Use the official California DOJ Applicant Background Check Status service with the details it requests. Keep your ATI and date of birth private; this guide does not collect them.
Use the official status service
Get your transaction details from the copy you kept after fingerprinting. If the ATI is missing or unreadable, contact the original operator. Do not post your form or a status screenshot publicly.
Three different stages
- Fingerprint capture: your visit to the operator.
- Processing: the government background-check transaction.
- Agency decision: the employer or licensing body reviews the response and its other requirements.
A completed processing status does not, by itself, say that your employer has hired you or your license is approved.
Why there is no guaranteed completion date
DOJ describes an automated path that generally takes 48–72 hours when fingerprints do not match records in its database. Other transactions need manual review and can take an indeterminate time. Poor print quality and incorrect submitted information can also delay processing.
Build time into your application schedule. A fast fingerprinting appointment is not a promise of a same-day result.
Contact the party that can answer your question
- Missing receipt, ATI or a question about transmission: original fingerprint operator.
- Whether the response was received or other application steps remain: requesting agency.
- A rejection or data error: follow the notice with the agency and operator.
Our editorial email cannot access transactions or accelerate checks.
A few useful answers
Frequently asked questions
Is my ATI proof that DOJ received the submission?
Not by itself. DOJ explains that the identifier is generated by the Live Scan device; transmission is a separate step controlled by the operator.
Does completed mean I passed?
It indicates processing status, not a hiring or licensing decision. Ask the requesting organization what remains in its process.
Should I pay for a second scan because the first is delayed?
A delay alone does not establish that you need another paid scan. First check the official status and contact the original operator or requesting agency as appropriate.
Sources and last check
Checked September 8, 2026. Availability and charges may change; confirm with the operator or requesting agency.