FINGERPRINT REQUIREMENT [RCW 28A.410.010]

1 What is the fingerprint requirement and why does it exist?

Washington State law requires fingerprinting for an applicant who does not hold a valid Washington certificate at the time of application. In addition, fingerprinting is required for employment for applicants who have not been fingerprinted in the previous two years.

Fingerprinting was established by the legislature to safeguard Washington's school children by screening for potential criminal history of applicants for certification and employment.

2 Do I need to be fingerprinted if I have already done so in [state]?

You have to have a fingerprint check through the Washington State Patrol. This requirement cannot be met with your fingerprint check in another state.

3 May a permit be issued if a candidate is hired before fingerprint results have been received?

No. School district employees who do not hold a valid teaching certificate, an ESA certificate, or administrator certificate must have fingerprints taken and results posted on the statewide database. Fingerprint results must be received from the Washington State Patrol before a permit may be issued. Certificates may not be issued until fingerprint results have been received from both the state and the FBI.

4 Is it possible to be fingerprinted here in [other state] and have the cards mailed?

Yes. You may take your cards to any agency authorized to take fingerprints, and that agency can mail them to the Washington State Patrol. In the US the nearest police station should be able to take fingerprints. In other countries a law enforcement office, a US military station, or a US embassy/consulate may be able to provide this service.

5 Do I send fingerprint cards to your office? If not, where do my fingerprint cards go?

No. The fingerprint cards come with full instructions on how to submit them, where to submit them, etc. Both cards are mailed to the Washington State Patrol.

6 Can I use fingerprint cards that are available here in my home state?

No. They must be fingerprint cards prepared in Washington State.

7 How long does the fingerprint process take to complete?

The fingerprint process is a two-part function. If prints are readable, the WSP check will take approximately 14 business days, and the FBI will take approximately 8 weeks. Unreadable prints will be sent back to be re-taken.

8 Why does it take so long?

The WSP and FBI process ALL fingerprint cards, including cards submitted by law enforcement agencies for criminal investigations. We (at OSPI) have no control over the length of time it takes to process fingerprints, as the Washington State Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation are separate agencies from OSPI.

9 Why are some fingerprint cards rejected?

o     FEES: cards are rejected frequently for improper fees;

o     MISSING INFORMATION: Make sure date of birth, sex, and all other identifiers are noted on the card;

o     HIGHLIGHTER: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) scanning service cannot process cards with highlighter markings on them;

o     REQUESTER: Failure to put a requester’s name in the requester box (they don’t know who to send the information to);

o     NAME: Printed names must be legible.

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10 Who can I contact for further questions about fingerprinting?

Please feel free to call the Fingerprint Records Office at (360) 725-6135 or Office of Professional Practices (360-7256130) if you’d like any clarification of any of these items.

11 How long do fingerprints remain in the statewide database?

By law, fingerprints remain in the Washington State Patrol database for only two years. The FBI retains fingerprints in the national database indefinitely.