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Fingerprints and Background Checks 

Some license types require applicants to be fingerprinted for an FBI background check by an approved fingerprint vendor. Be aware that the background check pulls criminal history from your entire life in all 50 states - it is not specific to only crimes committed in a certain timeframe or only in Nevada. 

All applicants that require fingerprinting must apply for a license first and then attach the following two documents to their Sircon application or the NIPR Attachment Warehouse:

  • Fingerprint Background Waiver
  • Fingerprint Authorization Form (a link to this form will be provided to you in the confirmation email you receive from Sircon or NIPR after submitting an application)

See below for more details on each form.

Who must be fingerprinted?

Fingerprints are generally only required for resident applicants, BUT some license types require fingerprints for non-residents as well.

The following license types require fingerprints for resident applicants only:

  • Adjuster
  • Bail Agent Cemetery Agent
  • Cemetery Seller (the seller's corporate officer IF they are a resident)
  • Funeral Agent
  • Funeral Seller (the seller's corporate officer IF they are a resident)
  • Producer

The following license types require fingerprints forresident ANDnon-resident applicants:

  • Bail Enforcement Agent
  • Bail General Agent
  • Bail Solicitor
  • Exchange Enrollment Facilitator
  • Managing General Agent

When do I get fingerprinted? 

FBI regulations do not allow fingerprinting until after you have submitted a license application. Do not be fingerprinted until you have applied for a license. 

Where do I get fingerprinted? 

Fingerprints must be taken by an approved fingerprint vendor in Nevada. Click here for a list of approved fingerprint vendors.

How do I get fingerprinted? 

In order to be fingerprinted you must:

  1. Apply for a license
  2. Print the Fingerprint Authorization Form using the link in the confirmation email you receive from Sircon or NIPR after submitting an application
  3. Fill out the Fingerprint Background Waiver
  4. Bring the Fingerprint Authorization Form with you to an approved fingerprint vendor to be fingerprinted
  5. Attach the completed Background Waiver and Fingerprint Authorization Form to your Sircon application or the NIPR Attachment Warehouse

What is the Fingerprint Background Waiver?

The Fingerprint Background Waiver authorizes the Division to access an applicant's criminal history from the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Nevada Department of Public Safety, and outlines the rights retained by the applicant.

This form must be uploaded to your Sircon application or NIPR Attachment Warehouse.

What is the Fingerprint Authorization Form and where do I get it? 

The Fingerprint Authorization Form authorizes a fingerprint vendor to take your fingerprints for an insurance license application. You will indicate on the form which license type you are applying for, and this tells the fingerprint vendor which NRS code to use when submitting the prints to the Department of Public Safety and FBI. The vendor will also enter a TCN (tracking number) on the form which allows the Division to track your fingerprints during the background process.

You will only be given access to this form AFTER submitting your license application. After your application has been submitted you will receive a confirmation email from Sircon or NIPR which will contain a link to download the form. You MUST present this form to the fingerprint vendor in order to be fingerprinted - you cannot be fingerprinted without this form and the vendor cannot provide the form for you.

After being fingerprinted, the completed Fingerprint Authorization Form must be uploaded to your Sircon application or the NIPR Attachment Warehouse.

How do I submit a traditional fingerprint hard card (manual ink fingerprints)?

Unless one of the following two exclusions apply, always submit digital (LiveScan) fingerprints. Traditional fingerprints on a paper card with ink (known as a "hard card") should only be taken if:

  • You reside outside Nevada and are getting fingerprints taken in another state; or
  • You are instructed to submit a traditional hard card by Division of Insurance staff because your LiveScan fingerprints were not of high enough quality to be usable by the Department of Public Safety and FBI.

If you must submit a hard card:

  1. The card must have your name, date of birth, social security number, and physical identifying characteristics on it.
  2. You must sign the fingerprint card.
  3. You must include your phone number and email address with the card.
  4. Do NOT mail the card to the Department of Public Safety.
  5. Mail the card to:

Nevada Division of Insurance

1818 E. College Parkway, Suite 103

Carson City, NV  89706

If you are submitting your initial fingerprints on a hard card, you must include a cashier's check or money order (no personal checks) made payable to the Department of Public Safety for $39. Do NOT mail the payment directly to the Department of Public Safety.

If you are submitting a hard card because your initial LiveScan fingerprints were rejected, you do not need to include a payment when submitting the card to the Division of Insurance. 

How long are my fingerprints valid? 

Fingerprints are valid for one year.

I am applying to add a qualification to my existing license; do I need to be fingerprinted? 

No, only applicants for a new license need to be fingerprinted.

I am applying for a non-resident license; do I need to be fingerprinted? 

Non-resident applicants only need to be fingerprinted if applying for one of the following license types:

  • Bail Enforcement Agent
  • Bail General Agent
  • Bail Solicitor
  • Exchange Enrollment Facilitator
  • Managing General Agent

Do I need to be fingerprinted if transferring my license from another state? 

Yes, if you are licensed in another state and are now applying for a resident license in Nevada (even if you currently hold a non-resident Nevada license) you must be fingerprinted, if the license type requires fingerprinting.

Can I get fingerprinted at a local law enforcement office? 

Yes, however, the Division strongly discourages being fingerprinted at local law enforcement offices because these offices do not offer digital prints for insurance license applicants. This will greatly delay your application processing time.

See the instructions above for submitting traditional ink fingerprints.

Can I be fingerprinted in another state? 

Yes, however, applicants who get fingerprinted in another state cannot submit digital (LiveScan) fingerprints. Fingerprints taken outside the state of Nevada must be done on a traditional paper card.

See the instructions above for submitting traditional ink fingerprints.

How long does the background process take? 

It is currently taking the Department of Public Safety around 3 weeks to process and return background reports to the Division of Insurance. Non-digital, hard card fingerprints take additional time.

What crimes will the background report find? 

The background report pulls criminal history from your entire life in all 50 states - it is not specific to only crimes committed in a certain timeframe or only in Nevada. It is important to properly disclose all criminal convictions, no matter how minor or long ago (other than those that are specifically excluded).

What crimes can be excluded on my application? 

Only certain misdemeanor convictions can be excluded from your application, including:

  • Traffic citations
  • Driving under the influence (DUI)
  • Driving while intoxicated (DWI)
  • Driving without a license
  • Reckless driving
  • Driving with a suspended or revoked license

All other criminal convictions require you to answer "Yes" on the application to misdemeanor or felony convictions.

What documentation is required for criminal history? 

For each conviction, applicants should upload the following documents:

  1. Written explanation (an explanation of the incident)
  2. Charging documentation (from the court)
  3. Resolution documents (usually a court document such as a receipt of fines paid, or a release report from prison, jail, probation, etc.)

Please scan and upload documents in PDF format. Pictures of documents (i.e. taken from a cell phone) tend to be illegible, requiring additional communication, and will slow the application process.

If my record has been sealed, do I need to answer "Yes" to a conviction? 

Yes - a sealed record does not mean you weren't convicted, it just means the record was sealed from view of most employers and government agencies. However, pursuant to NRS 179.301(2), sealed records are still visible and open to Division of Insurance inquiry.  If your record has been sealed, you still need to answer "Yes" on the application for a misdemeanor or felony conviction and provide the documents showing the record was sealed.

If my record has been expunged, do I need to answer "Yes" to a conviction? 

Many people confuse the terms "sealing" and "expungement" to mean the same thing, however, they do not. A sealing essentially makes the conviction invisible to certain government agencies and employers, but an expungement completely erases the conviction from your record as if it never happened. However, even though some states expunge records, Nevada does not expunge any criminal records. If you were convicted of a crime in Nevada, it has never been expunged.

Sometimes records expunged in other states still show up on FBI background reports. Because of this, if you have had your record expunged in another state, it is better to answer "Yes" to a conviction(s) and provide the proper court documents showing the expungement. This will save time and prevent unnecessary delays processing your application. The expunged crime(s) will not be considered as part of your background.

If I have been pardoned, do I need to answer "Yes" to a felony conviction? 

While pardons do forgive a crime, they do not remove the crime from your record, thus the conviction will still show up on a background report. Even if you have received a pardon for a felony, you should still answer "Yes" to a felony conviction on the application and be sure to include your pardon documentation with your written explanation and charging documents. The pardoned crime will not be considered as part of your background.

If you are or were previously licensed in another state and received an administrative action for the felony before the pardon was received, you still need to answer "Yes" to question 2 regarding administrative actions on the application.

For more information on pardons in Nevada, see the Nevada Board of Pardons website at pardons.nv.gov.

What happens if I fail to disclose criminal history?

Failing to disclose criminal history will result in the application being closed and will require you to reapply and answer the question correctly. This will require paying an additional $185 application fee - there are NO refunds for closed applications.