As of July 1, 2025, all healthcare professionals in Florida must comply with background screening requirements when applying for initial licensure or renewing their license.

How to Start a Background Screening

• 1. Create an Account in the Clearinghouse Results Website (CRW)
• 2. Initiate a new screening by entering your information
• 3. Schedule a fingerprinting appointment with an FDLE-approved vendor
• 4. Check your status in the CRW portal

Screening Process Timeline

The full process typically takes 5 to 7 business days. While fingerprint transmission from the Livescan vendor to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) can take 24 to 72 business hours, the Background Screening Unit generally completes its review within 5 to 7 business days after receiving the results.

Check Screening Status

You can check the status of your screening with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) by entering your Transaction Control Number (TCN) here:
cchinet.fdle.state.fl.us/search/app/tcnlookup?3

If you are unable to view the status, please confirm with the Livescan provider that they have submitted your fingerprints to FDLE and that your TCN is correct. You may search for screenings completed within the last 6 months. They cannot research the status of your screening until it shows as ‘Complete’ on the TCN lookup site.

Helpful Links:

• Screening requirements
• Initiate a screening
• Locate a provider
• Locate an out-of-state provider
• Fingerprint retention
• FAQs
• Locate ORI number

Background Information

Section 456.0135(6)(1), Florida Statutes, requires that applications for initial licensure received on or after January 1, 2013, include fingerprints.

• Fingerprints must be submitted electronically to the Department of Law Enforcement for state processing and forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for national processing.
• The Department of Law Enforcement retains the fingerprints and may request the FBI to process them for national checks.
• The costs associated with fingerprint processing, including retention, are borne by the applicant.
• All fingerprints submitted must be entered into the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse.

2025 Amendments

Beginning July 1, 2025, the amendments made by this act to s. 456.0135, Florida Statutes, apply to applicants seeking initial licensure in any of the healthcare professions specified in that section. To ensure that all healthcare practitioners practicing in the health care professions subject to the background screening requirements for initial licensure under s. 456.0135, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act, are screened, healthcare practitioners who were already licensed in such health care professions before July 1, 2025, must submit to background screening in accordance with s. 456.0135, Florida Statutes, by their next licensure renewal that takes place on or after July 1, 2025, notwithstanding the fact that s. 456.0135, Florida Statutes, applies to initial licensure only. The Department of Health may not renew the license of such a health care practitioner after July 1, 2025, until he or she complies with these background screening requirements.

Changes as of July 1, 2025

If applying for initial licensure: You must complete the new background screening as part of your application.

If renewing your license: Be prepared to complete the screening requirements ahead of your next renewal date.

The renewal period begins approximately 90-120 days before your license expires. Visit the “Florida Boards” tab at www.FLHealthSource.gov, select your board, click on renewals, and choose your profession for more details about the renewal process.

About the Clearinghouse

The Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse) is a first-in-the-nation enterprise system for background screening results of individuals required by law to undergo screening for employment in positions that provide services to vulnerable populations.

Instructions on how to register an account and initiate a new screening in the Clearinghouse Results Website (CRW) are provided @ https://devfloridaclearinghouse.com/.

There is also a ‘contact us’ chat bot available to submit questions.

Fingerprint Retention

All screened professions are required to retain their fingerprints every 5 years and may do so at a cost of $43.25. 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.

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 are required to retain their fingerprints every 5 years and may do so at a cost of $43.25.

Learn more and initiate a screening >

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) is managing the Clearinghouse and provides instruction guides on their website. Contact ACHA.

Questions?

For questions regarding background screening, please email: [email protected]

For questions regarding fingerprint retention, please email: [email protected]

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