Former AZ Residents, Out-of-State Child Care Providers
Background Checks
If you no longer live in Arizona, the required Interstate background checks for child care providers and staff are as follows:
- Interstate Criminal History
- Interstate Sex Offender Registry
- Interstate Child Abuse and Neglect Registry
In Arizona the Interstate Criminal History and Interstate Sex Offender Registry background checks are conducted and cleared through obtaining an Arizona Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS). If you already have a valid Arizona Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card, you do not need to request another Arizona Level One Fingerprint Card.
If you do not have a valid Arizona Level One Fingerprint Card, you will need to apply by requesting an Arizona Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card Application (DPS 802-06857) and fingerprint card. Once this has been provided to you, you must complete the form and have your fingerprints rolled with ink. Mail back the completed application and rolled fingerprint card with payment to DPS. DPS can accept the following forms of payment for paper applications, made payable to the Arizona Department of Public Safety:
- Cashier's Check
- Money Order
- Business check with pre-printed business address
Arizona Department of Public Safety
Mailing Address: Applicant Clearance Card Team
P.O. Box 18390
Phoenix, AZ 85005-8390
Phone: (602) 223-2279
Fax: (602) 223-2947
Email: https://psp.azdps.gov/home/contactus,
select ‘Send us a secure message’
Website: https://www.azdps.gov/services/public/fingerprint
Forms: DPS 802-06857
Fees: $67.00 for employees, $65.00 for volunteers
The Interstate Child Abuse and Neglect Registry is conducted by Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS). You can request your records by filling out the DCS-1083A form and emailing it to dcscentralregistry@azdcs.gov.
Child Abuse and Neglect Registry results will show no findings, unsubstantiated findings, proposed substantiated findings, or substantiated findings.
Proposed Substantiated Findings means DCS has investigated and found probable cause to support an allegation of abuse or neglect sufficient to place the alleged perpetrator's name in the Central Registry, subject to the alleged perpetrator's right to notice and a hearing. (AAC -R21-1-501 17)
Substantiated Findings means a proposed substantiated finding that: a. An administrative law judge found to be true by a probable cause standard of proof after notice and an administrative hearing and the DCS Director accepted the decision; b. The alleged perpetrator did not timely appeal; or c. The alleged perpetrator was not entitled to an administrative hearing because the alleged perpetrator was legally excluded as defined in subsection (11). (AAC-R21-1-501 14)
For more information about requesting interstate background checks please visit the links listed below:
Arizona Department of Child Safety
Mailing Address: DCS Centralized Records Coordination Unit
P.O. Box 6030, Site C010-19
Phoenix, AZ 85005
Phone: (602) XXX-XXXX
Fax: (602) 255-3245
Email: dcscentralregistry@azdcs.gov
Website: https://dcs.az.gov/resource/request-dcs-information
Forms: DCS-1083A
Arizona is a “Compact State”. “Compact States” are states that have ratified the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact Act of 1998 in order to facilitate electronic information sharing for noncriminal justice purposes (such as employment) among the Federal Government and states.
Interstate background checks are conducted by two different agencies in Arizona: Department of Public Safety and Department of Child Safety.
Arizona does not currently participate in the National Fingerprint File (NFF). The NFF is a database of fingerprints, or other unique personal identification information relating to an arrested or charged individual, which is maintained by the FBI to provide positive fingerprint identification of record subjects.
