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Screening Requirements

Fingerprint retention requirements

FAQs
 

FINGERPRINT RETENTION AT A GLANCE

  1. Register with the CHAI system (refer to the User Guide if you experience issues) – you may sign in or register by clicking the button below ‘Click Here To Manage Your Fingerprint Retention’
  2. After your existing fingerprints are matched to your account (if you are creating a new account), select ‘Check Renewal Availability’ to determine if you can retain your fingerprints at this time
  3. The window of opportunity to retain fingerprints opens 75 days and closes 15 days prior to the fingerprint retention expiration date
  4. Initiate payment for $43.25 plus a small processing fee
  5. Make sure you receive a confirmation email and keep it in a safe place

Fingerprint Retention Requirements

Fingerprint retention is separate from the licensure renewal process. The results of your initial fingerprint screening are stored in Florida’s Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse). Under section 456.0135, Florida Statutes, licensees for the following professions are required to retain their fingerprints every 5 years and may do so at a cost of $43.25:

  • All Licenses
    • Massage therapist
    • Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Multistate Upgrade
    • Registered Nurse (RN) Multistate Upgrade
  • Those licensed after January 1, 2013
    • View a complete list of screened professions here.

The window to retain your fingerprints opens 75 days prior to the expiration date and closes 15 days prior to the expiration date. This provides a full 60 days to complete the renewal process. If you do not retain your fingerprints, you are required to complete a new screening. The Department cannot extend your retention window. The cost of a new screening is almost double the retention cost and set by the LiveScan Provider. You can manage this requirement by registering on the Clearinghouse Applicant Initiated (CHAI) website. After your account is created, you will be able to view the date of your most recent screening and check renewal availability to learn if the window of opportunity to retain your fingerprints is open.

Individuals who submitted fingerprints through Florida's Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse) must retain their prints in order to remain in the Clearinghouse.

Fingerprint data is retained in the Clearinghouse for a period of five years from the date of submission. The Clearinghouse is a single data source used to retain and allow sharing of the results among participating agencies when a person has applied to volunteer, be employed, be licensed, or enters into a contract that requires a state and national fingerprint-based criminal history check under Section 435.12, Florida Statutes.

To support you in this requirement, the Agency for Health Care Administration has launched a new online website referred to as the Clearinghouse Applicant Initiated (CHAI) Website.

Section 456.0135, Florida Statutes, requires the cost of fingerprint processing (including the cost of retained fingerprints) be paid by the applicant/licensee who is the subject of background screening. Effective January 1, 2019, the retained print fee is $43.25. If your retained prints are not renewed prior to the expiration date, they will not be retained in the Clearinghouse, and you will be required to be fingerprinted again. The cost for a new fingerprint submission is almost double the retention fee. This includes the LiveScan Provider’s fee assessment, which can vary based upon the provider you select.

For more information click on the FAQs tab above, and select the Fingerprint Retention FAQs.

Licensed Medical Doctors, Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Podiatrists and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners that do not have their background screenings stored in the Florida's Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse), are required to pay an additional fee of $24.00 when they renew their license. The Department uses this fee to submit a Level 1 background check with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

– you may sign in or register by clicking the button below ‘Click Here To Retain Your Fingerprints Now’.

Contact Information

Florida Department of Health, Division of Medical Quality Assurance
Bureau of Operations - Background Screening Unit
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin BSU-01 Tallahassee, Florida 32399
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Disclaimer

Content provided by the Florida Department of Health presented herein is for informational purposes only. The Department has not screened each individual or organization that appears on this site or that is electronically linked to this site. The appearance of an individual or organization on this site is not intended as or in any manner serves as an endorsement of that individual or organization or any products or services identified on the individual’s or organization’s site. The Department disclaims any and all warranties with regard to the Website and Website information, including without limitation (A) Any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, infringement or title, (B) Any warranty of quality, functionality, operability, use or performance of the Website or Website information, (C) Any warranty of the accuracy completeness or validity of data or information communicated through the Website or included in the Website information, (D) Any warranty of the continuous availability of the Website or Website information, or that the Website or Website information will be uninterrupted or error-free, (E) Any warranty that the Website information or other files or data available for access or downloading will be free of infection, viruses, or other code manifesting harmful, contaminating, or destructive properties, or (F) Any warranties arising from course of dealing, trade usage, trade practice or otherwise. In addition, the Department does not represent or warrant that any defects in the Website or errors in the Website information will be corrected. In addition, the department does not warrant either expressly or by implication any individual, organization, product or service appearing on this site or that is electronically linked to this site. The department strongly urges all users of this site to conduct their own investigation of any individual, organization, product or service appearing on this site or that is electronically linked to this site.

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