Looking to obtain a California license, certificate or permit? Starting a new job that requires a background check? Need to prove your identity to access your record? Then you’ll need to undergo a Live Scan criminal background check. At Luna Live Scan + Notary, you can schedule a Live Scan at either of our two convenient Oceanside locations in North San Diego County.
What Is a Live Scan?
A Live Scan is a digital fingerprint service that allows a requester to access your California criminal history record. The request may extend to other U.S. states and territories as well. This information is used to verify your identity and determine if you’re eligible for a job, record review, or a license, certificate, or permit.
How It Works
?When it comes to Live Scans, people often think we scan your entire body like airport personnel do at security checkpoints. That’s not the case here. During a Live Scan, we capture your fingerprints digitally using electronic equipment, then send them to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and, when requested, the FBI. The fingerprinting process takes about 10 minutes.
The requesting agency will review your criminal activity report and determine if you are eligible for license, certification or permit. In other words, they make sure that bad guys don’t work with children, elderly or the general public.
To accomplish this, the DOJ will run a criminal background check on you to uncover any criminal activity reported in California. The information provided will show either a clean record with no criminal activity or a criminal record that includes arrests, probations, restraining orders and more.
If the requesting agency wants a background check to identify any criminal activity reported in the U.S. and its territories, your prints will be sent to the FBI before going to the DOJ.
Since fingerprints are taken digitally, no messy ink is used during the fingerprinting process, so your hands stay clean. Live Scan fingerprint impressions are typically higher quality too, so they’re less likely to get rejected. Secure digital transmission shortens the turnaround time significantly, with results returned usually within one to seven business days.
Who Needs a Live Scan?
Live Scan background checks are required for people who work with children, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations. Employers also frequently request live scan fingerprints as a condition of employment. Here are some specific examples:
Professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and realtors seeking a license to conduct business
People who need a permit to buy, sell or manufacture cannabis products
Job candidates seeking employment who need to show a clean record
Citizens who need to prove their identity to request a record review
Individuals who need a clean record to work with minors, such as youth sports coaches, group volunteers, teachers, preschool staff, and other educators
Caregivers who need a clean record to work with the elderly, such as nurses, homecare aids and nursing home staff
Performing Live Scans the Luna Way
We won’t rush you through the fingerprinting process like other service providers do. To ensure your prints are accepted, we take the time needed to expertly roll your fingers and produce quality prints. This ensures you start your new job on time, get that license renewed without hassles, and acquire the permits you need to run your business without delays.
We take pride in maintaining our state-of-the-art equipment, which allows us to provide the best-quality prints and scans at a fair price. We also follow COVID-19 best practices suggested by the DOJ for keeping equipment properly sanitized.
Work with the Best
As an industry leader, we understand the science behind your fingerprints. Our technicians are highly skilled experts with extensive fingerprinting knowledge. They’ve been trained specifically on biometric fingerprint capture procedures, including the patterns to look for and the print boundaries to include.
We are sensitive to and work well with fingerprinting challenges stemming from conditions such as hyperhidrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, missing digits, congenital deformities, and anxiety. As a result, our rejection rate is an incredibly low 0.02%!
Ready to roll?
We’re ready for you! Book an appointment online using our easy-to-use scheduling calendar. If you’re not comfortable with technology, please call or text a brief message and we will promptly reply.
For your convenience, we have two locations with plenty of availability Monday through Saturday. Walk-ins are also welcome at our East Oceanside / Vista office. Be sure to check the hours posted on our home page.
Questions? Watch the video above or check out the list below for common questions about our Live Scan services or visit our FAQ page.
Live Scan Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Who needs a Live Scan?
A: It is most often used for candidates for positions working with and around vulnerable populations (children, the elderly, and disabled), including law enforcement agencies, public and private schools, non-profit organizations, and in-home supportive care agencies. However, all institutions and professions with applicants for employment, licensing or certification may require it for positions, such as:
