Department of Health
Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN, Commissioner
Criminal Background Check
Instructions
Criminal Background Check Instructions for Health Related Boards Applicants
Applicants Living in the State of Tennessee
Click here for printable instructions
*** All applicants applying for initial licensure in Tennessee (not renewal or reinstatement) must
obtain a criminal background check through the State of Tennessee selected vendor, COGENT
Systems. Electronic print locations are available at Print Locations.
- Register online at www.cogentid.com and click Tennessee TAPS.
- To begin registration, under Important Links, click on TN Department of Health.
- The Originating Case (OCA#) and the fields highlighted in yellow are required. Please refer to the OCA Codes tab at the top of the page at http://health.state.tn.us/CBC/index.htm to obtain the OCA code number for your profession. If you do not enter the OCA#, the results of the fingerprinting will be delayed in being received by the professional board to which you are applying for licensure or registration.
- Agency ORI #: TN920390Z (required for registration)
- Transaction Type: BH-DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TCA 63-1-116 (required for registration)
- Online registration is preferred for ALL applicants to insure the quality of the data collected.
- Applicant may register for fingerprinting and make payment at this web site.
- Payment for electronic fingerprint scan is $48.00.
- Money orders or cashier checks made out to Cogent Systems are also accepted at the fingerprint service sites. CASH is NOT accepted.
- Applicants may obtain a receipt of the fingerprint submission, modify their registration information prior to fingerprinnting and obtain a payment refund prior to fingerprinting at this web site.
- Online registration is faster and may be completed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Call 1-877-862-2425
- The Originating Case (OCA#) is required. Please refer to the OCA Codes tab at the top of the page at http://health.state.tn.us/CBC/index.htm to obtain the OCA code number for your profession.
- Agency ORI #: TN920390Z (required for registration)
- Transaction Type: BH-DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TCA 63-1-116 (required for registration)
- You will be required to provide your Last Name, First Name, Middle Name, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, SSN, Sex, Race, Eye Color, Hair Color, Height, Weight and other personal information.
- Payment for electronic fingerprint scan is $48.00 and payment can be made at the time of registration.
- Money orders or cashier checks made out to Cogent Systems are also accepted at the fingerprint service sites. CASH is NOT accepted.
- Applicant must be registered, have made arrangements for payment.
- Applicants must wait at least 24 hours after registering prior to fingerprinting. You may go to any of the COGENT approved facilities in Tennessee to be fingerprinted, no appointment necessary. (Print locations are available at www.tennessee.cogentid.com/TN_MAP/TN_Map.html).
- At the fingerprint service site the Applicant must provide valid State or Federal government issued identification, as well as make known their social security number.
- Fingerprints will be electronically forwarded to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and all results of the fingerprint background check will be provided to the Tennessee Department of Health Related Boards.
- Applicants may be fingerprinted prior to submitting their application for initial licensure. Electronic fingerprints are normally received by the Tennessee Health Related Boards within 8-10 business days. Obtaining the fingerprints beforehand will minimize the delay in application processing.
Tennessee applicants may be asked by Health Related Board or their profession board to submit a second set of fingerprints. This request may be based on inconsistencies associated with the original fingerprint submission that caused the submission to be rejected. Fingerprint images may be rejected by the FBI or TBI for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, fingerprint quality or an inability by the FBI/TBI to classify the fingerprints. These rejections require the applicant to be fingerprinted a second time, at no cost to the agency or applicant.
In cases of fingerprint rejection due to quality, TBI will provide a rejection letter to Health Related Boards that contains information allowing the applicant to be re-printed at no cost to the applicant or agency.
When fingerprints are rejected for improper registration- Fingerprints rejected due to improper registration, whether it is the applicant’s or agency’s fault, will be required to re-register, re-pay and be re-fingerprinted.
- Applicant’s are responsible for insuring and verifying that all data is correct before fingerprinting.
- No corrections or modification to applicant registration information may be made after fingerprinting.
- A rejection letter will be sent by TBI to Health Related Boards with notification that the individual’s fingerprints have been rejected. The applicant will be notified in writing by the Health Related Boards of the rejection. Note: An application for initial licensure must be received by the professional board before the applicant can be notified of a rejection. If an application for initial licensure has not been received, Health Related Boards and the professional board will not have a mailing address to send the notification.
- The rejection letter should be taken by the applicant to any TAPS Print Location in order to be re-fingerprinted.
- If the individual is not re-fingerprinted within 60 days from the date of the original printing, the individual will be considered a new submission and will be liable for payment of the established fee. If the applicant has not already applied for initial licensure, they should submit their application for initial licensure within 30 days or less after fingerprinting.
- Applicants may be re-fingerprinted at any Cogent TAPS location.
- The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) will not be able to generate a response letter allowing the individual to be cleared or denied for licensure purposes until the individual’s prints are processed through TBI and/or FBI.
Applicants Living Outside the State of Tennessee
Click here for printable instructions
*** All applicants applying for initial licensure in Tennessee (not renewal or reinstatement) must obtain a criminal background check through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Click here to find the contact information for each Board to request a fingerprint card. Current processing time is 4-6 weeks, which starts when received at TBI Headquarters. Prints rejected due to poor quality could extend processing time.- Fill out the fingerprint card legibly. Boxes requesting date of birth, place of birth, sex, race, height, weight, eyes and hair must be completed. Have your prints completed at a local police department or sheriff’s office. Prints must be rolled nail to nail by a qualified technician.
- Write in the name and address of your licensing board in the box requesting employer and address.
(Name of Board, 227 French Landing, 3rd Floor, Suite 300, Heritage Place Metro Center, Nashville, TN 37243)
- Box requesting reason fingerprinted – BH-DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TCA 63-1-116 (required for processing)
- Box requesting OCA # (refer to OCA link for your profession code #)
- Forward your completed fingerprint card and a non-refundable money order or cashier check for $60.00 to:
Applicant Processing
901 R.S. Gass Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37216-2639
- In all cases where an applicant’s fingerprint card(s) are rejected 2 or more times, the applicant shall be required to come to the State of Tennessee and submit a TBI/FBI fingerprint scan through the State of Tennessee’s approved vendor or its equivalent as determined by the board.
PLEASE DO NOT BEND OR FOLD THE FINGERPRINT CARD
Applicants may be fingerprinted prior to submitting their application. Obtaining the fingerprints beforehand will minimize the delay in application processing.
OCA Codes
| BOARD | PROFESSION | PROFESSION # |
|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture | Acupuncturist | 2483 |
| Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors | Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor | 8078 |
| Athletic Trainers | Athletic Trainer | 3527 |
| Chiropractic Examiners | Chiropractic Physician | 1108 |
| Chiropractic Therapy Asst. | 1122 | |
| Chiropractic X-Ray Operator | 1145 | |
| Communication Disorders & Sciences | Audiologist | 2024 |
| Speech Language Pathologist | 2023 | |
| Speech Language Pathology Assistant | 2025 | |
| Dentistry | Dentist | 1201 |
| Dental Assistant | 1222 | |
| Dental Hygienist | 1202 | |
| Dietitian/Nutritionist Examiners | Dietitian/Nutritionist | 3955 |
| Dispensing Opticians | Dispensing Optician | 1313 |
| Electrolysis Examiners | Electrologist | 3856 |
| Electrology Instructor | 3857 | |
| Emergency Medical Services | E.M.T. / E.M.T.I.V. / Paramedic | 0718 |
| Emergency Medical Dispatcher | 0719 | |
| Hearing Instrument Specialists | Hearing Instrument Specialist | 2838 |
| Massage | Massage Therapist | 2680 |
| Massage Establishment | 2681 | |
| Medical Examiners | Genetic Counselors | 1678 |
| Medical Doctor | 1606 | |
| Medical X-Ray Operator | 1637 | |
| Polysomnography | 3202 | |
| Radiology Assistant | 1638 | |
| Special Training M.D. | 1677 | |
| Medical Laboratory | Medical Laboratory Personnel | 5005 |
| Midwifery | Midwife | 3045 |
| Nursing | Registered Nurse | 1703 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | 1704 | |
| Advance Practice Nurse | 1702 | |
| Nursing Home Administrators | Nursing Home Administrator | 2514 |
| Occupational Therapy | Occupational Therapist | 1594 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | 1595 | |
| Optometry | Optometrist | 1812 |
| Osteopathy | Osteopathic Physician | 1907 |
| Osteopathic X-Ray Operator | 1944 | |
| Special Training D.O. | 1977 | |
| Perfusionists | Perfusionist | 2938 |
| Physical Therapy | Physical Therapist | 2109 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | 2125 | |
| Physician Assistants | Physician Assistant | 3628 |
| Orthopedic Physician Assistant | 3629 | |
| Podiatry | Podiatrist | 2215 |
| Podiatric X-Ray Operator | 2216 | |
| Orthotist | 2217 | |
| Prosthetist | 2218 | |
| Pedorthist | 2219 | |
| Professional Counselors, | Licensed Professional Counselor | 3166 |
| Marital & Family Therapists, | Certified Professional Counselor | 3142 |
| & Clinical Pastoral Therapists | Licensed Marital & Family Therapist | 3167 |
| Certified Marital & Family Therapist | 3143 | |
| Certified Clinical Pastoral Therapist | 3144 | |
| Psychology | Psychologist | 1410 |
| Reflexology | Reflexologist | 4082 |
| Respiratory Care | Licensed Registered Respiratory Therapist | 3747 |
| Licensed Certified Respiratory Therapist | 3750 | |
| Social Workers | Advanced Practice Social Worker | 2744 |
| Baccalaureate Social Worker | 2745 | |
| Licensed Clinical Social Worker | 2746 | |
| Licensed Master Social Worker | 2740 | |
| Veterinary | Veterinarian | 2317 |
| Veterinary Medical Technician | 2326 | |
| Certified Animal Euthanasia Technician | 2327 |
Policies and Updates
Policies and Updates
Policies and Updates will be posted as they become available.
General Information
Contact the Criminal Background Check Unit at 800-778-4123 ext. 3-5515.
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