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Home > Illinois Services > FAQS: ILLINOIS STATE AND FBI FINGERPRINT BACKGROUND CHECKS

FAQS: ILLINOIS STATE AND FBI FINGERPRINT BACKGROUND CHECKS

Live scan is an inkless, electronic means of capturing fingerprints in a digitized format, packaging them with required demographic data, and transmitting them to a state repository (here, the Illinois State Police) or to the FBI for a fingerprint-based background check. This technology allows non-criminal justice authorized recipients to receive and review identity-based criminal history record reports. Click here for more on live scan.
No. None of our Accurate Biometrics Illinois locations take appointments. Please click here to view our real-time schedule and find the location closest to you. You can come into any of our Illinois locations during the scheduled hours. Call toll free 866-361-9944 to schedule a special large group session for your organization.
Many jobs, especially those in education, healthcare and government work require that their applicants undergo a fingerprint-based background check upon employment. Background checks may be required by Illinois and/or Federal legislation. They may be required to help protect vulnerable populations and critical infrastructure.
No. Each time you are fingerprinted, your results are sent directly to the requesting agency/employer. Your records are maintained by that agency and your criminal background will be updated in accordance with the state law. Employers or agencies that require fingerprinting maintain their own agency agreement with the Illinois State Police regarding the use of Criminal History Record Information (CHRI). A new set of fingerprints is required by state law every time you work or volunteer for an agency that requires a fingerprint-based background check. The Privacy Act of 1974 mandates the allowed use of one's CHRI for all third party requesters.
There are two types of Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification fingerprint-based checks: UCIA and Access and Review. A UCIA check returns IL conviction information. It can be requested by an individual as a self-check. It can also be requested by a 3rd party. A UCIA fingerprint check contains only Illinois Conviction data.

An Illinois Access and Review check returns all IL criminal data including open arrests with or without disposition information, including juvenile records. It can only be requested by the individual. Individuals request it in order to check that their Illinois record information is correct, or as a first step to applying for record expungement or sealing. Click here for an Access and Review check.

An FBI fingerprint-based background check – called a Departmental Order 556-73, also an Identity History Summary Check (IdHS) – is a nationwide check of the FBI NGI database containing criminal record information from States and all other agencies reporting to the FBI. An FBI Departmental Order is the only fingerprint-based background check that allows individuals to check their own criminal record history on a nationwide level. It is used by individuals who want to check their record for accuracy. It may also be required for legal reasons, such as adoption, or by individuals wanting to live, work, study or teach abroad. Click here to find out how to apply for a personal FBI background check at one of our Accurate Biometrics Illinois locations.

Illinois legislation determines whether your fingerprints will be processed by the State and/or the FBI. Your fingerprints will be processed first by the Illinois State Police (ISP), who may then send them on to the FBI for further processing on the federal level. The combined results from the ISP and FBI are compiled and submitted to the requesting agency from the ISP. If the requesting agency does not receive complete results from both the ISP and FBI, you should contact the ISP with your TCN (Transaction Control Number) from your receipt. The ISP prefers an email request at isp.boi.customer.support@illinois.gov; to contact the ISP by phone call 815-740-5160, then select option #2.
The cost of your fingerprints varies widely depending on the purpose of the fingerprint and/or the billing arrangement of your Requesting Agency. For a job, your employer can tell you whether they cover the cost of fingerprinting, and if not, what your special fee will be. For licensing or personal background checks, visit our Illinois homepage and click the link of the appropriate fingerprinting reason for details. For additional information, contact our Customer Service support team: call 866-361-9944, use our website chat feature, or email info@accuratebiometrics.com.
We accept all major credit cards, money orders, cashier’s checks, company/agency checks and pre-approved billing terms. We DO NOT accept cash or personal checks.
  1. Drink lots of water starting the day prior to your fingerprinting. (Note: both caffeine and alcohol can dehydrate you.)

  2. Apply oil-free moisturizing lotion (such as an aloe-based lotion) to your hands a couple of times the day before and again the morning of your fingerprinting visit. (Limit excessive hand washing with hot water and harsh soaps.)

  3. Keep your hands out of water for long periods – dishwashing, swimming (especially salt water), long baths, etc. – prior to fingerprinting.

  4. Cool your hands before coming in for your fingerprinting visit. (For example, on hot humid days, try bringing and holding a can of cold soda.)

  5. If your hands tend to be sweaty, bring a paper towel along to help absorb excess moisture.

Note: If your fingerprints are rejected due to quality errors, you will be required to come back in to be re-fingerprinted. If you were fingerprinted for a requesting agency, they will get the rejection notice and forward it to you. You will need to bring in a copy of the rejection notice to get reprinted so that the prints get processed correctly.

For Illinois fingerprinting, the ISP charges a $10 reprocessing fee. Accurate Biometrics does not charge a service fee to reprocess rejected fingerprints.

There are two options for Illinois criminal history reports, UCIA or Access and Review. You can obtain a copy of your criminal conviction background record on file with the Illinois State Police (ISP) by submitting a UCIA (Uniform Conviction Information Act) background check. Pursuant to the Uniform Conviction Information Act of 1991, all individuals are permitted to request their conviction criminal background on file with the State of Illinois.

An Access and Review background report furnished by the ISP can only be requested by the applicant (not a third party). It is similar to the UCIA check, but returns more complete information. In addition to Illinois conviction information, it returns all criminal data on file including open arrests, with and without disposition information.

Accurate Biometrics accepts primary identification from the Illinois Administrative Code (see below.) You must bring a valid (unexpired) photo State Driver’s License, or State ID Card with you to get fingerprinted for Illinois employment or licensing.

The following is the excepted from the current Illinois State Law (found in the Administrative Rules) referencing the identity requirements of an applicant to be fingerprinted in by an Illinois Live Scan vendor:

Title 68: Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Private Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004, Section 1240.535 Recordkeeping Requirements

The fingerprint vendor shall require each individual seeking to be fingerprinted to present a Primary, Secondary or Requesting Agency authorized form of identification in order to be fingerprinted by the fingerprint vendor. The work order shall describe the form of identification presented by the individual seeking to be fingerprinted.

A)       Primary Identification − The work order shall include the name, address, date of birth, aliases, telephone number and driver's license number or Secretary of State issued State identification number from a valid driver's license or Secretary of State issued State identification card of the person requesting to be fingerprinted, the signature of that person, and the Transaction Control Number (TCN) for that fingerprint request.

B)       Secondary Identification – The work order shall include all of the information set forth in subsection (c)(2)(A). In the absence of a driver's license or State identification number, the work order shall contain verification that the individual seeking to be fingerprinted provided at least 2 forms of identity verification described within the Identity Verification Program Guide (2014) developed and available from the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact Council at the Federal Bureau of Investigation's website, no later amendments or editions apply. A copy of the documentation used to establish identity verification shall be attached as part of the work order.

C)       Requesting Agency Authorized Identification – The work order shall include all of the information set forth in subsection (c)(2)(A). If the individual is unable to provide a driver's license, Secretary of State issued State identification or any identity verification set forth in subsection (c)(2)(B), the agency requesting the individual to be fingerprinted must authorize an alternative form of identification to be used to verify the identity of the individual seeking to be fingerprinted. The work order must contain documentation confirming that the requesting agency authorized the use of an alternative form of identification in the absence of a Primary or Secondary form of identity verification. A copy of the requesting agency authorized identity verification documentation shall be attached as part of the work order;

For the complete Illinois Administrative Code Section 68, Subpart: General, Section 1240.535 Recordkeeping Requirements, click here.

Accurate Biometrics does not receive the ISP/FBI response. We process and submit to the ISP/FBI on behalf of our clients for all Illinois Fee App, UCIA, and Access and Review submissions. You must contact your agency or employer directly to see if they have received your report. Some helpful contact numbers are:

Contact Accurate Biometrics at 866-361-9944 to confirm a successful transmission to the Illinois State Police (ISP). Accurate Biometrics will provide you with the date and time that the record was successfully received by the ISP. With this information, you must contact the ISP Bureau of Identification and let Customer Service know the TCN (Transaction Control Number) from your receipt, date and time of receipt by ISP. The ISP prefers an email contact at isp.boi.customer.support@illinois.gov; to contact the ISP by phone call 815-740-5160, then select option #2.

It is very important that you notify Accurate Biometrics within 15 days if your agency did not receive your response. The ISP will only regenerate a UCIA response within 30 days of a print date and a Fee App within 90 days of print date. After these time frames, neither Accurate Biometrics nor the Illinois State Police are responsible for Criminal HIstory Response Information (CHRI) response dissemination.

You must contact the Illinois State Police (ISP). The ISP prefers an email contact at isp.boi.customer.support@illinois.gov; to contact the ISP by phone call 815-740-5160, then select option #2. You will be asked to provide the date of fingerprinting and your TCN number (Transaction Control Number) from your receipt to check the progress of your background check response. Please retain a copy of your fingerprint receipt for your records.

Note: Your agency may have received a “pending” notice. The ISP may take up to 45 days to complete a criminal history response.

You should contact the Illinois State Police (ISP). The ISP prefers an email contact at isp.boi.customer.support@illinois.gov; to contact the ISP by phone call 815-740-5160, then select option #2. They will inform you of the Access and Review record procedure that outlines the steps you will need to follow to challenge your criminal record. Accurate Biometrics offers fingerprinting for Illinois Access and Review.

You should contact the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender at 866-787-1776 to request a packet regarding expungement or sealing of criminal records for qualifying individuals. Visit their website for further information.

Accurate Biometrics offers information and resources on applying for expungement in Illinois, find more information on how to get started here.

Yes. An FBI Departmental Order (556-73), also called an Identity History Summary (IdHS) check allows that any U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident may request a copy of their record – or be able to show proof that a record does not exist (proof of no criminal history). Only you can request a copy of your own FBI criminal record.

Individuals typically make this request for personal review, to challenge the information on record, to satisfy a requirement for adopting a child in the U.S. or internationally, or to satisfy a requirement to live, work or travel in a foreign country (i.e., police certificate, letter of good conduct, criminal history background, etc.).

You request a personal FBI Departmental Order (IdHS check) in three ways:

  • You can visit any one of our Illinois walk-in fingerprint locations. To find a location near you click here

  • You can apply by mail. To apply by-mail click here.

  • You can pre-register and use a fingerprinting Kiosk in the Nationwide Collection Network. To get started click here.

We provide same-day service for online pick-up of results at our secure web portal, and delivery options for an additional printed response on secure, watermarked paper.

Two forms of identification are required for this background check. One form should be a current government issued photo ID. The other form of identification can be a secondary ID.

You can review the FBI Compact Council: Identity Verification Program Guide here.

Primary Accepted Forms of Photo Identification:

  • State-issued driver’s license*
  • U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card
  • Federal Government Personal Identity Verification Card (PIV)
  • Uniformed Services Identification Card
  • Department of Defense Common Access Card
  • Foreign Passport with Appropriate Immigration Document(s)
  • USCIS - Permanent Resident Card (I-551)
  • USCIS - Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
  • Federal, state, or local government agency ID card with photograph
  • U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card
  • Canadian driver’s license

*For those applicants without a driver’s license, a state identification card may be presented if the state’s identification card standards are the same as for the driver’s license.

Secondary Accepted Forms of Identity:

  • State Government Issued Certificate of Birth
  • U.S. Tribal or Bureau of Indian Affairs Identification Card
  • Native American tribal document
  • Social Security Card
  • Court Order for Name Change/Gender Change/Adoption/Divorce
  • Marriage Certificate (Government Certificate Issued)
  • U.S. Government Issued Consular Report of Birth Abroad
  • Draft record
  • School ID with photograph
  • Certificate of Citizenship (N-560)
  • Replacement Certificate of Citizenship (N-561)
  • Certificate of Naturalization (N-550)
  • Replacement Certificate of Naturalization (N-570)

When validating the authenticity of secondary identification documents and forms, the data and information may be supported by at least two of the following current documents:

  • Utility Bill (Address)
  • Jurisdictional Voter Registration Card
  • Vehicle Registration Card/Title
  • Paycheck Stub with Name/Address*
  • Jurisdictional Public Assistance Card
  • Spouse/Parent Affidavit
  • Missing or incorrect data. When this occurs the data is corrected and the record is resubmitted to ISP. This does not require action by the applicant.

  • Poor quality due to age of the applicant, previous work history (bricklayer, gardener, etc). When a print record is rejected due to poor quality, the applicant must be reprinted in an attempt to obtain fingerprint images of a higher quality.

  • Missing, deformed or bandaged fingers.

Note: If your fingerprints are rejected due to quality errors, you will be required to come back in to be re-fingerprinted. For personal FBI background checks (Departmental Orders), we will let you know by email if the prints were rejected, and provide further instructions.

Yes. You can get fingerprinting for FINRA in two ways:

  • IF your agency has an account with Accurate Biometrics, you can bring the fingerprint authorization form issued to you from your agency to any Illinois Accurate Biometrics location and submit your fingerprints for any FINRA licensed-broker dealer across the United States. To find an Accurate Biometrics location near you click here.

  • You can pre-register and use a fingerprinting Kiosk in the Nationwide Collection Network. To get started click here

Accurate Biometrics is an approved FINRA EFS provider. To set up an account for your agency, click here.

Yes. You can get fingerprinting for Florida purpose codes in three ways.

  • You can visit any one of our Illinois walk-in fingerprint locations and get fingerprinted for most Florida purpose codes. To find a location near you click here

  • You can apply by mail. To apply by-mail click here.

  • You can pre-register and use a fingerprinting Kiosk in the Nationwide Collection Network. To get started click here

Click here for a list of common Florida ORI numbers.

Yes. You can get fingerprinting in Illinois to get licensing or endorsement* to work as a nurse in Florida. If you get endorsement, a Florida employer may require you to be fingerprinted during the hiring process to satisfy their requirements.

* From the Florida Board of Nursing, Section 464.009, F.S.:

Applicants are eligible for licensure by endorsement when they hold a valid license to practice professional or practical nursing in another state or territory of the United States obtained by one of the following measures.

Applicants are eligible for licensure by endorsement when they have successfully completed the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE) or the NCLEX.

OR

Applicants are eligible for licensure by endorsement when they have actively practiced nursing in another state, jurisdiction, or territory of the United States for 2 of the preceding 3 years without any criminal history or having his or her license acted against by the licensing authority of any jurisdiction.

An applicant who has not been in active practice of nursing within the past 5 years is required to take a remedial course as specified in Rule 64B9-3.0025, F.A.C., prior to licensure.

For more on Florida nursing endorsement, click here.

Your fingerprints will be processed by the Illinois State Police (ISP), who then sends them on to the FBI for further processing on the national level. Processing time averages between 24-48 hours (State and FBI response times) after they are received by the ISP. Your results from the ISP and FBI will be released independently to the requesting agency by the ISP. (The Requesting Agency receives an email that the results are ready to be picked up through the CHIRP online web portal system.) If the requesting agency does not receive a notice to pick up results from both the ISP and the FBI, you will need to contact the ISP.

If the ISP cannot make an immediate determination of the background check, they will send a notification to the Requesting Agency that the results are “pending”. For an “pending” response, it means further processing is required to determine if conviction data is available. Processing time is approximately 30 days. Most responses are sent within 48 hours after being received by the ISP.

Note: The ISP may take up to 45 days to complete a criminal history response.

UCIA requests require that the ISP mail (via USPS) the results to the Requestor listed by the applicant which may take 5-10 business days. (Note: Some UCIA responses are sent to CHIRP (online web portal) when an agency has an account that uses their ORI.)

IDPH requests are sent directly to IDPH by the ISP and also updated on the Healthcare Worker Registry; the PRA of the Requesting Agency (the main contact between your agency and the IDPH) will get an email notification once the background check is completed. (Email notifications are supposed to be sent but are not always actually sent. Your agency may need to check the HCW registry account to see the status.)

Please note the window of time that the ISP can regenerate/resend a notification.

  • ISP can regenerate a UCIA response for 30 days from time of receipt by ISP.

  • ISP can regenerate a Fee App response for 90 days from time of receipt by ISP.

To follow up on your results directly, please contact the ISP. The ISP prefers an email request at isp.boi.customer.support@illinois.gov; to contact the ISP by phone call 815-740-5160 , then select option #2. You will need to provide your Transaction Control Number (TCN) from your fingerprinting receipt.

No. The Requesting Agency is notified by email when fingerprint responses are available to be retrieved from the ISP CHIRP system. The Illinois State Police will not give out any background check information over the phone.

Contact the Illinois State Police (ISP). The ISP prefers an email contact at isp.boi.customer.support@illinois.gov; to contact the ISP by phone call 815-740-5160, then select option #2. You will be asked to provide the date of fingerprinting and your TCN number (Transaction Control Number) from your receipt to check the progress of your background check response. Please retain a copy of your fingerprint receipt for your records.

The results for employment or licensing, etc., are sent directly to the Requesting Agency that requires your fingerprinting. The Requesting Agency may not be required to share with you a copy of your fingerprint background check results. You can get your copy of your results. We offer a reduced fee if you request a second check for yourself at the time of your fingerprinting for a Requesting Agency.

For an Illinois Access and Review check, click here.

For an FBI (national) Self Background Check, click here:

Note: Illinois has updated the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/). If you are denied employment, By law, a requesting agency (except for government agencies) must provide a written copy of your report immediately upon request. You have the right to challenge the no-hire decision.

Resources:

Accurate Biometrics DOES NOT receive responses from the fingerprint background checks for any submissions sent to the ISP for processing.

Accurate Biometrics follows the law set out by the State of Illinois, and the United States Department of Justice.

Please note the following legislation regarding the collection and retention of your biometric information.

Illinois State:

FBI Federal:

Note: For information on Accurate Biometrics’ Retention and Destruction Policy for Identifiers and Other Biometric Information, please visit our Compliance page.

  • Missing or incorrect data. When this occurs the data is corrected and the record is resubmitted to ISP. This does not require action by the applicant.

  • Poor quality due to age of the applicant, previous work history (bricklayer, gardener, etc). When a print record is rejected due to poor quality, the applicant must be reprinted in an attempt to obtain fingerprint images of a higher quality.

  • Missing, deformed or bandaged fingers.

Note: If your fingerprints are rejected due to quality errors, you will be required to come back in to be re-fingerprinted. If you were fingerprinted for a requesting agency, they will get the rejection notice and forward it to you. You will need to bring in a copy of the rejection notice to get reprinted so that the prints get processed correctly.

For Illinois fingerprinting, the ISP charges a $10 reprocessing fee. Accurate Biometrics does not charge a service fee to reprocess rejected fingerprints.

Accurate Biometrics does provide Apostille service. Call our Customer Service number at 866-361-9944 for more information.