Licensing

• Certain professions require you to be state-licensed prior to entering the field. The state licensing board is the agency responsible for issuing these licenses to the various professions, such as real estate agents, doctors and medical personnel. As these professions deal with the public, concern for the safety of the citizenry may be an important consideration. Background investigations and fingerprint tests have become part of the application process. The standard application for a license usually includes a question asking the applicant to disclose all prior criminal convictions while the state examination makes the fingerprints part of the application process.
  
  

Fingerprints

• Fingerprints are normally taken prior to the issuance of a license. Very rarely are ink fingerprints used anymore, as the new technology is a live-scan of the fingerprints. The live scan facility requires payment for the scan and a completed application so the facility knows where to send the fingerprint results. The live-scan operator will roll you finger tips onto a screen which scans your fingerprints directly into a computer. The prints are then sent to the various law enforcement agencies required by the licensing board for a complete criminal history.
  
  

Background Check

• The background check uncovers all criminal convictions you may have. This is why it is important to disclose the convictions as the fingerprints will do so, even if you don't. Depending on the type of position, the background check may be statewide only or be conducted on a national level. If a national criminal search is sent, then any convictions within the 50 states will show up in the results. The result will show the date of conviction and the charge of the conviction.
  
  

Certificate of Clearance

• A certificate of clearance is one of the results from a background check. It means despite the complete search of the criminal data base, no criminal record pertaining to you has been found. Keep a copy of the certificate for your file and send one to the state licensing board, although the board should receive their own copy of the scan. As each state varies its procedures, please consult with a local attorney for specific information about your case.