California Resident Licensing Fingerprint Requirements
Fingerprint impressions are required for all unlicensed applicants.
Examinees must submit their fingerprints on the day they submit their insurance license application or soon thereafter for the Department to receive their fingerprint results timely from the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Obtaining the fingerprint impressions beforehand will minimize the risk that the license issuance will be delayed while awaiting the results from both the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
- How to Submit Your Fingerprints
- To Properly Record Your Fingerprints
- What to do if your fingerprint results are delayed
How to Submit Your Fingerprints
- After submitting your license application, you may schedule an appointment to submit your fingerprint impressions using the California Department of Insurance's (Department) contracted fingerprint vendor, Accurate Biometrics; at (866) 361-9944 to find a fingerprint location near you to have your fingerprints taken. When you go to have your fingerprint impressions made, please bring with you a completed Live Scan Form BCIA 8016 and print out the LIC 442-39A Licensing Applicant Instructions.
- The DOJ maintains a listing of authorized Live Scan Fingerprinting vendors that are available to California resident license applicants. The DOJ list is broken down by county.
Applicants using a vendor on this list will need to pay a fingerprint fee that covers the following services: FBI processing fee of $17, DOJ processing fee of $32, and an additional "rolling fee" charged by the DOJ authorized vendor. The additional "rolling fee" will vary depending on the vendor and is noted on the DOJ listing of authorized Live Scan Fingerprinting vendors. License applicants are encouraged to contact the Live Scan provider in advance to verify their current operating hours, location, fees, and their acceptable method of payment (i.e. credit card, cash, ATM).
To Properly Record Your Fingerprints
To ensure that your fingerprint impressions are properly recorded, the applicant must pay the applicable fee and do the following:
- Complete the Request for Live Scan Service form BCIA 8016 and print the Licensing Applicant Instructions form LIC 442-39A.
- Take your completed Request for Live Scan Service form to the live scan vendor.
- Complete the fingerprint impressions.
- Retain a copy of the Request for Live Scan Service form BCIA 8016 for your records. Give the copy of the form to the live scan service vendor who will provide you with the Automated Transaction Identifier (ATI) number that is assigned to your fingerprint impressions. If your fingerprint impressions are rejected, the ATI number will allow for you to have your fingerprint impressions redone at no charge.
In addition, if a license is not issued within twelve months of the date the fingerprints are submitted, a new set of fingerprint impressions will be required.
Please note: Nonpayment of the fingerprint fee or failure to submit the fingerprint impressions will delay the processing of your application. The fingerprint requirement must be fulfilled prior to the issuance of your license.
What to do if your fingerprint results are delayed?
Checking on Status of Fingerprint Submission. Please allow a minimum of seven days from the date fingerprint impressions were taken before making a status inquiry. If you need to check the status of your fingerprints, below are the steps to follow:
Step 1
Applicants should check first with the Department at (800) 967-9331 since the DOJ sends results directly to the Department.
The DOJ or FBI may need to manually process the fingerprint impressions. This process may delay the reporting of results.
Step 2
If the Department does not have your fingerprint results, you must use the DOJ's online Applicant Background Check Status to check the status of your fingerprint results.
Please have your date of birth (i.e., 01/01/1975); and, the10-digit Automated Transaction Identifier (ATI) number that appears at the bottom of the DOJ form requesting Live Scan fingerprint background checks available before you access the DOJ online Applicant Background Check Status service. The ATI number always appears in the following sequence: 1 letter; 3 numbers; 3 letters and 3 numbers. Your birth date and your ATI number will allow the DOJ online Applicant Background Check Status to provide you with your fingerprint status.
Step 3
When your fingerprint impressions are processed, the DOJ online Applicant Background Check Status service will show the following, "Completed” and provide the date California level of services and/or FBI level of services were complete. However, if the DOJ online Applicant Background Check Status service for the status of your fingerprint results is not complete 45 days after submission please contact the Department for further information.
Contact
- Have examination scheduling question? Please call PSI at (833) 518-7456 to speak with a Consumer Service Representative Monday through Friday between 4:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.. Pacific Time.
- For all other license questions, please call the Department's Licensing Hotline at (800) 967-9331.
