Due to the COVID19 pandemic, on March 27, 2020, Governor Walz signed Emergency Executive Order 20-23 which; temporarily deferred the fingerprinting requirement; for applicants for licensure by the Health Regulatory Boards (HRBs). This was due to the closing of all fingerprinting facilities caused by the COVID19 pandemic.
The fingerprint deferral ended on or about April 1, 2021 when a significant number of fingerprinting facilities resumed fingerprinting. Anyone who completed the CBC with the fingerprint deferral must submit fingerprints within 30 days of the end of the deferral. Anyone who fails to submit their fingerprints within the timeframe designated is subject to the initiation of a complaint for failure to comply. In addition, the license will not be eligible for renewal at the end of the year based on an incomplete application. If expired, the licensee is not authorized to practice under an unrenewed license.
Minnesota law requires as of January 1, 20218, that all applicants for initial licensure or license reinstatement must complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check Minn. Stat. § 214.075). Fingerprints are crosschecked with databases of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The Minnesota Health Regulatory Boards (HRBs) have established the Criminal Background Check (CBC) Program to help you efficiently complete this mandatory background check. When you apply for licensure/reinstatement, the CBC fee will be added to your application fee and paid at the same time. Upon receipt of your application and fee, you will be emailed a packet from the CBC office containing additional information and directions. The time required to complete a CBC varies with the workload at the BCA and cannot be expedited. During periods of high volume, the BCA’s search of records may take weeks. Please direct any questions you have about the CBC process to the CBC Program staff.
The CBC report is good for one year from the date the Board receives it. If the timeline expires, you will need to submit a new CBC request and fee. Consider this timeline if your application may take longer than one year. For example, if you are not due to graduate for more than eight months. Additionally, any applicant who refuses a criminal background check will be denied a license.
Previously taken fingerprints cannot be used. Criminal history reports cannot be shared between agencies or used for multiple license applications per statute. Please direct any questions you have about the CBC process to the CBC Program staff.
If you dispute the results of your criminal history report and wish to challenge it's contents, direct your request to the CBC staff.
Effective May 23, 2019, Legislature changed the the CBC requirement to required a full fingerprint CBC for any license that has lapsed for over one year. This includes suspension, revocation, and terminated for non-renewal or CE audit failure, etc. The one year begins on the date the license is removed from "active" status, i.e. expired, suspended, revoked, etc. This does not apply to statuses in which the license is allowed to continue to practice, i.e. Inactive-practicing in another jurisdiction, probation or stayed-suspension.
