Revised: 2/08, 6/11, 3/12, 2/15, 8/18
Louisiana State Board of Nursing
17373 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Telephone: (225) 755-7500
www.lsbn.state.la.us
FINGERPRINT INSTRUCTIONS FOR CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK (CBC)
1) Authorization Forms: Complete, sign and date both of the following CBC authorization forms and submit to LSBN
together with the appropriate licensure application (if applicable), fees, and two (2) fingerprint FBI cards
:
* CBC1a: Authorization for Criminal Background Check – Page I
* CBC1b: Authorization for Criminal Background Check – Page II
*Students submit completed cards to the office of your program head.
Fingerprinting: Contact your campus security (if you are a student) or state or local police/sheriff’s office to inquire about
their procedures, fees and locations for fingerprinting services. You must be fingerprinted by a law enforcement official onto
two (2) official Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint cards.
If your local law enforcement office does not have
blank FBI cards, print paper cards to bring to the law enforcement office for fingerprinting at https://www.fbi.gov/file-
repository/standard-fingerprint-form-fd-258-1.pdf/view. If providing the CBC fingerprints cards & authorization sheets
to apply for initial licensure (including out of state exam applicants) or reinstatement in Louisiana, they must accompany a copy
of your receipt after applying for licensure online through the Nurse Portal: https://lsbn.boardsofnursing.org/.
Each of the two (2) FBI cards need a separate and distinct set of your fingerprints. If the law enforcement
agency utilizes an electronic scan system (‘LiveScan’), request they scan both hands for your fingerprints and
print the first (1
st
) FBI card, then scan your hands again to print your fingerprints on the second (2
nd
) FBI card.
The following suggestions may improve the quality of your fingerprints to ensure LSBN receives the results of
your CBC promptly:
Hands must be clean and dry. Wash your hands vigorously with warm water and dry thoroughly immediately
prior to being fingerprinted.
If hands are very dry or cracked, wash hands and apply a touch of moisturizer onto fingertips, removing any
excess lotion with paper towel prior to being fingerprinted. This may help raise the ridges for printing.
L.A.C.46:XLVII.3330 J-K states:
▪
If the fingerprints are returned from the Department of Public Safety as inadequate or unreadable, the
applicant, or licensee must submit a second set of fingerprints and fees, if applicable, for submission to the
Department of Public Safety.
▪ If the applicant or licensee fails to submit necessary information, fees, and/ or fingerprints, the applicant or
licensee may be denied licensure on the basis of an incomplete application or, if licensed, denied renewal,
until such time as the applicant or licensee submits the applicable documents and fee.
View both FBI cards before you leave the facility where you’re being fingerprinted. If any of the fingerprints are
outside the boxes, appear too light, too dark, or obviously smudged - have the technician prepare an extra set of
cards and submit both sets (all four cards) along with your application. Protect both FBI cards from smudges.
Do not fold or staple. Do not submit 2 copies of the same prints.
All fingerprint cards must be signed by the nurse with all sections filled out completely with the exception of the
“employer and address” section.
Individuals who are already licensed Registered Nurses may opt to have their fingerprints scanned in person at
the LSBN office (‘LiveScan’) by board staff instead of submitting paper FBI cards. ‘LiveScan’ fingerprinting
must be completed before 3:00 pm central standard time (CST). The LSBN office opens at 8:30 am (CST), but
closed for all state and federal holidays. Please try to arrive at the LSBN office by midday to allow sufficient
time for processing if using the ‘LiveScan’ CBC option. The nurse must be able to submit their application
(already completed & notarized) and fee(s) to LSBN staff when he/she arrives for ‘LiveScan’ fingerprinting.
2) Fees due LSBN for CBC:
$38.00 – Paid electronically with submission of your application through the Nurse Portal; and an additional
$10.00 – Payable to Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) if coming in person to the LSBN office to have
your hands scanned using the ‘LiveScan’ equipment. (Available to Licensed Registered Nurses only).
The additional fee for LiveScan must be paid by Money Order or Bank Cashier’s Check, payable to LSBN
NOTE: If you are submitting to a CBC because you are applying for licensure or permission to enroll in clinical
nursing courses, please read the application instructions carefully regarding payment of fees. Some application
instructions will provide a ‘total fee’ to submit along with the application which may include the CBC fee noted above.
(Criminal history records check is authorized under the Nurse Practice Act, Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:920.1)