Background Screening for Initial and Renewing OPC Licensure

Steps to Initiate and Track Screenings

1. Register with the CHAI system (FL Clearinghouse) to create or update your profile.

• Social Security number, last name, date of birth, email, and address
• Either retain current prints or initiate new screening
  • Window of opportunity to retain fingetprints opens 75 days prior to fingerprint expiration and closes 15 days prior to expiration
• Retention cost is $43.25 
  
• Within retention window = initiate retention through the website

2. Schedule and Complete your fingerprinting appointment with a Livescan provider  

• Select an approved Livescan provider:
  •  Livescan service locations must have the ability to communicate electronically with the state agency accepting screening results from the FDLE and provide a photograph of the applicant taken at the time of the fingerprints are submited
  • New screening cost is set by the LiveScan provider

• Livescan Request Form will be generated. Print this and give it to your fingerprint provider.
  • The form will have your ORI# which is used to route your fingerprints to the DOH 

• Bring the following materials to your fingerprinting appointment:

  • Your ORI Number (or Livescan Request Form)
  • Valid photo identification
  • Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)

3. Request your Transaction Control Number (TCN)

• Before your leave your appointment, obtain your Transaction Control Number (TCN) from the Livescan provider. You will need this to track your screening status. The Department of Health cannot retrieve your TCN. 

4. Submit Privacy Policy for Background Screening

• After completing your fingerprints for license renewal, the Florida Department of Health requires the licensee to acknowledge their Privacy Policy in order to retain fingerprints.
  

5. Fingerprint Tracking

• FDLE will route your fingerprints using the optometry ORI number to the FL DOH/MQA
  • Us the FDLE TCN Lookup Tool to track the progress of your fingerprints

6. Initiate OPC License Application Renewal

• Fingerprints do NOT automatically renew your license; they only satisfy the new background sreening requirement.

  • Log in to MQA and initiate application
    • Application opens ~90-120 days prior to biennium
  • Complete application (CE and Fees)

  • Allow a few days, log back in to MQA

    • Verify fingersprints were received/cleared

For more information, please visit https://flhealthsource.gov/background-screening/