Fingerprint Processing Instructions

Please review the "Submitting Fingerprints for Certification" page first to determine the category under which you should proceed for fingerprint processing.

Categories:

1. Employees of Public Schools - employees of Florida traditional and charter public schools have fingerprints processed directly by the school district employer. You must contact your district’s personnel office for their screening requirements.
    
2. If you are an employee of a Florida non-public school; or, not seeking employment in Florida, you should only have fingerprints processed if you satisfy one of the following eligibility scenarios:
   • You are a United States citizen, and you are eligible for issuance of a Florida Professional Educator's Certificate as evidenced by your valid Statement of Status of Eligibility (SOE) from the Bureau of Educator Certification (BEC).
   • You are eligible for issuance of a Florida Athletic Coaching Certificate as evidenced by your valid SOE from the BEC.
   • You are eligible for issuance of a Florida Educator's Certificate as evidenced by your valid SOE, and you are employed by a private school with a Florida state-approved Professional Education Competence (PEC) program. Consult with your employer to determine approval status for the PEC program.

Please note: If an individual chooses to have fingerprints processed prior to Florida employment for issuance of the Professional Certificate, it may be necessary to have the fingerprints re-processed, and the individual may have to pay a second processing fee as a condition of employment in a Florida public school.

Background Screening Clearinghouse (BGS) and Live Capture (Livescan) Fingerprint Processing:

Legislation establishes education as a participant in the Background Screening Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse provides participating agencies the flexibility to share the results of background screening checks, eliminating the duplicity for applicants to be screened by multiple districts, and reduces the cost to the applicant for background screening by different districts.

BGS Livescan Vendor Service Providers must have the ability to communicate electronically with the state agency, accepting screening results from the FDLE, and provide a photograph of the applicant taken at the time the fingerprints are submitted. There are many FDLE Livescan sites available around the state who are BGS compliant. Review the FDLE listing to locate possible options available in your area, some who offer mobile services for onsite screening. 

Florida residents:

Public school employees should contact their school district employer and follow the district's instructions. Nonpublic school employees should contact their employers for their recommended Livescan service provider and/or location. The Clearinghouse implementation has impacted the business process and requirements for Livescan Vendor Service Providers who provide services to employees and providers of the Clearinghouse. Please follow the instructions provided by your school’s Human Resources office.

Individuals outside of Florida, residing within the United States:

BGS has qualified Livescan Vendors across the United States. To locate a qualified BGS Livescan provider near you review the FDLE listing to locate possible options available in your area, some who offer out-of-state BGS compliant screening and may offer mobile services for screening. Please see the additional resources listed at the bottom of this page.

Hard-Card Livescan processing:

If you are unable to find a Livescan location near you, you may submit fingerprints captured on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) fingerprint card form FD-258 (blue boxing). Capturing your fingerprints using the hard card scanning method can be done at a local police station or fingerprinting facility. Completed hard cards must be mailed to an approved provider who can then convert the hard cards to electronic format. Your service provider will need to submit your electronic fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The BEC office offers to mail hard cards if needed. You may call our office at the numbers listed below.

Please note, service providers using the hard card method may not be able to submit a photograph at the time of screening. Upon employment in a Florida school, you will be required to submit new fingerprints through a Livescan provider to become compliant with Florida's new Background Screening Clearinghouse. This requirement may cause you to incur a second fingerprint processing fee.

Important Details:

• Payment must be made directly to the selected Livescan Service Provider.
  • Do NOT submit payment for fingerprint processing to the Bureau of Educator Certification (BEC).
• Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their selected Livescan provider lists ALL of BEC's required information on their fingerprints.
  • The required information is outlined below in the "Specific BEC Requirements" section.
  • If the fingerprints are missing any required information, it is the applicant’s responsibility to have the information added.
  • If the Livescan provider cannot adjust the fingerprints to add the information, it is the applicant’s responsibility to find a Livescan provider who can print with all BEC requirements. 
  • Please ensure you contact your selected Livescan provider in advance to confirm they have the capabilities to list ALL of the BEC required information on your fingerprints. BEC is not responsible for reimbursement if prints must be redone because of missing requirements.
• Do NOT submit hard cards to the Bureau of Educator Certification (BEC). Our office does not have the capability to electronically submit hard card rolled fingerprints.

Specific BEC Requirements:

• BEC authorized under §1012.56, Florida Statutes
• ORI = EDOEPUBS1 – TEACHER CERTIFICATION
• Originating Agency Case # (OCA) = Florida DOE #
• Social Security Number (SOC) Mandatory for BEC
• Date of Birth (DOB) must match BEC records
• Poor quality may be rejected and delay processing

Additional Resources:

• Florida Agency for Health Care Administration – Livescan Service Provider Information

• Florida Health/Medical Quality Assurance – Background Screening / Locate a Provider

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