Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to DSHS Facilities, Finance and Analytics Administration's Frequently Asked Questions! Below you may search by topics such as information for bidders and question about our Language Testing and Certification Program, and Background Checks.

How does BCCU do fingerprints?

BCCU conducts Name & Date of Birth (NDOB) and Fingerprint based background checks for DSHS programs and authorized service providers who serve vulnerable adults, juveniles, and children. The type of background check conducted is determined by state and federal guidelines.

A NDOB background check includes a search of the Administrative Office of Courts, Washington State Patrol, Department of Health, Department of Corrections, and the Department's founded findings of abuse/neglect of a child or vulnerable adult, and the applicant's self-disclosure.

Fingerprint based background checks search the same databases as NDOB checks, as well as the FBI, the national sex offender registry, and state police records in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming.

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Do I need to keep a copy of the Fingerprint-Based Background Check notice?

Entities will need to retain a copy of the signed Fingerprint-Based Background Check Notice for audit purposes. Do not mail or fax the notice to BCCU. The notice must be provided to the applicant prior to being fingerprinted. Follow the instructions provided by your DSHS program that is requiring the fingerprint check.

Federal law (Title 28, C.F.R., § 50.12 (b)) requires the Department to notify individuals subject to a fingerprint-based background check of the purpose of the fingerprint check and the method to correct errors on the FBI identification record. DSHS also created the Fingerprint-Based Background Check Notice (DSHS Form 27-089) to meet the Federal Requirement. The Fingerprint-Based Background Check Notice form is available in PDF or Word format.

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How do I set up an account to do background checks through BCCU?

BCCU runs background checks for DSHS programs and authorized service providers who serve vulnerable adults, juveniles, and children.  At this time, BCCU does not conduct background checks for entities that are not licensed or contracted through DSHS.

If your entity does not currently use BCCU to run your background checks, but believe they should, please contact BCCU at bccuinquiry@dshs.wa.gov so that we can direct you to the appropriate program contact.

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How much does it cost to do background checks through BCCU?

Background checks are paid for by the DSHS administrations; they are not paid for by the entities or applicants.

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How can I add or change the Primary Account Administrator (PAA) for my account?

Authorized entities who submit background checks to BCCU are required to complete the DSHS Background Check System (BCS) Access Request form to request access for any (new) Primary Account Administrators (PAA).

The PAA requesting access will need to complete the form and have it signed by the BCS user's manager/administrator/supervisor and return to BCCU for approval.

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Why does BCCU have two working days to respond to me?

The call volume and staff availability affects our ability to respond to all phone and email inquiries. BCCU may be able to respond to your questions sooner than two working days.

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What is the turnaround time for fingerprint checks from the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)?

The WSP and FBI do not provide BCCU with exact turnaround times. Their turnaround times vary due to the volume of fingerprints being processed.

The turnaround time on prints also depends on whether the fingerprint cards are the first set of prints submitted for the associated inquiry ID/OCA number or if they are resubmitted prints. The first set of prints is submitted electronically, allowing for a faster turnaround time. However, the resubmitted prints require a hard card to be printed and mailed, causing slower turnaround times.

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Who gets the background check results?

Background check results are only retrievable by the requesting entity through their Entity Home Page in the Background Check System.

If an entity needs a copy of a background check result that was completed prior to June 26, 2018, please contact BCCU. BCCU can only send results to the entity's fax or mailing address that is on their account.

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What information will a BCCU background check result show?

Background check results will include the following information:

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I received a result notification that shows the applicant has a crime, DOH disciplinary action, and/or DSHS negative actions. Can I hire or contract with this individual?

BCCU is only a provider of information. We do not decide whether an applicant can be hired or contracted. Please contact the DSHS program that is requiring you to conduct a background check for more information about how to use the information received in the background check result letter.

If you are required to complete Character, Competency and Suitability (CC&S) review, BCCU does not not accept or retain any CC&S review documentation. Please follow your oversight program’s policy on retaining your completed CC&S review.

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I misplaced an employee's result notification; will you send me another copy?

Background Checks completed or updated after 6/26/2018 - Entities can log in to the online Background Check System (BCS) to review and print prior result notifications.

Background Checks completed prior to 6/26/2018 - BCCU can resend the results to the mailing address or fax number that is listed in our system for your facility. Please contact BCCU to request another copy of the results.

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I received a result notification, but the information is wrong. How do I fix that?

Contact BCCU by phone or email.  Provide your Inquiry ID/OCA number and the information that you feel is incorrect about the result, i.e. spelling, date of birth, record information etc. Depending on the possible error, BCCU staff may give you instructions to resubmit a new check through the Background Check System. 

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I received a Review Required Notification or Disqualifying Notification, but there was no rap sheet attached.

If you have the two page copy of your letter, reference the Source of Crimes and/or Negative Actions located on the second page. This will tell you the source of the finding and the contact information for those sources.

Per FBI regulations, BCCU cannot distribute the FBI rap sheet to all facilities; for some facilities, it is up to the applicant to share the results with the facility. The applicant will receive a copy of the complete background check result in the mail within five business days of the final result available in the Background Check System (BCS).  If the applicant does not receive their copy in the mail they can request a copy of their background check* by submitting the Applicant Request for a Copy of Background Check Information Form and share the rap sheet with the facility. If the applicant refuses to share the results with the facility, the facility should speak to their program contact.

You can view the FBI's Privacy Act Statement at the link  here - https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/compact-council/privacy-act-statement

*For inquiries submitted through the BCS: the applicant will receive a copy of FBI rap sheets that have conviction data to the mailing address provided. Please note that not all programs allow BCCU to automatically send packets or provide mailing addresses, in these cases, the applicants can request a copy using the Applicant Request for a Copy of Background Check Information Form.

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