Frequently Asked Questions
Live Scan Fingerprints
What ID do I need for Live Scan fingerprinting? –
A current, valid, physical US state-issued driver’s license or state ID card. That is the only identification we can accept.
Accepted:
– A current driver’s license issued by any US state
– A current ID card issued by any US state
Not accepted:
– Foreign driver’s licenses
– Foreign passports
– DMV printouts, interim licenses, or other temporary paperwork
– Photocopies or photos of an ID
– Any expired ID
Also know your Social Security number or ITIN before you come in. We do not need the card itself, but the number goes on the form.
We cannot run a Live Scan without acceptable identification, so if all you have is a foreign document or a DMV printout, the California DMV is the place to start — dmv.ca.gov. Come see us once you have the physical card.
Live Scan is walk-in at 16140 Cohasset Street, Van Nuys — no appointment, but arrive at least an hour before we close. See Live Scan and fingerprinting.
How much does a live scan cost? +
The cost of a Live Scan varies depending on the type of license or background check being requested, because the state fees are different for each application.
Valley Guard Training charges a $25 rolling fee, which is added to the state’s required Live Scan fees. The total cost will depend on the specific license or permit the fingerprinting is being submitted for.
Can I get my live scan done outside of California? +
No. Live Scan fingerprinting for a California BSIS license has to be done in California. Live Scan systems are not shared between states, so prints taken anywhere else cannot be used for a California application.
We do Live Scan on site at our Van Nuys facility. Our staff are certified, and it takes only a few minutes.
If you live out of state, this is worth planning around: part of your guard card training has to be completed in person here anyway, so most students take care of both in the same visit — finish the in-person portion of your class, get fingerprinted before you leave.
A couple of practical notes. Bring a current, valid U.S. state-issued driver’s license or ID card, and know your Social Security number or ITIN. Live Scan has to be started at least an hour before we close, so don’t cut it fine. We’re closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
A Live Scan you had done for something else can’t be reused. Results go only to the agency that requested them, for the license type that requested them.
Where do I get the live scan forms? +
The Live Scan form is usually provided by the person, employer, or agency requesting the fingerprinting. They can either give you the form directly or tell you where to obtain it online.
Valley Guard Training also provides the Live Scan forms for the Guard Card and Guard with Firearms applications on our website under the Forms section.
Can I reuse a Live Scan I already did? +
No. A Live Scan you did for a different license, a different agency, or a job cannot be used for your guard card.
Your results go only to the agency that requested them, for the license type that requested them. They are not shared between agencies or between license types. That holds even if you were printed last month, and even if the previous Live Scan was for another BSIS license.
So the question people usually ask — how long is a Live Scan good for — is really a question about your application, not your fingerprints. The results are attached to the application that requested them. A new application needs a new submission.
This catches people out regularly, and it is not a fee we invented. Each submission carries its own state processing costs.
If you are not sure whether you need to be printed again, call us at (818) 989-7825 before you come in, or ask BSIS at (916) 322-4000. We are at 16140 Cohasset Street in Van Nuys — walk-in, no appointment, but arrive at least an hour before we close. See Live Scan and fingerprinting.
