Embarking on a career in a Maryland hospital often involves navigating specific background check requirements, and a crucial part of this process is live scan fingerprinting. For aspiring healthcare professionals and hospital staff, understanding how live scan fingerprinting integrates with your career path is essential. This guide breaks down the process, ensuring you’re well-prepared to meet these requirements efficiently and effectively.
Why Live Scan Fingerprinting is Essential for Hospital Careers
Live scan fingerprinting has become the standard for background checks, especially within sensitive sectors like healthcare. Unlike traditional ink fingerprinting, live scan is a digital process that captures fingerprints electronically, offering numerous advantages:
- Accuracy and Speed: Live scan technology significantly reduces errors associated with ink fingerprinting, ensuring clearer and more accurate prints for quicker processing. This efficiency is vital when time is of the essence in securing a hospital position.
- Security: Digital transmission of fingerprints is more secure than physical card handling, protecting sensitive personal information throughout the background check process.
- Efficiency for Employers and Applicants: Hospitals and healthcare facilities in Maryland rely on live scan to streamline their background check processes, enabling them to onboard qualified professionals faster. For applicants, it means a more straightforward and less cumbersome procedure.
In Maryland, effective October 1, 2020, all in-state applicant fingerprints for licensing and employment background checks must be submitted electronically via approved live scan fingerprinting units. This mandate underscores the importance of live scan for anyone pursuing a hospital career in the state. The only exception for accepting traditional ink fingerprint cards is for documented medical reasons preventing live scan capture.
Navigating Maryland Background Check Requirements for Hospital Employment
The Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) of Maryland is the central authority for processing criminal history record information. For hospital careers, background checks are typically mandatory to ensure patient safety and maintain the integrity of healthcare institutions. These checks can vary based on the specific role within the hospital, but generally fall into these categories:
- State Background Checks: These checks delve into Maryland-specific criminal records and are often a minimum requirement for hospital employment.
- Full Background Checks (State and FBI): For positions requiring higher levels of trust or involving vulnerable populations, a more comprehensive background check including FBI records is necessary. This is common in roles with direct patient care or access to sensitive information.
Individual Background Checks vs. Employer-Initiated Checks
It’s important to distinguish between individual background checks and those initiated by your potential hospital employer.
- Individual Background Checks: Primarily for personal purposes like visas or Gold Seal letters (often needed for international adoptions), individuals can request their background check directly from CJIS. However, for hospital employment, this is generally not the route to take.
- Employer-Required Background Checks: For hospital careers, your employer or the licensing agency (depending on your profession, such as nursing or medicine) is responsible for requesting the background check. You will need to use the fingerprint cards or processes they specify and may need their authorization number.
For most hospital career paths in Maryland, you will be undergoing an employer-initiated background check. Ensure you understand your prospective employer’s specific requirements and procedures.
Step-by-Step Guide: Getting Your Live Scan Fingerprinting for a Hospital Career
To complete your live scan fingerprinting for a Maryland hospital career, follow these general steps:
- Obtain Necessary Forms and Information from Your Employer: Your hospital or healthcare facility will provide the specific forms and instructions needed for your background check. This will likely include fingerprint request forms and potentially their agency authorization number.
- Locate an Approved Live Scan Fingerprinting Provider: Maryland CJIS maintains a list of approved live scan fingerprinting providers. You can find this list by looking for the “Fingerprinting” link on the official Maryland CJIS website. Ensure you choose an approved provider to guarantee your fingerprints are correctly submitted to CJIS.
- Schedule Your Live Scan Appointment: Contact your chosen provider to schedule an appointment. Inquire about their fees, as these can vary between providers. Remember that the fees listed by CJIS are for processing the background check, not for the fingerprinting service itself.
- Attend Your Live Scan Appointment: Bring the required forms from your employer and a valid photo ID to your appointment. The trained technician will capture your fingerprints digitally using the live scan device.
- Payment: You will typically pay the fingerprinting provider directly for their service at the time of your appointment.
- Submission and Processing: The live scan provider will electronically submit your fingerprints and associated information to CJIS. Your hospital employer will then receive the results of your background check directly from CJIS.
Understanding CJIS and the Background Check Process
The Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) is the backbone of criminal history record dissemination in Maryland. While CJIS Customer Service cannot disclose criminal history information directly to individuals, they are a valuable resource for:
- Checking the Status of a Background Check Request: If you have a reference number from your employer, CJIS can help track the status of your background check.
- Answering General Process Questions: CJIS can provide guidance on the general background check process and direct you to the appropriate resources.
CJIS Customer Service Contact Information:
- Phone: 410-764-4501 (Baltimore City local) or 1-888-795-0011 (Toll-Free)
- Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Fax: 410-653-6320
Fees Associated with Hospital Career Background Checks
Fees are mandatory for processing criminal background checks. As of the latest information, CJIS cannot accept cash or money orders; payment must be made by credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover) or check. Note that these fees are in addition to any fees charged by the live scan fingerprinting provider.
Here’s a relevant breakdown of CJIS fees (these are subject to change, always verify the most current fees on the official CJIS website):
| CATEGORY | BACKGROUND CHECK COST (CJIS Service Fee of $20.00 is included for In-Person fingerprinting*) |
|---|---|
| Full background [state and FBI] for authorized agencies only | $30.00 for Mail-In* / $50.00 for In-Person |
| State background check only | $18.00 for Mail-In* / $38.00 for In-Person |
| State background check with Gold Seal | $19.00 for Mail-In* / $39.00 for In-Person |
It’s important to note that “Mail-In” fees are generally not applicable for live scan fingerprinting, as live scan is an electronic submission process. The “In-Person” fees are more relevant if you were to submit ink fingerprints (only permissible with documented medical exception). For live scan processed background checks for hospital careers, the “Full background [state and FBI] for authorized agencies only” and “State background check only” fees are the most pertinent categories, depending on the requirements of the specific hospital role.
Conclusion: Your Smooth Transition to a Hospital Career
Live scan fingerprinting is a critical step in securing a hospital career in Maryland. By understanding the process, requirements, and associated fees, you can navigate this stage with confidence and efficiency. Ensure you communicate closely with your prospective employer to gather all necessary forms and instructions, locate an approved live scan provider, and complete your fingerprinting promptly. This proactive approach will pave the way for a successful and fulfilling career in Maryland’s healthcare sector.
