A new job offer, a professional license or a volunteer spot at your child’s school can all come with the same instruction: get a LiveScan. Many residents first come to us as a Notary Newport Beach stop for signatures, but LiveScan fingerprinting is one of the services we handle most often at our San Miguel Drive location.
What is LiveScan fingerprinting?
LiveScan is California’s electronic fingerprinting system for background checks. Instead of rolling ink onto a paper card, a trained operator scans your fingerprints on a glass plate and sends them electronically to the California Department of Justice (DOJ), and to the FBI when a federal check is required.
The results do not come back to you. According to the DOJ, they go directly to the agency, employer or licensing board that requested the check. California law requires applicant fingerprints to be submitted electronically this way, with paper cards allowed only in limited exceptions.
Who needs LiveScan fingerprinting in California?
Anyone whose employer, licensing board or approving agency is authorized to request a criminal background check may need a LiveScan. The requirement always comes from that agency, not from the person being fingerprinted. In practice, we see a few groups again and again.
People working with children or vulnerable adults make up the largest share. That includes teachers and substitute teachers, school volunteers and coaches, childcare workers, home care aides, and staff at licensed care facilities. Foster and adoptive parents going through California’s Resource Family Approval process are fingerprinted too.
Licensed professionals are the other big group. Applicants for nursing, real estate, insurance and many other state licenses are typically asked to complete LiveScan as part of the application.
Do notary public applicants need LiveScan?
Yes. In California, notary public applicants must be fingerprinted through LiveScan after passing the state exam, using the form the Secretary of State provides. The commission cannot be issued until the background check clears, so it makes sense to schedule your fingerprinting soon after you get your exam results.
Where do you get the LiveScan form?
The agency requesting your background check gives you the form, and you should only use the one they provide. It is called the Request for Live Scan Service. Newer versions are labeled BCII 8016, while older ones say BCIA 8016.
The form carries codes that route your results. The ORI is the code the DOJ assigns to the requesting agency, and the mail code tells the DOJ where to send the response. The form also marks the level of service, meaning a DOJ check, an FBI check or both. If any of these fields are blank, call the agency before your appointment.
How much does LiveScan cost in California?
The total has two parts: government processing fees and a rolling fee charged by the fingerprinting location. Several California licensing agencies, including the Department of Insurance, list the processing fees as $32 for the DOJ check and $17 for the FBI check. The rolling fee varies by location.
Some agencies pay the government fees for you through a billing number printed on the form. Others expect you to cover everything at the appointment. Check your form or ask the agency so there are no surprises.
How long do LiveScan results take?
Most results reach the requesting agency within about three business days, according to the California DOJ. Records needing manual review, or prints rejected for quality, take longer.
The DOJ suggests checking with the requesting agency during the first seven days, since you will not receive the results yourself. If prints are rejected, the agency is usually notified and will tell you how to resubmit.
Can you complete a California LiveScan from another state?
Usually not. California’s LiveScan system does not connect to other states, so the scan itself has to be done at a California location. Applicants living elsewhere generally have to use paper FD-258 fingerprint cards, which take much longer to process. If you live out of state but visit Orange County, scheduling a LiveScan during your trip can save weeks.
What should you bring to a Notary Newport Beach LiveScan appointment?
Bring your completed Request for Live Scan Service form from the requesting agency and a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. The name on your form should match the name on your ID. If your hands tend to be dry, moisturize them for a few nights beforehand, since dry skin can make ridges harder for the scanner to read.
Ready to get your fingerprints done?
If an employer, licensing board or school has asked for a background check, LiveScan is the standard route in California, and a correctly completed form is the biggest factor in getting quick results. Visit our Notary Newport Beach location at 2618 San Miguel Drive with your form and ID, and we will capture your prints, check your paperwork and send your submission on its way.
