of California. The deadline for submission is April 30, 2019. I highly recommend completing your background check before March 1, 2018.
For more information: State Bar of California — Attorney Re-Fingerprinting Update
Our state-of-the-art equipment is maintained on a regular basis and updated to specifications. Our equipment is also mobile, so we are available to come to your office or law firm. I am a Registered Fingerprint Technician for the California Department of Justice and with a very low rejection rate due to quality of prints. However, a prints quality may be affected by age, worn by use, scarring or other injuries.
You sensitive information is kept for one year as required in my office under lock and key. As a professional, I take extreme caution when handling your information and follow all Department of Justice guidelines for safety of data.
Q: How do I know if I need a Live Scan to renew my nursing license?
The California Board of Nursing requires a full set of 10 fingerprints be submitted to both levels of service (the Department of Justice and FBI) when a nursing license is renewed. This is a requirement if you were originally fingerprinted with a hard card (Before 2009) and Digital Prints (before 2011) did not include FBI. With Live Scan, your fingerprints are submitted electronically to the DOJ and FBI which then forwards the results to the board.
For more information: http://www.rn.ca.gov/licensees/ren-fp.shtml#determine
Q: How can I get a conviction or arrest off of my Live Scan?
A: You can request your own Live Scan through Luna Live Scan by filling out an application and paying the applicable fee. The report that you will receive will include your entire California criminal history from the Department of Justice, and your federal criminal history from the FBI if you request it. To remove a conviction from a Live Scan background check you must receive an expungement, pardon, or record sealing. Expungement in California does not remove a conviction from your record but instead changes the conviction to a dismissal.
Q: Do you offer ink fingerprinting services?
A: Yes, we offer FBI FD-258 Ink Cards.
Many California police departments and sheriff offices have stopped offering ink fingerprinting services to the general public. BBS Live Scan is registered by California Department of Justice to roll ink hard card FD-258 for employment or licensing purposes.
Some examples where an FBI FD-258 Ink Card may be required for Out-Of-State licensing or background check:
- Employment
- Licensing
- Security Clearance
- Gun Purchase
Q: What are the government Live Scan fees?
A: Current fees are listed here: https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/fingerprints/forms/fees.pdf
The fees listed in the link above are just the charges for the government background check, there is also my fingerprint rolling fee.