California fingerprinting

(28 Apr 2026)

Fingerprinting in California is a crucial process for various purposes, including background checks, employment screening, and licensing requirements. It involves capturing biometric data to create a unique identifier for individuals.

  1. Process Involved: The process typically begins by visiting a designated fingerprinting location, which could be a law enforcement agency, a private service provider (PSP) or a live scan service provider (LSSP) that is considered an authorized applicant agency. You must bring a BCIA 8016 form (or your agency's modified BCIA 8016 form) with you to your fingerprinting appointment.
  2. Number of Fingerprints Captured: The standard practice in California is to capture all ten fingerprints. There are two ways to do this. (1) capture all 10 flat fingerprint images and rolled images or (2) capture the flat images only in 3 moves (4 left fingers, 4 right fingers and 2 thumbs). Fingerprints are captured electronically using specialized equipment.
  3. Response Time: The response time to receive a background check report after the fingerprint record has been successfully transmitted can range from same day up to a couple of weeks. Response time can vary based upon past criminal history, transaction volume being processed on the state and FBI database, type of transaction being processed or other delays due to data errors or fingerprint image quality issues on the submitted record.
  4. Fee Structure: The fee structure for fingerprinting services in California can vary based on the service provider and the type of background check or application requiring fingerprints. It's essential to check with the specific fingerprinting service provider or the agency responsible for the background check to determine the applicable fees.

In conclusion, fingerprinting plays a vital role in various aspects of life in California, from employment to licensing and security. Understanding the process and associated requirements can help individuals navigate the fingerprinting process more efficiently.

States That Offer California fingerprinting

Frequently Asked Questions

Criminal History Records are not subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act. In California, state and local summary criminal history information is confidential and access is strictly regulated by statute. Penal Code section 11105 expressly authorizes the DOJ to disclose state summary criminal history information to law enforcement agencies for law enforcement purposes only, to certain employers or regulatory agencies, or to the person who is the subject of the record. Individuals have the right to request a copy of their own criminal history record from the DOJ to review for accuracy and completeness.

Contact your livescan operator to assist with the resubmission process. If your prints are rejected twice, you would be eligible to request a name-based search.

You may enter a zip code into our search bar to find a location near you. Then you may contact this livescan operator directly. If you are unable to find a location, please email us at info@getfingerprintednow.com and we will help you find a location to get fingerprinted now.

If you live in California, you may not send fingerprint cards to CalDoJ. Your fingerprint records must be submitted electronically. If you live out of state and need a California background check, you may be fingerprinted by a livescan or ink fingerprinting technician in your state who can print out your fingerprint images onto the standard FD258 card. This card can be given to your employer or licensing board in California, at which point the card(s) would be digitized and transmitted to CalDoJ electronically.

In most cases, yes. The fingerprinting service fee consists of the fingerprint rolling fee and the background check fees. Your agency or employer will be billed for the background check fees if their billing number is on the BCIA 8016 form. In this case, you would only pay the livescan operator for their Fingerprint Rolling fee. If the agency's billing is not on the form, you may be required to pay both the background check fees and the fingerprint rolling fee. Check with the livescan operator. Your operator may have special payment arrangements with the agency or your employer, in which case you may not need to pay anything.