How to get a Live Scan in California
Live Scan is electronic fingerprinting for a background check. Someone — an employer, a school, a licensing board, an adoption agency — has asked for one, and this page explains the whole thing end to end: what happens on the day, what you'll pay, and when the result arrives.
The appointment itself usually takes ten to fifteen minutes.
Already been fingerprinted?Check your status on the California DOJ siteThe process, start to finish
- 1Get the request formWhoever asked for the background check gives you a Request for Live Scan Service form, already filled in at the top with their agency codes.
- 2Find a location and check it suits youCompare rolling fees, opening hours and whether they take walk-ins. Some places are appointment-only, and some are mobile providers who come to you.
- 3Go, with the form and photo IDThe operator checks your ID, enters your details, and scans your fingerprints electronically. No ink, no card.
- 4Pay and keep your receiptYou'll get a copy of the form back with an ATI number on it. That number is how you track the check — don't lose it.
- 5The result goes to whoever askedThe DOJ, and the FBI if required, run the check and report to the requesting agency. You can follow progress with the DOJ's status checker.
The form you have to bring
This is the single most common reason people get turned away. You need the Request for Live Scan Service form — often called BCIA 8016 — from whoever asked you to get fingerprinted. The school, the employer, the licensing board or the agency fills in the top part before you arrive: the applicant type, the reason for the check, and the codes telling the DOJ where to send the result.
A Live Scan operator cannot invent those codes for you. Without the form they have nowhere to send your fingerprints, so the appointment can't happen. If you weren't given one, go back and ask before you travel.
Bring valid, unexpired photo ID as well — a driver's licence, state ID, passport or military ID. Some locations want a second form of ID, so it's worth asking when you call ahead.
What it costs
There is no single price, because you are paying two or three separate parties in one transaction. Only the last one is set by the place you walk into.
The state's own charge for processing the check. Set by statute, the same everywhere, and not something a location can discount.
Only when your check needs a federal search as well as a state one. Your request form says whether it does.
What the location charges to actually take your prints. This is the part that varies — it's set by the business, and it's the number we publish on every listing.
Some checks carry an extra charge from the requesting agency — certain licensing boards, guardianship and adoption checks among them. The form will say.
Read these as approximate. The DOJ and FBI portions are set by the state and revised from time to time; the current schedule is published on the Attorney General's fee page. The rolling fee is the only part the location controls, and it's the part worth shopping around for — we list the actual figure for each location where it has been published, and it genuinely varies by more than double within a few miles.
In many cases the organisation that requested the check pays the DOJ and FBI portions and you only pay the rolling fee. Sometimes you pay everything and claim it back. Your request form usually says which — check before you go.
Not every location takes cards. Ask when you call.
How long the result takes
Fingerprints are transmitted electronically, usually the same day. What happens next depends on how clean the match is and whether the FBI is involved.
The common case for volunteer and many employment checks with no complications.
A federal search adds a few days. Most licensing checks land here.
A prior record needing manual review, a common name, or rejected prints all push a check into this band. It's not unusual and rarely means bad news.
In most cases the result goes to the organisation that requested it, not to you — so no news reaching your inbox is normal and doesn't mean anything has gone wrong.
You can track it yourself. The California DOJ runs a status checker — the same one behind the green Check status button at the top of every page on this site. You'll need the ATI number from the copy of the request form the operator hands back to you, so keep it.
Check your Live Scan statusIf something goes wrong
Rejected prints. Worn or faint fingerprints are common — manual work, some medications, and age all do it. A rejection is not a finding against you; you'll normally be asked to be reprinted, often without paying the government portion again.
Nothing has arrived. Check the status checker first, then contact the organisation that requested the check. They can see results you can't.
Something on the record looks wrong. The DOJ has a formal process for challenging the accuracy of a record. That's between you and the state — we're a directory of locations, not a party to your check.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Live Scan cost in California?
The DOJ charges $32 and the FBI charges $17. On top of that, each location sets its own rolling fee — typically $20 to $45, sometimes lower at government agencies. The total for a combined DOJ + FBI check is usually $70 to $95.
What do I need to bring to a Live Scan appointment?
The Request for Live Scan Service form from whoever asked for the background check, plus one valid photo ID (driver's licence, state ID, passport, or military ID). Bring a payment method the location accepts — most take cards, but some are cash-only.
Do I need an appointment for Live Scan?
It depends on the location. Many private storefronts take walk-ins during posted hours, while police and sheriff's departments almost always require an appointment. Every listing shows whether appointments are required.
How long do Live Scan results take?
Usually one to three business days from the DOJ, and up to a week when the FBI is involved. Delays happen when fingerprints are unreadable or when a name matches something that needs manual review; a rescan is free at most locations.
How do I check my Live Scan status?
Use the DOJ's own status checker at applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov. You'll need the ATI number printed on the receipt you received at your appointment. There's no way to look it up without that number.
What if I don't have the request form yet?
You can't complete a Live Scan without one. The requesting agency — your employer, licensing board, school district, or adoption agency — has to give you the form with their agency codes filled in. Contact them for it before booking.
Can I get Live Scan done at a mobile provider?
Yes. Some providers travel to you, which is common for groups (schools, sports leagues, churches, employers) or for people who can't easily leave home. Filter by "Mobile only" on any county page to see them.
Is Live Scan the same as a background check?
Live Scan is the fingerprinting step of a background check. Once your prints are captured and submitted, the DOJ (and FBI, if requested) run them against their criminal-history databases and return the result to whoever asked.
This is general information, not legal advice, and LiveScanMap is an independent directory with no affiliation to the State of California or its Department of Justice. Fees, timelines and requirements change; the requesting agency and the DOJ are the authority on your particular check.