Florida Guide · Live Scan Fingerprinting
FDLE vs FBI Fingerprinting: What’s the Difference and Which Do Your Clients Need?
This is one of the most common points of confusion for clients getting fingerprinted in Florida — and one of the most important intake questions for fingerprinting entrepreneurs. Here’s the complete breakdown of what each submission covers, who requires which, and how to handle both.
FDLE and FBI fingerprinting are two separate submission systems that check two separate databases — and many Florida clients need both. Understanding the difference between them is fundamental knowledge for any Florida fingerprinting operator, because routing a client to the wrong submission type is as bad as routing them to the wrong vendor: you’ve wasted their time and damaged your credibility.
The Core Difference at a Glance
| Category | FDLE Fingerprinting | FBI Fingerprinting |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving Agency | Florida Department of Law Enforcement | Federal Bureau of Investigation |
| Database Checked | Florida state criminal history | National criminal history (all states) |
| Covers Out-of-State History? | ✗ Florida only | ✓ All 50 states + federal |
| Required For | Most FL professional licenses, employment | Federal programs, positions requiring national check |
| Processing Fee (approx.) | ~$24 state fee | ~$13 federal fee |
| Certifix Handles? | ✓ Yes — FDLE certified | ✓ Yes — FBI background check service |
| IdentoGO Handles? | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Fieldprint Handles? | ✓ Some FL programs | ✓ FBI authorized channeler |
| Turnaround Time | 24–72 hours typically | 24 hours – 2 weeks depending on method |
Submission Type 1
FDLE Fingerprinting
Florida Department of Law Enforcement — the most common submission type for Florida operators
Highest Volume
FDLE fingerprinting is the Florida state-level background check. It searches the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s criminal history database for any criminal record in the state of Florida. This is the submission type required for the vast majority of Florida professional licensing, healthcare worker clearances, childcare worker clearances, school employee background checks, and most state-regulated employment positions.
This is where most of your fingerprinting volume will come from if you operate a Florida-based fingerprinting business. Healthcare workers renewing AHCA clearance, teachers completing FDLE background checks, contractors applying for state licenses, insurance agents, real estate professionals — all of them route through the FDLE system. Certifix is FDLE-certified and handles these submissions through their standard partner enrollment system.
Key FDLE Facts for Florida Operators
- The FDLE processing fee is approximately $24 for a state-level check
- Your client needs to know their ORI number — the agency-specific identifier that tells FDLE which organization requested the check
- Results are sent directly to the requesting agency, not to the client
- Most FDLE submissions return results within 24–72 hours
- Rejected prints (poor quality) can be resubmitted — Certifix partners have low rejection rates
The ORI number is critical: Every FDLE submission requires an ORI (Originating Agency Identifier) — a unique code that tells FDLE which organization is requesting the check. Clients typically receive their ORI from their employer or licensing board. If a client doesn’t know their ORI, do not proceed without it — submitting without the correct ORI routes the results nowhere or to the wrong agency.
✓ FDLE Strengths for Your Business
- Highest volume submission type in Florida — healthcare, education, licensing
- Certifix and IdentoGO both authorized — your platform handles it
- Fast turnaround — results typically within 72 hours
- Clear fee structure — state processing fee is predictable
✗ Limitations
- Only covers Florida criminal history — doesn’t catch out-of-state records
- ORI required — clients without it cannot be processed
- Some agencies mandate specific vendors (IdentoGO for insurance licensing)
ORI Numbers, FDLE vs AHCA vs FBI — Which Applies to Which Client?
Our course maps the full Florida submission landscape so you can answer this question for every client type before your first appointment.
Submission Type 2
FBI Fingerprinting
Federal Bureau of Investigation — national history check, specific use cases
National Check
FBI fingerprinting submits to the FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) system — the national criminal history database that aggregates records from all 50 states and federal agencies. This is the check that catches records a Florida-only FDLE check would miss: a client with a criminal record in Georgia, a federal conviction, or a history in multiple states.
Who needs FBI fingerprinting:
- Clients whose licensing board or employer specifically requires a national background check
- Federal employment applicants and federal contractor positions
- Financial industry professionals (FINRA registration)
- U.S. citizens requesting their own personal criminal history record (under 28 CFR 16)
- International applicants needing an FBI Identity History Summary for a foreign visa, immigration, or employment verification
- Adoption processes — both domestic and international
Two paths to FBI submission:
Through an agency: When a licensing board, employer, or federal agency requires a national background check as part of their process, they submit an FBI check request through their authorized channeler (often Fieldprint, IdentoGO, or in some cases Certifix) as part of the broader background check package.
Personal History Summary: Individuals can request their own FBI criminal history under 28 CFR 16 through authorized channels like FieldprintFBI.com or Certifix’s FBI background check service. This is the route for international clients needing an FBI record for foreign purposes.
✓ When FBI Fingerprinting Adds Value
- Catches out-of-state records FDLE misses
- Required for federal employment and security clearances
- Essential for international applicants needing U.S. record verification
- FINRA financial industry registration requires it
- Adoption processes frequently require FBI history
✗ FBI Submission Considerations
- Processing time varies — can take longer than FDLE for personal requests
- Specific channeling authorization required to submit
- International clients often need ink cards, not live scan, for foreign submission
- Not all fingerprinting platforms handle FBI direct submissions
Practical Reference
Which Submission Does Each Florida Client Need?
| Client Type | FDLE | FBI | Both |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida healthcare worker (AHCA) | ✓ | ||
| Florida teacher / school employee | ✓ | Often both | |
| Florida childcare worker | ✓ | Often both | |
| Florida insurance license applicant | ✓ via IdentoGO | Sometimes both | |
| Florida contractor / professional license | ✓ | Varies by license | |
| Federal employment applicant | ✓ | Often both | |
| FINRA financial industry | ✓ | ||
| International visa / emigration | ✓ (personal history) | ||
| Adoption (domestic) | ✓ | ✓ | Usually both |
| Adoption (international) | ✓ | Varies | |
| Employer general background check | ✓ | Verify with HR | Varies |
Always verify: Agency requirements change. Before processing any client, confirm with them which specific checks their agency or employer requires. The ORI number they provide is your best guide — it tells you which agency is requesting the check and what type of submission is needed.
Common Questions
FDLE vs FBI Fingerprinting — FAQ
FDLE fingerprinting submits to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for a Florida-only state criminal history check. FBI fingerprinting submits to the FBI’s national database covering criminal history from all 50 states and federal agencies. Many Florida positions require both — the FDLE check for Florida history and the FBI check for national history. Your agency or employer will specify which checks are required.
It depends on your specific requirement. Many Florida licensing and employment positions require both. Your licensing board, employer, or agency will specify. Positions involving children, vulnerable adults, healthcare, education, and state-licensed professions typically require both a Florida state check (FDLE) and a national check (FBI).
The service provider fee typically runs $20–$50. The FDLE processing fee is approximately $24. Total for a state-only check: approximately $44–$74. If a national FBI check is also required, add approximately $13 in FBI processing fees. You’ll see the exact total during online enrollment with your provider before the appointment.
Yes. Certifix is FDLE-certified for Florida state submissions and provides FBI background check submissions through their platform. A Certifix partner location can handle both submission types — Florida state and national — through the same appointment and the same enrollment system, which simplifies the process significantly for clients who need both checks.
An ORI (Originating Agency Identifier) is a unique code assigned to the agency or organization requesting your background check. It tells FDLE or the FBI which organization should receive your results. You get your ORI from your employer, licensing board, or agency — not from your fingerprinting provider. You must have your correct ORI before your fingerprinting appointment. Without it, your results cannot be routed to the right place.
The Bottom Line
Know Which Check Before Every Appointment
The intake question that prevents every routing mistake: “What is this fingerprinting for and which agency receives it?” That answer determines whether your client needs FDLE, FBI, both, or a vendor-specific submission like IdentoGO for insurance licensing. Building that question into your intake process — and knowing how to answer the follow-up — is the operational knowledge that separates professional fingerprinting businesses from those that lose clients to submission errors.
Know the Full Florida Submission Landscape Before Your First Appointment
Our fingerprinting course covers FDLE, AHCA, FBI, IdentoGO-exclusive submissions, ORI numbers, and every submission type your Florida clients will bring you.
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