If you’ve been told you need a Live Scan and aren’t entirely sure what that means, you’re not alone. The term gets thrown around a lot in job applications, licensing paperwork, and volunteer onboarding without much explanation of what it actually involves or why it’s required.
The short version: Live Scan is a digital fingerprinting process used to run background checks through the California Department of Justice and, in many cases, the FBI. It replaced the old ink-and-paper fingerprint cards that used to be standard, and it’s significantly faster — both in terms of how long the appointment takes and how quickly results are returned to the requesting agency.
If you’ve been asked to complete one, here’s what you actually need to know.
How It Works
Live Scan captures your fingerprints electronically using a scanning device rather than ink. Your prints are transmitted digitally to the California DOJ, which runs them against criminal history databases. Depending on what your employer or licensing agency requires, the results may also be forwarded to the FBI for a federal background check.
The appointment itself is brief. Most people are in and out in ten to fifteen minutes. You’ll need to bring a completed Request for Live Scan Service form — typically provided by whoever is requiring the background check — along with a valid government-issued photo ID. The form includes an Applicant Transaction Identifier (ATI) number that connects your submission to the correct requesting agency.
Results go directly to the agency that requested the background check, not to you. If you have questions about what your results say or how they’re being used, that conversation happens with your employer or licensing board, not with the Live Scan provider.
Who Needs a Live Scan
The list of professions and situations that require Live Scan in California is long. Most people encounter it for the first time when starting a new job or applying for a professional license. Some of the most common reasons people come in include:
- Employment in Schools or Childcare — teachers, aides, administrators, and volunteers working with minors are required to complete Live Scan through the California DOJ and FBI before beginning work
- Healthcare Licensing — nurses, medical assistants, therapists, and a wide range of other licensed healthcare professionals are required to complete Live Scan as part of the state licensing process
- Real Estate and Financial Services Licensing — the California Department of Real Estate and various financial regulatory bodies require Live Scan for licensure applications
- Contractors and Home Service Professionals — many contractor licenses and certifications require background checks through Live Scan as part of the application
- Adoption and Foster Care — prospective adoptive and foster parents go through Live Scan as part of the background clearance process
- Volunteer Work — organizations working with vulnerable populations, including youth programs and senior services, frequently require Live Scan for volunteers
This isn’t an exhaustive list. If you’ve been handed a form and told to get fingerprinted, the form itself will tell you which agencies your results are being sent to and what the purpose of the check is.
DOJ vs. FBI — What’s the Difference
Some Live Scan submissions go only to the California DOJ. Others go to both the DOJ and the FBI. Which one applies to you depends entirely on what the requesting agency has specified on your form.
A DOJ-only submission checks against California criminal history records. A submission that includes the FBI check runs your prints against federal databases as well, which covers records from other states and federal offenses. Jobs or licenses that require working with children, vulnerable adults, or in sensitive government-adjacent roles typically require both.
Your form will specify which agencies are receiving the submission — you don’t need to make that determination yourself.
What to Bring
Showing up prepared makes the appointment faster for everyone. Before coming in, make sure you have:
- Your completed Request for Live Scan Service form, provided by your employer, licensing board, or requesting agency
- A valid government-issued photo ID — a California driver’s license, state ID, or passport all work
- Payment for the rolling fee, which is the fee charged by the Live Scan provider for the fingerprinting service itself, separate from any fees charged by the DOJ or FBI
If you don’t have your form yet, contact whoever required the Live Scan. They’re responsible for providing it, and the appointment can’t proceed without it.
Where to Get It Done in the Thousand Oaks Area
OfficeLOCALE offers Live Scan fingerprinting for California DOJ and FBI background checks at both of our locations — 2639 Lavery Court in Newbury Park and 275 E. Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks. No lengthy wait, competitive pricing, and flexible scheduling that works around your availability.
Live Scan is one of a number of business and professional services available at OfficeLOCALE alongside coworking spaces, virtual office plans, notary services, passport renewals, and more. If you need to check multiple items off your list, there’s a good chance you can handle more than one of them in a single visit.
Call 805.777.8866 or visit the contact page to schedule your Live Scan appointment or ask about availability.
