Criminal
Background Check Alert!
The
Ohio Revised Code requires those applying for a license or certificate
issued by the Ohio Respiratory Care (Board) to submit fingerprints
for an FBI (federal) and BCI (civilian) criminal records check
completed by the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation
(BCI&I).
Effective
immediately, BCI&I will ONLY accept
electronic fingerprints for FBI and BCI background checks,
except for the reasons listed below. Electronic fingerprints
must be completed by a Webcheck location in Ohio that
will submit the applicant’s fingerprints electronically to BCI&I. The
applicant must request that BOTH reports
be sent to the Board DIRECTLY from BCI&I,
or they will not be accepted by the Board. A complete
list of Webcheck locations is available online at the following
website address: www.webcheck.ag.state.oh.us/webcheckcommunity.htm.
When locating an electronic fingerprinting site on this web page,
please note that only the locations designated with the notation
of “BCI & FBI” perform both the BCI and FBI records check. The
Board does not endorse or recommend any specific Webcheck fingerprinting
company.
Fingerprint
cards will ONLY be accepted by BCI&I (with
the Exemption Form) for one of the following reasons:
- Applicant’s
home address is 75 miles or more from the nearest Webcheck location;
- Amputations
or digits missing (Webcheck 4.0 only);
- Out-of-state
applicant; (the Board requires persons living within
50 miles of Ohio to use a Webcheck location in Ohio)
- Poor
quality prints (Not able to capture at Webcheck location, provide
name of location where the background check was attempted on
the waiver form);
- BCI/FBI
rejects from original electronic submission. Note:
The original reject letter must accompany the fingerprint card
(s); and
- Public
Housing Organization background checks.
If
an applicant meets any of these exemptions, they may submit their
name and complete address to the Board in writing at Ohio Respiratory
Care Board, 77 South High Street, 16th Floor, Columbus,
Ohio 43215-6108, by fax at (614) 728-8691, or by email at rcb.logsdon@rcb.state.oh.us to
request fingerprint cards, exemption form and instructions for
completing the cards.
Important Notice on
New Criminal Background Check Requirement
On
March 24, the provisions of H.B. 104 will go into effect. Under
this law, all applicants for an initial license or limited permit
issued by the Respiratory Care Board will be required to submit
a criminal records check conducted by both the FBI and the Ohio
BCI. Criminal records check results will need to be received by
the Board prior to the issuance of the Ohio license or limited
permit. This requirement does not apply to individuals renewing
their current Ohio license or limited permit or to individuals
reinstating an expired Ohio license or limited permit.
Any application
received on or after March 24, 2008 will be required to comply
with this process.
The
new application is titled: Application for Initial License/Limited
Permit – Criminal Background check. You can access the new form by clicking here.
Please
address any questions to the Board. Contact information: Telephone
614-752-9218 or email rcb.logsdon@rcb.state.oh.us.
