Fingerprinting for Boards

[Headhurt, ADN]

I live in Missouri, go to school in Missouri. However, I work in Kansas, so I am going to sit for boards in Kansas. Missouri requires fingerprints of all people applying to sit for boards, Kansas does not. All states run background checks. Missouri does not require CEU's to maintain your license, Kansas does. I'm 1) sitting for Kansas because it's $200 less 2)I'm going to be working in Kansas 3) I don't want to work in Missouri 4)Chances are likely I am going to move to Kansas as that is where my boyfriend lives. :)

I'm just wondering if you had to send your fingerprints in before you could take boards, and what state you tested out of. Is there a big difference in whether your background check has a fingerprints or not??? I don't have a record, so I don't really see what the issue is.

I'm getting my information back faster than my classmates because Missouri's fingerprinting/background checks take a long time. When I tell them why, I get the "oh, I guess we know where felon nurses go to work." I find this insulting, even though they say it in jest.

Just curious to hear your thoughts.

[shyviolet78, LPN, LVN]

I'm in Texas, and we have to be fingerprinted before sitting for boards. These fingerprints will be kept on file with the FBI, though, not the individual state. I was told the reasoning behind this is to prepare for the new multi-state licensure compacts, so fingerprints/background check will be in one location regardless of which state you are licensed in, and will supposedly end the need for applying for a new license if you move to another state within your compact. This is how the director at my nursing school explained it to me, we had a whole lecture class devoted to this and the multi-state licensure.

[rpbear]

I went to school in NY, which does not require fingerprinting. I moved to NM after graduation and applied for my license here where I have to get fingerprinted, I did not understand it either but now that shyviolet78 explained it I understand. NM is in the multi state compact and NY is not.

[pmanrnbflo]

I just took the boards in New York (and passed thank GOD) on Moday. I had to have my fingerprint done, But it was elecronic (fiberoptic).

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

In my state when we had to be fingerprinted we were told that if we held a current license that we didnt have to be fingerprinted. So naturally those of us who had been LPN's thought we wouldnt have to be. NOOOO,, we still had to pay the 55.00, supposedly it was the company that did the testing for NCLEX that required the prints so if there was a question about who was actually there to test the prints could be matched to verify the person.

Still think we didnt need to, as our state Dept. of Regulation told us (we called) that we didnt. Just another hoop to jump through to get the license, everyone has to get their cut of the greenbacks.

[BarbPick]

If there is, best to put it out there. I have had to be fingerprinted for quite a few hospital situations. City ID cards, County and State Employment.

The big County /University hospital here requires fingerprints and takes 10 weeks to get the results.

Not all finger prints are added to the AFIS System. I am enclosing a link about the AFIS system and then you can decide.

http://www.biometricsinfo.org/afis.htm

Barbara

[seanymph]

I don't understand why if once you've been fingerprinted for one State why you have to keep being fingerprinted for (and paying) for other States if they are supposedly running it through a National system.

[BarbPick]

I don't understand why if once you've been fingerprinted for one State why you have to keep being fingerprinted for (and paying) for other States if they are supposedly running it through a National system.

I recently completed a course in Identification/ latent fingerprints examination, was like watching pain dry. There is no rhyme or reason which fingerprint system is used. There is state and national. Which one is faster and cheaper. Each state wants their own copy on file.