The information on this web site has been prepared from various official sources, including statutes, rules, and publications. The Board has made every effort to ensure that the information on this site is accurate. However, errors may occur, and the Board does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy of the information on this site.

If you have questions about this disclaimer, please contact [email protected].

The Board has an e-mail list for individuals who are interested in announcements about Board activities. The e-mails inform recipients about upcoming Board meetings, the publication of meeting minutes, proposed legislation or rules, and similar Board activities. To join the e-mail list, please send a request to [email protected].

The Board conducts an initial review of complete applications called an expedited review. All applications are examined under an expedited review; there is no need to specially request a review. Applicants are not present at this review; an expedited review is just an examination of the criminal records and the documents the applicant submitted. The Board makes one of two determinations when reviewing files:

1. The file qualifies for a good cause exception under an expedited review. That is, the applicant can receive a card without having to appear at a hearing. The Board will direct DPS to issue

Please visit our Forms page to download some of the forms for the Board's application packages.

If you can't find the information you need, please see the contact information at the bottom of this page, or visit our Board Staff page.

On the Forms & Helpful Resources page, you can download some of the forms for the good cause exception application package. Applicants may use these forms in case they need duplicates or additional copies.

When you send in your application, the Board staff will order your criminal history records from DPS. Once these records arrive, a Board investigator will examine all criminal records and submitted application materials to determine whether the application is complete. If it is not complete, she or he will send a letter or contact you by telephone to explain what's missing from the package. If it is complete, the investigator will send the file to the Board for an expedited review.

The Board's mission is to fairly, expeditiously, and responsibly determine good cause exceptions and central-registry exceptions for applicants. To fulfill its mission, the Board has adopted the goals identified below. The Board evaluates how well it meets its goals through various performance measures.

• Goal 1. To make fair and consistent determinations on good-cause-exception applications and central-registry-exception applications.
• Goal 2. To provide applicants with timely decisions on their good-cause-exception applications and central-registry-exception applications.
• Goal 3. To develop fair

This purpose of this privacy statement is to inform you about what information may be collected online while you visit this web site or request a service and how that information may be used. Your right to privacy is important to the Arizona Board of Fingerprinting and the State of Arizona.

Online Customer Service and Alternatives
The Board offers access to its public information online that you might otherwise request over the telephone or in person. Our goal is to provide you with a more convenient way of getting the information you seek. If, at any time, you choose not to use online services

We have resources available to help individuals complete their applications.

• Guides: information to help applicants understand what we're asking for in the applications, particularly court documents and personal statements
• Tips and avoiding common problems: recommendations to help avoid problems that could delay your application
• Frequently asked questions (FAQs): answers to common questions about applications

In addition, these overviews of our application processes will help individuals understand what happens after they submit an application to us.

If you still have questions about how to

If we received your good-cause-exception application on or after September 26, 2008, the administrative law judge will file with the Board a recommended order either granting or denying your application. The recommendation describes what the administrative law judge determines are the facts in your case and how the law applies to those facts. However, it is only a recommendation is not the final decision. The Board itself will make the final decision by adopting, rejecting, or modifying the administrative law judge's recommendation.

The Board will hold another hearing, where it will decide

For the official rules publications, please see Title 13, Chapter 11, of the Arizona Administrative Code.

A suspension occurs when DPS discovers that a person who holds a fingerprint clearance card has a new arrest for a precluded offense. For instance, a cardholder who is arrested for assault will have his or her card suspended. In most other respects, however, there is little difference between a suspension and a denial for the purpose of the good-cause-exception application process.

• Address changes: Inform the Board staff of any address changes; in fact, you should consider letting the Board know immediately. The Board will send correspondence to your last known address. If it does not know of an address change, you may not receive important information. Failure to notify the Board of an address change is not grounds for rescheduling a hearing.
• Review application instructions: Before submitting your application, reread the application instructions and make sure you have met all the application requirements. An incomplete application will lengthen the process.
• Copies and

The Arizona Board of Fingerprinting is a state agency that does two things:

• Good-cause exceptions: The Board considers applications from individuals whose fingerprint clearance card has been denied or suspended by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and who are trying to demonstrate that they're rehabilitated and not recidivists.
• Central-registry exceptions: Individuals who have had substantiated allegations of child abuse or neglect are listed in a set of Department of Child Safety (formerly Child Protective Services) databases called the Central Registry. The Board considers applications

The Arizona Board of Fingerprinting is a state agency that does two things:

• Good-cause exceptions. The Board considers applications from individuals whose fingerprint clearance card has been denied or suspended by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and who are trying to demonstrate that they're rehabilitated and not recidivists. People who work with vulnerable populations—children, the elderly, or persons with developmental disabilities—normally need a card to work.
• Central-registry exceptions. The Board considers applications from individuals who have been disqualified after a central