Preparing for Your Fingerprinting Appointment
Preparing for your fingerprinting appointment
Tips for Dry Skin, Worn Prints, and More
For most people, preparing for a fingerprinting appointment is simple—just show up with your ID and clean hands. But if you’ve had difficulty being fingerprinted in the past, or you work in an industry where your hands are frequently exposed to wear and tear, a little preparation can go a long way in ensuring we get a clean, usable print.
Factors That Can Affect Your Fingerprints
Some people naturally have fingerprints that are harder to capture. This can be due to:
Dry skin
Frequent handwashing or use of sanitizers
Manual labor or frequent friction (e.g., construction, cleaning, mechanics, cosmetology)
Age-related thinning of skin
Ethnicity-related skin characteristics
Excessively sweaty palms
Medical conditions or medications that affect skin texture
If any of these apply to you, don’t worry—we’re experienced in helping clients with all types of fingerprinting challenges.
If You Have Dry or Worn Fingerprints
While most clients don’t need to do anything special, those with very dry or worn skin may benefit from a few simple steps:
Moisturize your hands in the days leading up to your appointment (especially overnight), but do not use lotion on the day of your appointment, as it can interfere with the ink.
Wash your hands before your appointment. A restroom is located just down the hall from our office for your convenience.
We’ll clean your hands again before fingerprinting using a hand sanitizing cloth to ensure the skin is free from oils, lotions, or debris.
If your hands are especially dry or the ink isn’t absorbing well into your fingerprint ridges, don’t worry, Certified Fingerprinting MN has a specialized lubricant on hand that helps enhance the print quality. This product is designed specifically for fingerprinting and helps us capture clear, legible prints even from hard-to-read fingers.
Final Reminder
Whether your fingerprints are strong and visible or a little more faint, Certified Fingerprinting MN will work with you to ensure a smooth and professional experience. If you have questions about your skin or past fingerprinting issues, feel free to contact us at 612-760-2327 before your appointment—we’re happy to help.
Background Check for Board of Nursing and all Health Licensing Boards
Background Check for Minnesota Board of Nursing
If you’re applying for licensure through one of Minnesota’s health-related licensing boards, you’ll need to complete a Criminal Background Check (CBC) as part of your application process. This guide outlines the steps required by the Criminal Background Check Program (CBCP) used by these boards.
These instructions apply specifically to applicants regulated by Minnesota’s health-related licensing boards. Minnesota has 16 such boards, including the following:
Board of Nursing
Board of Medical Practice
Board of Social Work
Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy
Board of Chiropractic Examiners
Board of Cosmetology
Board of Dentistry
Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice
Board of Nursing Home Administrators
Board of Occupational Therapy
Board of Optometry
Board of Pharmacy
Board of Physical Therapy
Board of Podiatric Medicine
Board of Psychology
Board of Barber Examiners
Before Your Appointment
Complete and sign Form 1 and Form 2.
Fill out Form 3, but do not sign or date it yet—you must do that in front of the fingerprint technician.
On the Day of Fingerprinting
Steps 3–7 must all be done on the same day.
Bring Form 3 and a valid photo ID to your fingerprinting appointment.
After the technician checks your ID, sign and date Form 3 in their presence.
The technician will complete and sign the gray box on Form 3.
Your fingerprints will be taken—either using ink or digitally and printed onto an FD-258 fingerprint card.
Both you and the technician must sign and date the fingerprint card. Typed names won’t be accepted.
Submitting Your Materials
After fingerprinting, mail or drop off all three completed forms and your signed fingerprint cards to the CBCP office:
Criminal Background Check Program
335 Randolph Avenue, Suite 180
St. Paul, MN 55102-5501
(651) 201-2822
Criminal.Background.Check@state.mn.us
Do not send these materials to your licensing board.
Tips for a Smooth Experience
Finding a Fingerprinting Facility
The CBCP office does not offer fingerprinting
Certified Fingerprinting MN in Edina provides FD-258 fingerprint cards. Certified Fingerprinting MN is open from 9am-4pm Monday-Friday. You can walk-in or call to schedule an appointment 612-760-2327.
Address: 5201 Eden Avenue Suite 300, Edina MN 55436
Common Errors That Delay Your CBC
You’ll be required to redo your fingerprints if:
Form 3 isn’t signed and dated by both you and the technician on the day of fingerprinting.
The dates on Form 3 and the fingerprint card don’t match.
You use a copy of Form 3 or a version with a digital signature.
Form 3 lacks your ID information.
The fingerprint card isn’t a real FD-258 card (Certified Fingerprinting MN only uses real FD-258 cards)
Source:
Information adapted from theMinnesota Criminal Background Check Program – Minnesota Health Licensing Boards.
Fingerprinting Requirements for Minnesota Teacher License
Teaching License Background Check Requirements and Fingerprinting
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
If you're applying for your first Minnesota teaching license, you'll need to complete a fingerprint-based background check as part of the application process. This step is required by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) and helps ensure a safe and trusted learning environment in Minnesota schools.
Here’s a breakdown of how the process works and how you can prepare for it.
Step-by-Step Overview
1. Get Fingerprinted
Before submitting your license application, you must be fingerprinted using the FD-258 fingerprint cards (white cards with a light blue border). As of spring 2025, PELSB no longer mails out fingerprint cards. Certified Fingerprinting MN is a qualified vendor that provides the FD-258 cards .
You can be fingerprinted at any approved location, whether in Minnesota or out of state—as long as your prints are taken on the official FD-258 cards.
Tip: Always check ahead to see if the location provides the card or if you need to bring your own.
2. Submit Your Completed Card(s).
Once fingerprinted, you’ll submit the card(s) as part of your full licensure application. Be sure to include:
Your full legal name
Date of birth
Signature
The date your fingerprints were taken
Your application will not be processed until PELSB receives a properly completed fingerprint card(s). Fingerprints must be taken within the past 12 months. If the card(s) are incomplete or outdated, your entire application will be returned for corrections.
3. Background Check Processing
PELSB sends your completed fingerprint cards to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). They conduct the official background check and return the results directly to PELSB. The licensing process can only move forward once those results are received.
4. What Happens Next
If your background check is clean, your application continues through the review process.
If the BCA flags any issues, your application is sent to PELSB’s Ethics Department for further evaluation. It’s strongly recommended that you disclose any relevant history in your application and submit documentation ahead of time to avoid delays.
If your prints are deemed “not classifiable” (i.e., unreadable), you’ll be asked to submit a second fingerprint card. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you submit 2 fingerprint cards for the background check. Until your fingerprints are accepted, your application will remain incomplete and your license cannot be issued.
Where to Get Fingerprinted in Minnesota
Here are a few options in Minnesota where you can be fingerprinted for PELSB licensure:
Certified Fingerprinting, MN (Edina)
Local Police Station (not all police stations fingerprint and many have limited availability and hours)
Check with the Sheriff’s office (call ahead for availability and hours)
Common Questions
I have previously been fingerprinted. Can PELSB use those results?
No. Even if you’ve recently been fingerprinted by your school district or another agency, PELSB requires a new fingerprint card submitted with your initial license application.
If I previously held a Minnesota educator license, do I need to be fingerprinted again?
No. If you've ever held a Minnesota teaching license—even if it has expired—you do not need to submit a new fingerprint card.
Can I submit electronic fingerprints?
Currently, no. PELSB does not accept electronic or scanned fingerprint submissions. However, your fingerprints may be digitally scanned if they are printed out on an official FD-258 card.
Will PELSB provide me with a copy of my background check?
No. PELSB does not release background check results to applicants or school districts. If you'd like a copy, you’ll need to request it directly through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).
Source:
This information is based on official guidance from the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). For the most current requirements and additional resources, visit: PELSB.mn.gov