Any individual who will have regular, unsupervised access to children:

1. Anyone seeking a Washington State educational certificate.
2. Anyone seeking certified or classified employment in a public school district, Educational Service District (ESD), Washington School for the Deaf (WSD) or the Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB).
3. Anyone working as a contractual employee for employers listed in "2." above.

Each employer must define this term independently. Most organizations define "regular, unsupervised access to children" with the help of legal counsel.

Digital fingerprints look like a picture of all ten fingers, palm down. The technology we use is called live scan; these machines take high-quality prints by scanning the applicant's fingers electronically to create a digital image. Once scanned, the live scan system submits fingerprint image automatically to the Washington State Patrol (WSP). The electronic scanner is clean, easy to use, and eliminates the need to ink-and-roll fingerprints manually onto a special card.

Here's how to get your fingerprints into the background check process in four easy steps:

1. Appear in-person at one of the state's nine ESD offices. Call first, you may need an appointment.
2. ESD staff will take down your basic demographic information.
3. Pay the appropriate fee.
4. The live scan machine scans, records and submits your fingerprints electronically to the Washington State Patrol.

If you can't access a live scan machine at one of Washington's ESDs, or need an alternate way to complete a fingerprint record check, please review Alternatives for Applicants Who Can't Access a Live Scan Machine

Live scan fingerprint machines are available in all nine ESD offices. This map will help you to locate an Educational Service District.

Here are the basic fees:

• The background check processing fee is $45.25 for all fingerprint background checks conducted electronically through the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This will include school district employees, educational service district (ESD) employees, contractual employees, private school employees, and certification applicants.
• You may have your fingerprints processed manually by the WSP Criminal Records Division located at 106 11th Ave SW, Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98504; but you must first pay the $82.25 background check processing fee to OSPI and obtain an Electronic Applicant Submission form. WSP will charge an additional processing fee for this service. Having your fingerprints processed manually ensures the WSP will not reject your fingerprints due to poor print quality.

Important Reminders:

• Individuals should contact the agency providing the fingerprinting service to inquire about additional fees they may charge.
• OSPI does not accept cash, credit or debit cards.

Two years from the clearance date we receive from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

If your fingerprint card is rejected because of poor quality, there are two alternative solutions.

Alternative solution #1: get a second live scan

1. Have your ESD or law enforcement agency rescan your fingerprints.
2. Ask for a hard copy print out of the new scan.
3. Attach the rejection notice to the new scanned and printed fingerprint card.
4. Mail the completed fingerprint card and rejection notice to WSP at:
   Washington State Patrol
   Identification & Criminal History Section
   PO Box 42633
   Olympia, WA 98504-2633

Alternative solution #2: get a second inked fingerprint card

1. Request a fingerprint card from OSPI, your school district or ESD.
2. Return to the agency that inked your first set of fingerprints onto the card and have your fingerprints ink-and-rolled a second time.
3. Attach the rejection notice to the new (completed) fingerprint card.
4. Mail the completed fingerprint card and rejection notice to WSP at:
   Washington State Patrol
   Identification & Criminal History Section
   PO Box 42633
   Olympia, WA 98504-2633

Contact the Fingerprint Records Office at 360-725-6135 for instructions.

By law, if you have completed a fingerprint record check through WSP and the FBI within the previous two years, the school employer may waive the requirement. If you change school district employers, and if your previous record check is more than two years old, you must provide a new fingerprint record check.

No. Washington State law does not allow substitute versions of any fingerprint record checks. The law is detailed here, WAC 392.300 and RCW 28A.400.

WSP/FBI sends the results of fingerprint record checks to OSPI. The results reside in a secure database that designated staff from public schools, colleges, and universities, Washington's school for the deaf and school for the blind, private schools, as well as certification programs, can access online.

Washington State law, RCW 28A.195, authorizes approved private schools to require a fingerprint record check for job applicants.

I need an alternative way to complete my fingerprint record check.
If you can't access a live scan machine at one of Washington's ESDs, or need an alternate way to complete a fingerprint record check, please review Alternatives for Applicants Who Can't Access a Live Scan Machine (links to second layer page, Alternatives for Applicants Who Can't Access a Live Scan Machine above )

Upon written request, a copy of your Record of Arrest Prosecution (RAP) sheet from the Washington State Patrol/FBI will be sent to you. We also send a letter to your potential employer - the superintendent of the school district or ESD - that contains only information about any convictions on the RAP. We do not share RAP information directly with colleges and universities; however, designated staff from these organizations can view fingerprint record check results through a secure website.