1. Home
2. Licensees
3. Fingerprint Requirement

Fingerprint Requirement (Authority and Ongoing Monitoring)

Under the Nursing Practice Act, all applicants and licensees must submit a full set of fingerprints for state and federal criminal history checks through the Department of Justice (DOJ). Licenses, registrations, and permits may be denied, suspended, or revoked based on criminal convictions.

Click Here for additional discipline and convictions information.

Fingerprints remain on file with the California DOJ, which provides ongoing reports to the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) of any future arrests and convictions.

Fingerprints and License Renewal (16 CCR § 1419)

Fingerprint submission may be required at renewal if:

• You were never fingerprinted for the BRN,
• A record of your fingerprints no longer exists, or
• The BRN directs you to resubmit fingerprints.

The requirement for fingerprints to be on file for renewal took effect in 2009. Since 2013, the BreEZe system has been used to track renewals and confirm receipt of both DOJ and FBI fingerprint results. If fingerprint results are missing from your BreEZe file, your renewal will be placed on hold until results are received.

January 1, 2014 Requirement

The BRN requires a fingerprint submission dated on or after January 1, 2014. If you were fingerprinted before that date and have not submitted a new set since, you must be fingerprinted again. Your renewal will not be approved without valid results.

Failure to submit fingerprints when required is grounds for discipline.

Inactive Renewal (A licensee cannot practice as a registered nurse in California with an inactive license.)

• Fingerprints are not required if renewing to INACTIVE status.
• If your license is on hold due to fingerprints and you are renewing to inactive, contact the BRN Fingerprint Unit (visit the BRN Contact Us page and select "Fingerprint Inquiries").

To return to ACTIVE status later, the BRN must verify acceptable fingerprint results in BreEZe.

Active Renewal (This status is required for RNs who wish to practice nursing in the state of California.)

If renewing to ACTIVE status:

• The BRN must have fingerprint results from both DOJ and FBI on file, or
• You will be required to submit a new set of fingerprints.

Renewal notices are sent 90 days before expiration and should indicate whether fingerprints are required. If you were fingerprinted before 2014, you are required to complete a new submission to avoid delays. You do not need to wait for your renewal window to open to submit new fingerprints.

If you paid for renewal but your license was not renewed:

• Check the Application Status and Details page, and/or
• Contact the BRN to determine if fingerprints are required (visit the BRN Contact Us page and select "Fingerprint Inquiries".

Requesting a Live Scan Form or FD-258 for Renewal

To request a Live Scan form or FD-258 hard card, submit the BRN Fingerprint Request Form.

• Hard cards may take up to three weeks to arrive by mail.
• FD-258 processing may take several weeks to a few months to appear in BreEZe.

Click Here for instructions on how to complete the FD-258 for the California Board of Registered Nursing.

Unmatched Fingerprint Results

If your BreEZe account shows a fingerprint deficiency after you completed fingerprinting, your results may not have matched your file.

DOJ, FBI, and BRN match fingerprints using:

• First name
• Last name
• Date of birth
• Social Security number

Errors (such as transposed numbers or incorrect formatting of hyphenated names) may result in an “unmatched record.” Live Scan results typically appear in BreEZe within 72 hours. If results do not match automatically, a manual review may be required.

If needed:

• Upload a copy of your completed Live Scan form under “Submit Additional Documents” in BreEZe, or
• Contact the BRN for assistance (visit the BRN Contact Us page and select "Fingerprint Inquiries").

Your license cannot be renewed until valid results are properly applied to your file.

Types of Fingerprint Results

• Clear – No convictions, or convictions are reported.
• Rejection – Usually due to poor print quality. The BRN will mail reprint instructions. No additional DOJ/FBI fee is required, though the Live Scan vendor may charge a processing fee. If rejected twice, the BRN will request a DOJ name search (no further action required from you).
• Delay – DOJ/FBI delays may take approximately 30–90 days. Delays cannot be expedited.
• Invalid – The BRN will notify you within 14 days with instructions.
• Rap Sheet – The BRN reviews criminal history to verify compliance with licensure requirements and to ensure convictions were properly reported.

For fingerprint-related questions, visit the BRN Contact Us page and select "Fingerprint Inquiries" to avoid response delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need to wait until my renewal is due to be fingerprinted?
  No, you may submit your fingerprints at any time prior to the expiration of your license.
• Can a person obtain a license as a registered nurse if they have a misdemeanor or felony conviction on their record?
  Yes. Applicants with discipline or criminal conviction records can be issued a license; however, for some applicants, the process may take longer due to the type of discipline and criminal convictions . The BRN reviews all prior convictions that are substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a registered nurse. Each application is evaluated on a case by case basis (please refer to the BRN Disciplinary Guidelines). The BRN considers the nature, severity, and recency of all offense(s), as well as rehabilitation and other factors. The BRN cannot make a determination for approval or denial of licensure without evaluating the entire application and supporting documentation. The BRN will not take action on convictions older than seven years or that have been expunged under Penal Code section 1203.4 and/or dismissed. The preceding seven-year limitation does not apply if the applicant was convicted of a serious felony as defined in section 1192.7 of the Penal Code or a crime for which registration is required pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of section 290 of the Penal Code.
• How do I obtain the Live Scan form or FD-258 (Fingerprint Hard Card)?
  You can request these using the request form on the Fingerprint Requests page.
• I live outside of California, can I submit Live Scan fingerprints?
  You may submit Live Scan fingerprints if they are completed at a Live Scan site located in the State of California. A listing of locations can be found at the California Office of the Attorney General website.
• Will you accept Live Scan fingerprints that are completed in another state?
  No, Live Scan fingerprints completed in any other state cannot be accepted.
• I was fingerprinted by my employer, school, or other state agency. Do I need to be fingerprinted for the California Board?
  Yes, you will need to be fingerprint again for the BRN. Fingerprint records are specific only to the requester using a specific Organization Record Identifier (ORI) number and results cannot be shared. Therefore, you must submit fingerprints to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) using the ORI number specific to the BRN.
• I submitted fingerprints as part of a Board disciplinary process. Do I need to submit additional fingerprints?
  No, if you submitted fingerprints to the BRN as part of a reinstatement petition or a BRN probationary requirement you do not need to resubmit fingerprints. If you need to clarify this, please contact our Enforcement Unit.
• I am renewing my RN license in an inactive status; do I have to be fingerprinted to renew inactive?
  No, the fingerprint requirement will be waived if the license is renewed to an inactive status. However, a request to have an inactive RN license activated will require fingerprints be submitted if the BRN does not have fingerprint records for the licensee on file. An RN cannot have an active California Registered Nursing license without being fingerprinted by the DOJ.
• My license has been expired for eight or more years, do I need to be fingerprinted when I submit my renewal?
  Yes, fingerprints will be required for an eight-year renewal or exam.
• What will happen if I do not submit fingerprints to the Board?
  Your initial license will not be issued without a fingerprint submission. Your renewal application will be incomplete if you fail to provide the required fingerprint information and your license will not be renewed. In addition, failure to submit a full set of fingerprints on or before the date required for renewal of your license is grounds for discipline by the BRN.
• Why are my fingerprints being rejected by DOJ and/or FBI?
  The most common reason fingerprints are rejected is for the quality of the print. Due to the nature of the job, nurses wash their hands more often than the average person, this can cause fingerprints to deteriorate. It may be helpful to let the LiveScan vendor know if you have had an issue.
• I’ve had two reject notices; how do I complete a name search?
  Once the BRN receives a second rejection of your prints, a name search will automatically be submitted. You do not need to do any further reprints unless directed to do so.
• I submitted my renewal, but my license has not been updated. Is the fingerprinting issue holding up my renewal?
  Your license renewal requires a fee, completed renewal application including applicable CEU information, and cleared fingerprints. Please use the Application Status and Details Page to verify what components are still needed for your renewal and submit any required information via your BreEZe account. You may contact the BRN by using the Contact Us page for further assistance. If your inquiry is regarding your renewal, select "Licensee Services" from the dropdown menu, and/or if your inquiry is regarding fingerprints, select "Fingerprint inquires" from the same dropdown list.

For additional questions regarding the licensee fingerprint requirement, please visit the BRN’s Contact Us page and complete the Send a Message to the Board section. To avoid delays in receiving a response to your fingerprint inquiry, select Fingerprint Inquiries as the Reason for contact.