Fingerprints and background checks: how to get them done fast
A fingerprint check is usually a single short appointment, and in many states you do it once and you’re set. Here is exactly what 29 official sources across 18 states say for OT, PT, and SLP licenses, who takes the prints, and how to keep it from slowing you down.
Read from official board, rule, statute, and compact pages on November 12, 2026. Rules change, so confirm on your board’s site before you book. This page is not legal advice.
Jump to: Fast-track checklist · Compacts · OT · PT · SLP · RD/DTR and RT
Fast-track checklist
- Start the day you apply. Results take time to reach the board. Arkansas says “The Criminal Background Check can take 2 (two) to six (6) weeks for processing the results with the State and FBI.” Kentucky says “It can take 5 to 10 business days from your appointment with IdentoGO for the board to receive the results.”
- Get your board’s code first. Florida tells applicants “It is important to use the correct Originating Agency Identification (ORI) when submitting fingerprints.” Texas OT renewals use the agency’s Service Code, and Kentucky lists an IdentoGO service code.
- Bring the right items. Florida’s list: “Your ORI Number (specific to your profession)” and “Valid photo identification”, plus your SSN or ITIN.
- Keep your receipt number. Florida asks you to get your Transaction Control Number (TCN) before you leave the appointment.
- Check whether you already qualify. Missouri OT: “If a background check for the purposes of obtaining a license through the board has been completed within the last six (6) months, then no additional background check needs to be completed.” Texas OT and PT count fingerprints you already gave for an earlier Texas license or renewal.
- Ask about a temporary permit. In Washington, people who meet every other requirement “may receive a temporary permit while the national background check is completed.”
- Florida renewals: fingerprint retention is its own step. Florida’s background screening page says “Check the status of your fingerprints before renewing your license, as fingerprint retention is separate from the licensure renewal process.”
Compact privileges
- OT Compact: “The OT practitioner’s home state will not consider the practitioner eligible to participate in the OTC until an FBI CBC is completed.” OT Compact practitioner FAQ
- ASLP-IC (SLP): “Member states must implement or utilize procedures for considering the criminal history records of applicants for Initial Privilege to Practice.” ASLP-IC FAQ
- PT Compact: the PT Compact pages we read list fees and jurisprudence exams by state but do not mention a background check. PT Compact process and requirements
Unverified. We couldn’t confirm a reliable source for this yet.
OT and OTA
| State | When | What the official source says | Who takes the prints or runs the check | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | New license | “Once the application for license has been received in this office, the applicant will be sent a packet (to their private address) with the fingerprint card and the instructions.” | Fingerprint card mailed to you by the board; results from the State and FBI | Arkansas State Medical Board FAQ |
| Florida | New license and renewal | “Florida passed House Bill 975 following the 2024 legislative session, which requires this profession to complete electronic fingerprinting.” | An FDLE-approved Livescan provider | Florida Board of Occupational Therapy Practice |
| Iowa | New license | “Submit required waivers and fingerprints pursuant to the board-approved process to facilitate a national criminal history background check by the DCI and the FBI.” | Board-approved process; Iowa DCI and FBI | Iowa Administrative Code 481, chapter 804 |
| Michigan | Relicensure after a lapse | “Submit fingerprints as required under section 16174(3) of the code, MCL 333.16174.” | Not stated in the rule | Michigan occupational therapists general rules |
| Missouri | New license | “All original applications shall include proof of submission of fingerprints to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s approved vendor for both a Missouri State Highway Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint background check.” | Missouri State Highway Patrol’s approved vendor | 20 CSR 2205-3 |
| Oklahoma | Listed with the application | “Extended Background Check (EBC)” | Linked from the board page | Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, OT page |
| South Carolina | OT Compact privilege | “the department shall require a national criminal records check, supported by fingerprints, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.” | FBI, through the department | S.C. Code Title 40, Chapter 36 |
| Tennessee | New license | “The applicant shall cause to be submitted to the Board’s administrative office directly from the vendor identified in the Board’s licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background check.” | The vendor named in the application materials | Tennessee rules 1150-02 |
| Texas | New license or renewal (one time) | “submit their fingerprints for state and national criminal history record information checks for the Board as a one-time requirement for initial license issuance or license renewal.” | Scheduled with the agency’s Service Code (on the renewal page) | Texas Board of OT Examiners, OT license renewal |
Other states with a OT and OTA renewal page on this site, not confirmed yet: Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Unverified. We couldn’t confirm a reliable source for this yet.
PT and PTA
| State | When | What the official source says | Who takes the prints or runs the check | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | New license and renewal | “Applicants for initial licensure must use a Livescan service provider to submit a set of fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for the purpose of conducting a search for any Florida and national criminal history records that may pertain to applicant.” | An FDLE-approved Livescan provider | Florida Board of Physical Therapy |
| Iowa | New license | “Submit a completed fingerprint card and a signed waiver form to facilitate a national criminal history background check by the Iowa division of criminal investigation (DCI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).” | Fingerprint card; Iowa DCI and FBI | Iowa Administrative Code 481, chapter 800 |
| Louisiana | New license (board may require) | “the board may require applicants for initial licensure to furnish a full set of fingerprints to facilitate a criminal background investigation.” | FBI; results reported by the Louisiana State Police | Louisiana PT Practice Act and Rules |
| New Mexico | New license | “all applicants for licensure must submit nationwide and statewide department of public safety (DPS) criminal history screening background check.” | New Mexico Department of Public Safety process | 16.20.3 NMAC |
| Oklahoma | Listed with the application | “Extended Background Check (EBC)” | Linked from the board page | Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, PT page |
| South Carolina | New license (department may require) | “the department may require a state criminal records check, supported by fingerprints, by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and a national criminal records check, supported by fingerprints, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.” | SLED and FBI | S.C. Code Title 40, Chapter 45 |
| Tennessee | New license | “At the applicant’s expense, an applicant for licensure shall consent to a criminal background check as specified by the Board of Physical Therapy during the application process.” | As specified by the board during the application | Tennessee rules 1150-01 |
| Texas | Renewal, if not done before | “Licensees need to comply with the fingerprinting requirement if they have not previously submitted fingerprints for initial issuance of a TX license or for a prior TX license renewal or restoration.” | See the board homepage | Texas Board of PT Examiners, renew a license |
| Washington | New license | “Individuals who satisfy all other licensing requirements and qualifications may receive a temporary permit while the national background check is completed.” | Fingerprint-based national check | WAC 246-915-075 |
| West Virginia | New license | “The applicant shall furnish to the State Police, or other organization duly designated by the Board, a full set of fingerprints and any additional information required to complete the criminal history record check.” | West Virginia State Police, or an organization the board designates | 16CSR1 |
Other states with a PT and PTA renewal page on this site, not confirmed yet: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Unverified. We couldn’t confirm a reliable source for this yet.
SLP
| State | When | What the official source says | Who takes the prints or runs the check | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | New license | “has been fingerprinted and has provided the fees required by the Department of Public Safety under AS 12.62.160 for criminal justice information and a national criminal history record check” | Alaska Department of Public Safety | Alaska Statutes 08.11 |
| Arizona | License with ASLP-IC privilege | “A person who wishes to be licensed as a speech-language pathologist and have the privilege to practice pursuant to article 4.1 of this chapter shall obtain a fingerprint clearance card pursuant to section 41-1758.07.” | Arizona fingerprint clearance card | A.R.S. 36-1940.01 |
| Florida | New license and renewal | “Florida passed House Bill 975 following the 2024 legislative session, which requires this profession to complete electronic fingerprinting.” | An FDLE-approved Livescan provider | Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology |
| Idaho | ASLP-IC (being set up) | “Staff are in the process of initiating the fingerprint-based criminal history background checks with the Idaho State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.” | Idaho State Police and FBI | Idaho DOPL |
| Kentucky | New license or reinstatement | “Schedule your fingerprint appointment at uenroll.identogo.com using the board's IdentoGO service code 27GKYV” | IdentoGO; results through Kentucky State Police | Kentucky board, FBI background check instructions |
| Ohio | New license | “each applicant for an initial license shall comply with sections 4776.01 to 4776.04 of the Revised Code.” | Criminal records check under ORC 4776 | Ohio Revised Code 4753.061 |
| Oklahoma | New license | “A national criminal background check will be completed on each applicant.” | Not stated in the rule | Oklahoma board licensure rules |
| South Carolina | ASLP-IC privilege | “the department shall require a national criminal records check, supported by fingerprints, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.” | FBI, through the department | S.C. Code Title 40, Chapter 67 |
| Texas | Renewal | “Some licensees will need to provide new fingerprints before their license can be renewed.” | Book with your TDLR Entity Number | TDLR, how to renew |
| Washington | New license | “Fingerprint-based national background checks may cause a delay in licensing or certification.” | Fingerprint-based national check | WAC 246-828-305 |
Other states with a SLP renewal page on this site, not confirmed yet: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Unverified. We couldn’t confirm a reliable source for this yet.
Dietitians and respiratory therapists
We have not yet confirmed a fingerprint or background-check rule from the official RD/DTR or RT sources we read for this site.
Unverified. We couldn’t confirm a reliable source for this yet.
Handy extras for paperwork day
Only if your board mails you an ink fingerprint card, or you are filing paper forms. Livescan states capture prints and a photo electronically, so you won’t need these.
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