How long does it take to get your DPS Fingerprint Card back?

denaa · May 31, 2009

I got my fingerprints done and mailed on 5/12/2009 here in Tucson and got my clearance card on 5/27/2009 in the mail. A lot quicker than I thought it would take!!!!!!!!

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · May 31, 2009

I received my DPS card after about one week. We were told to allow 8 weeks.

I suspect that those who have never been charged with a crime get their DPS card right away, in about a week. I think it's those who have had a criminal charge or conviction that take up to 8 weeks for verification and processing of court documents?

I did have to send in two sets of prints, though. DPS rejected my first set because they said they were not clear enough, so I had to get re-fingerprinted.

Chica17 · May 31, 2009

I moved from another state and mine took almost 3 months...I applied in November and got it end of January, almost February...

kss0740 · May 31, 2009

To be safe, I'd apply 3 months in advance. I got mine a few years ago with a group of people. Some people got theirs in a few weeks, one girl took 4 months to get hers because they lost her paperwork. Better safe than sorry! Once you have it, it's good for a few years though :)

mackenziec85 · Jun 1, 2009

My card took about six weeks. Definitely an important thing to get done at the beginning of your application stages.

AZ_LPN_8_26_13 · Jun 3, 2009

Im new to the state and want to apply for the LPN programs and I wanted to know how long does it take to get the card back. You have to have it before you can even apply to the programs. Thank you

I was originally told 6 to 8 weeks, but I sent my stuff in around Dec. 20, 2008 and got my card in the mail about a month later, around Jan. 20, '09. The card itself is dated as approved and issued on Jan. 12, good till 01/12/2015. My advice though is to get it ASAP so it won't hold up any plans you might have....

froggyjk · Jun 3, 2009

Does anyone know how long the fingerprint cards are good?

AZ_LPN_8_26_13 · Jun 3, 2009

Does anyone know how long the fingerprint cards are good?

They are good for six years....

AZ_LPN_8_26_13 · Jun 3, 2009

I received my DPS card after about one week. We were told to allow 8 weeks.
I suspect that those who have never been charged with a crime get their DPS card right away, in about a week. I think it's those who have had a criminal charge or conviction that take up to 8 weeks for verification and processing of court documents?
I did have to send in two sets of prints, though. DPS rejected my first set because they said they were not clear enough, so I had to get re-fingerprinted.

I've never been charged with a crime myself, but I did send mine in just before the Christmas and New Years holidays, when everyone wants time off and many depts. are working with reduced staff. When you take that holiday time out of the equation, plus the time it took to get it in the mail, it probably didn't take much more than a week for them to do the checks and approve it - altogether it was about a month from the time I mailed it in late Dec. to the time I got my card in the mail in late Jan.

mackenziec85 · Jun 4, 2009

I received my DPS card after about one week. We were told to allow 8 weeks.
I suspect that those who have never been charged with a crime get their DPS card right away, in about a week. I think it's those who have had a criminal charge or conviction that take up to 8 weeks for verification and processing of court documents?
I did have to send in two sets of prints, though. DPS rejected my first set because they said they were not clear enough, so I had to get re-fingerprinted.

Uhhh, I've never been charged with any kind of crime. I've never even been pulled over...it still took me six weeks to get mine. Not to be rude, but please don't make assumptions like that. Maybe you just sent it in at a good time.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2009

You are absolutely right. I shouldn't be speculating about such a thing.

I think I was just guessing from what I've seen with classmates, and was far too blabby when I posted that.