Planning BCI and FBI Fingerprinting for a New Ohio Job

A job offer can come with a fingerprinting instruction that is easy to misread. An employer may need an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) check, an FBI check, or both. The right choice depends on the position and the organization requesting the results—not simply on what a fingerprinting provider happens to offer.

For a new Ohio employee, the most useful first step is to get the employer’s exact instructions before scheduling. That can help avoid submitting the wrong check, using the wrong reason, or directing results to the wrong recipient.

Start with the employer’s written instructions

Ask the hiring contact or compliance office which check is required: BCI, FBI, or a combined BCI-and-FBI submission. Also confirm the stated purpose or reason, any agency-specific form or code, and where the results must be sent. Requirements can differ by job, licensing program, and requesting organization.

The Ohio Attorney General explains that BCI compares fingerprints with Ohio criminal fingerprint records and that fingerprint-based checks are generally submitted electronically through WebCheck or an approved card-scanning route, unless an exemption applies. The requesting organization should identify the appropriate check and reason. A general employment background report is not a substitute when the employer requires a fingerprint-based check.

If instructions are unclear or conflict with a form, pause and ask the organization that will receive the results. A fingerprinting provider can collect and transmit fingerprints, but it should not guess which check a particular employer requires.

Know what BCI and FBI mean for the request

A BCI check searches Ohio records using submitted fingerprints. An FBI check searches federal fingerprint records and may be required alongside the state check for an eligible Ohio employment purpose. Not every job requires both, and a request for an FBI check is not automatically interchangeable with an employer’s request for a combined check.

The Ohio Attorney General notes that BCI processes FBI checks only for authorized Ohio employment purposes. Personal-use FBI Identity History Summary requests and immigration-related requests follow FBI instructions instead. Applicants should therefore verify the purpose and submission route with the requesting organization rather than assuming a workplace fingerprint appointment will meet a personal or immigration need.

Prepare before the appointment

Once the employer confirms the requirements, check the provider’s current appointment process and what to bring. Ohio Security & Investigations advertises appointment-based BCI, FBI, and combination fingerprinting, as well as ink fingerprint cards. Its fingerprinting page asks applicants to bring valid state-issued photo identification and any requesting-agency forms or instructions, including the reason and recipient information.

• Bring valid state-issued photo ID and the employer’s written instructions or required forms.
• Confirm whether the employer needs BCI, FBI, or both, and provide the stated purpose and reason information exactly as supplied.
• Verify the result recipient and delivery instructions before fingerprints are taken.
• Ask about current appointment availability and any agency-specific requirements; do not assume walk-in availability or a particular turnaround time.

Do not send a photo of identification, Social Security number, fingerprints, or criminal-history documents in a public comment or unsecured message. These are sensitive personal details; share them only through a verified, appropriate process when required.

If the result is delayed, rejected, or appears wrong

Contact the requesting employer first to confirm which check is outstanding and whether it has received the result. A rejection letter applies to the check identified in that letter; it does not automatically mean that both BCI and FBI submissions were rejected. The next step may be to correct fingerprint quality and resubmit, or it may involve a separate challenge to record information. Those are different processes.

The Ohio Attorney General’s background-check FAQs also state that submitted transaction information cannot be corrected by BCI, so a new submission may be necessary when transaction details were entered incorrectly. Follow the instructions in the notice and confirm with the employer which action is needed. No provider can guarantee a particular processing time or hiring decision.

Find a fingerprinting option in Ohio

The Ohio Attorney General maintains an official WebCheck community listing for electronic fingerprinting locations. Applicants can use it to identify options, then confirm that a location supports the specific check and submission route their employer requires.

Ohio Security & Investigations serves Ohio from its Youngstown office and advertises fingerprinting services for BCI, FBI, combined requests, and ink cards. For appointment questions, contact the business directly and confirm current availability and instructions.

Ohio Security & Investigations
7087 West Blvd #8, Youngstown, Ohio 44512
(888) 341-6960
Fingerprinting services · Request a fingerprinting appointment

This article provides general information, not legal advice. The employer or licensing organization determines the required check and how results must be submitted.