To check the status of your California DOJ Live Scan results, go to applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov and enter two things: your date of birth and the Automated Transaction Identifier (ATI) number printed on the copy of the Live Scan form you got at your fingerprinting appointment.1State of California – Department of Justice. Applicant Background Check Status The portal shows where the DOJ stands in processing your submission. It does not show the actual contents of your background check. Those go directly to the agency that requested the Live Scan.
Using the Applicant Status Portal
The ATI number is a 10-character code following a set pattern: one letter, three numbers, three letters, three numbers. Look for it at the bottom of the “Request for Live Scan Service” form the operator handed you after printing your fingers. If you can’t find your copy, contact the Live Scan operator who fingerprinted you or the agency that requested the check.
Without the ATI number, you cannot use the portal. There is no phone workaround. DOJ technicians are prohibited from discussing any applicant’s criminal record or the status of a pending background check over the phone.2State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Fingerprint Background Checks
What Each Status Result Means
The portal returns one of a few possible statuses, and each has a specific meaning.
In Progress means the DOJ or the FBI is still working on your submission. Nothing has been sent to your requesting agency yet.
Completed means the DOJ has finished its review and forwarded the results to your requesting agency. This is not the same as being cleared or approved. The agency still has to review what it received and make its own hiring, licensing, or certification decision. A “Completed” status in the portal is a handoff, not a verdict.
Rejected means your submission failed and cannot be processed. Rejections usually come from fingerprint images that were too low in quality for the system to read, or from a data entry error the Live Scan operator made on the form. You’ll need to be reprinted.
How Long the Check Should Take
Background checks processed only through the California DOJ are usually completed and returned to the requesting agency within 48 to 72 hours. If your Live Scan also requires an FBI check, expect three to seven business days.2State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Fingerprint Background Checks Whether an FBI check is required depends on what your requesting agency marked under “Level of Service” on the Live Scan form. Most professional licensing boards require both.
Several things push processing past those estimates. High submission volume slows the entire queue. Poor fingerprint quality forces a submission into manual review. And if you have a lengthy or complex criminal history, a DOJ technician has to individually apply the dissemination rules for your specific applicant type before releasing the response, which takes longer than an automated clearance.2State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Fingerprint Background Checks
What to Do If Your Status Is Stuck
If the portal still shows “In Progress” well past the expected window, contact the agency that requested your Live Scan before you contact anyone else. Agencies sometimes have the results in hand before the portal updates on your end, or they may be partway through their own internal review. Since the DOJ sends results to the agency and not to you, the agency is your best real-time source.2State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Fingerprint Background Checks
For questions specific to the FBI portion, the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services division can be reached at (304) 625-5590. That office handles identity history summary checks and may direct you back to the DOJ or your requesting agency for the status of a channeled Live Scan submission.3Federal Bureau of Investigation. Identity History Summary Checks Frequently Asked Questions
What to Do If Your Status Says Rejected
A “Rejected” status means back to a Live Scan location for a reprint. Bring your rejection notice and the original ATI number.
If the rejection was for poor fingerprint quality, the DOJ and FBI do not charge their processing fees again on the resubmission. The Live Scan operator may still charge a new rolling fee for the service. If the rejection was caused by a data entry error on the form, a completely new submission is required with a corrected form, and all fees apply again. Some operators will waive their rolling fee when the mistake was theirs, but no rule forces them to.
After Two Rejections in a Row
Some people have fingerprints that scan poorly every time, whether from skin conditions, manual labor wear, or age. The two systems handle repeat rejections differently.
If the DOJ rejects your fingerprints twice for quality, the DOJ automatically switches to a name-based search of its criminal history database. You don’t have to do anything to trigger it.2State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Fingerprint Background Checks
The FBI side is not automatic. If the FBI rejects your fingerprints twice, your requesting agency has to submit form BCIA 8020 to the DOJ’s FBI Response Unit to request a name-based check of the national database. That request must reach the DOJ within 75 calendar days of the second rejection notice. If the agency misses that window, the FBI deletes the transaction after 90 days, and the entire FBI fingerprint process starts over.4California Department of Justice. BCIA 8020 – Request for Applicant Name Check by the FBI Both rejections have to be for the same applicant type and job title.
Why You Can’t See the Actual Results
The DOJ sends background check results directly to the entity listed on your Live Scan form: the employer, licensing board, or other authorized agency. You are not in that loop. What the agency receives is filtered based on your applicant type and the specific statutes authorizing that type of check. An agency running a check for a teaching credential sees different information than one running a check for a firearms dealer.2State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Fingerprint Background Checks
Results also cannot be repurposed. A Live Scan submitted for a teaching credential cannot double as a background check for a nursing license or a personal check. Each submission is tied to one authorized purpose.
If You’re Denied Because of the Results
The one situation where California law puts the results in your hands is an adverse decision. If an agency denies you employment, a license, or certification based on what the background check revealed, that agency must immediately provide you with a copy of the results.2State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Fingerprint Background Checks If an employer tells you that you “didn’t pass” the background check but refuses to show you what came back, they are violating the law. Ask for the copy in writing.
If You Actually Want to See Your Own Record
The status portal will not do this for you, and neither will an employment Live Scan. To see what the California DOJ has on file under your name, you have to submit a separate “Record Review” Live Scan using form BCIA 8016RR. It’s independent of any employment or licensing submission. California Penal Code sections 11120 through 11127 establish your right to obtain this information.5Justia Law. California Penal Code 11120-11127 – Examination of Records
The DOJ charges a $25 processing fee for a Record Review, plus whatever the Live Scan operator charges as their rolling fee.6California Department of Justice. Record Review Live Scan Instructions The results of a Record Review are mailed directly to your home address. This is the only type of Live Scan where you receive the results yourself.
If the Record Review response contains errors or missing information, you can challenge it using the “Claim of Alleged Inaccuracy or Incompleteness” form (BCIA 8706), which comes with your Record Review results if a criminal history exists on your record.7State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Criminal Records – Request Your Own Your challenge has to explain specifically what you believe is wrong and include any documentation, such as court records showing a dismissed charge or proof of completed probation. Federal records that appear on your Record Review can be challenged directly with the FBI, using the instructions included with your response.