EIDBI Background Studies

A background study determines whether a person has committed an act that would disqualify them from providing services. The DHS Background Studies Division conducts these studies using NETStudy 2.0. A summary of the process can be found in the Background Studies Overview (PDF).

Tips for completing studies:

• Once an agency has submitted a study request to DHS, they should tell the study subject to complete their consent and disclosure and their fingerprinting. If the subject doesn’t do both those things before the deadline, NETStudy 2.0 will close the study. The agency will then need to submit a new study.
• Agencies can monitor whether a study subject has completed the consent and disclosure and their fingerprinting within NETStudy 2.0.

Agencies should make sure all owners, operators, employees and volunteers have a completed background study from DHS. If everyone in those roles already has received an eligible or set-aside result from a DHS background study through NETStudy 2.0 and is on the agency's active roster in NETStudy 2.0, then the agency is compliant and does not need to complete new or additional studies. If anyone in those roles does not already have a DHS background study and/or is not on the active roster, the agency must now initiate a study for them in NETStudy 2.0.

State and federal laws require that background study subjects get fingerprinted and photographed. DHS has a contract with IDEMIA for these services.

• Study subjects will need to complete IDEMIA's online pre-enrollment process and schedule the fingerprint and photo appointment at an IDEMIA - IdentoGO enrollment center. 
• IDEMIA - IdentoGO enrollment centers are located throughout the state.
• The cost for fingerprinting and photography is $10.50. The fee is paid directly to IDEMIA.
• An acceptable form of identification is required.
• The fingerprint and photo process should take about five-to-10 minutes and is completed by a trained technician. 
• Fingerprint images are transmitted through a secure system to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and in some cases when required by law, the fingerprints are also transmitted securely to the FBI for a criminal record search.
• Criminal history results are sent to DHS.
• For details on the fingerprint and photo process, view the FAQs about IDEMIA.

Before August 5, 2025, if DHS told an EIDBI agency that more time was needed to conduct a study, the study subject could still provide services while they waited if they met certain conditions. Beginning August 5, 2025, an individual can only provide services after their study is complete and has resulted in a clearance (“eligible”) or set-aside of a disqualification. Notices from DHS about needing more time started including language about this change on July 1, 2025.