Frequently Asked Questions

We only test people who are available to serve DSHS clients in Washington State.

When you follow the steps in how to schedule a test online, you will see open test dates and time slots. Then you can pick your test date and time.

1. According to the state constitution, the state cannot pay for a service until the service is complete.
2. Invoice vouchers are mailed for the provider to receive just before the end of the month.
3. On a high volume day, as many as 30,000 paper invoices are returned by mail.  Clerical delays may occur because of the large number of pages received.
4. Quicker payment processing occurs when providers use Invoice Express to validate their invoice by telephone.
5. Invoices are processed immediately after the end of the month of service.
6. Some payments are delayed because messages are attached to or written on the invoice.  Invoices with messages are set aside and read as soon as possible, delaying payment.

Payment to a provider is considered timely if made within 30 days of the receipt of a properly completed invoice, plus mail time, according to RCW 39.76.010.  SSPS makes it a top priority to not only pay faster than required, but to pay as fast as is technically and legally possible.

Direct deposit takes the guesswork out of address changes and other complications of postal delivery.  Direct deposit may or may not be quicker than postal delivery, depending on the provider's geographical location and the speed of mail delivery.

Example: For the year 2013, June 3rd is the first business day of the month, and the first business day when SSPS payment for May services will be issued.  Payment for services processed on June 3rd will not reach the U.S. mail for distribution for two business days (possibly three), because Consolidated Mail Service is used to achieve significant postal discounts.  This means the U.S. Postal Service will begin mailing payments on June 5th, the third business day of the month.

BCCU currently issues 4 different result notifications.

1. No Record – None of the background check data sources reported criminal or negative action records that disqualify the applicant from having unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults and there are no background check records to be reviewed.
2. Review Required – One or more of the background check data sources reported criminal or negative action records that are not listed on the oversight program’s list of disqualifying crimes and negative actions.  The authorized entity must determine whether or not the applicant can work in a position that may have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults by: (a) completing a Character, Competence, and Suitability (CC&S) review; and (b) documenting and  retaining the decision as required by the DSHS oversight program.  BCCU does not accept or retain any CC&S review documentation.
3. Disqualify  – One or more of the background check data sources reported criminal or negative action records that are on the oversight program’s list of disqualifying crimes and negative actions and the applicant is disqualified from having unsupervised access to vulnerable adults, juveniles, and children.
4. Additional Information Needed – You will receive this letter if there is an unclear crime or negative action that was reported by any of the sources that BCCU researches. BCCU will no longer send a Disqualify notification (ABC or Secretary’s List Letter) for unknown crimes and negative actions. Entities should not disqualify applicants based solely on the receipt of the Additional Information Needed Notification.

The Additional Information Needed Notification informs the facility requesting the background check that:

1. The applicant needs to contact BCCU to provide additional information.
2. The background check will be pending until the applicant provides the additional information.

The applicant cannot schedule a fingerprint appointment until they have provided additional information.

Your DSHS oversight program may have special requirements related to applicants who receive an additional information needed request.  Examples may include:

1. The time limit that the applicant must provide the additional information,
2. If the applicant will be allowed to have unsupervised access pending the final notification;
3. And how the entity requesting the background check will notify the applicant that additional information is needed.

If you have questions about what you are required to do, contact the DSHS oversight program listed on the background check result notification.

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1. The Department of Health has issued a final order finding or concluding the person abused, neglected, personally or financially exploited, or abandoned a minor or vulnerable adult;

2. The person has entered into a stipulation or other agreement with the Department of Health in which the person admits he or she abused, neglected, personally or financially exploited, or abandoned a minor or vulnerable adult; or

3. The person has had a certification or license issued by the Department of Health denied, terminated, revoked, suspended, or relinquished in lieu of discipline due to abuse, neglect, personal or financial exploitation or abandonment of a minor or vulnerable adult, and the licensing action has not been reversed by an administrative tribunal or a court.  This criterion applies regardless of whether or not the person’s license was later reinstated by Department of Health.

All other enforcement actions provided by Department of Health will be reported as a record and the DSHS oversight program may require a character, competence and suitability review by the entity who receives the background check.

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The turnaround time of a background check depends on the volume of checks received, the amount of research required for that inquiry, and the number of staff available to process. Please refer to our Turnaround Times  page to get an estimate of when you will receive your background check.

If the applicant has an out of state crime, BCCU requests a review to determine if the out of state crime is equivalent to a Washington State crime and verifies if that crime is on the Disqualifying List of Crimes and Negative Actions. The amount of research involved, number of equivalencies, and staff available will determine how quickly an equivalency can be completed.

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Research the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) or municipal code listed in the RCW/ Code column of the search result or use an internet search engine to research the legal term. BCCU staff cannot give you legal advice or interpret the meaning of legal terms.

You can access RCWs on the Washington State Legislature website. To find more information about a municipal code, go to the municipality website and search for the ordinance or code listed on the background check results. RCWs and Codes can change over time, make sure you research the code that was in effect at the time the violation occurred.

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Unfortunately, some applicants have fingerprints that are difficult to capture, this could be due to working with chemicals or wear. The Washington State Patrol (WSP) must determine that the fingerprints are the best quality. If WSP determines the fingerprints are not the best quality, the applicant will need to be printed again.

Once the WSP accepts the fingerprints, they will send them to the FBI for processing. The FBI will then determine whether the fingerprints are the best quality. If the FBI rejects the prints, the applicant will need to be printed one more time. If the FBI rejects them a second time, BCCU will request a National Name Date of Birth check from the FBI and the fingerprint process will be completed.

To view WSP and FBI fingerprint process, please refer to our flowchart.

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