Certification & Licensure Criminal History FAQ's

The JBCC Rules requires a criminal history record search by fingerprint submission. A Texas and a national search will be conducted through the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Under Rule 3.1 (b) of the JBCC Rules, an applicant must provide the Commission with his or her Texas and national criminal history records by fingerprint search according to directions published on the Commission's website. The criminal history searches cannot be conducted until after an application is submitted.

DPS has a contracted vendor to take and process fingerprint submissions for licensing purposes. We can only accept criminal history reports that are electronically submitted by DPS directly to the Commission.

IdentoGO is a vendor contracted by DPS to provide fingerprinting services in the State of Texas. Fingerprints done with the vendor are submitted digitally to DPS. Results are submitted electronically directly to the JBCC by DPS. This results in fewer rejected fingerprints and faster processing.

If the DPS or FBI is not able to read the fingerprints, they will require another set of fingerprints. If fingerprints are rejected twice the JBCC may request an alternative search method which may be conducted at no additional charge to the applicant. No further action may be required by the applicant. Also, if you do not follow the instructions when scheduling appointments for fingerprinting, the proper reports may not be generated and you may have to be printed again. You may also have to pay fees again. DPS will not issue refunds due to applicant error.

No. Local sheriff's offices cannot submit fingerprints for applicant purposes, only for criminal justice purposes. If you reside in the state of Texas you should utilize one of the existing IdentoGO locations.

Fingerprints will be sent digitally to the DPS by IdentoGO. DPS will submit the fingerprints to the FBI for the national search, and DPS will conduct the Texas search. The results of both searches will be sent electronically directly to the JBCC by DPS.

Fees must be paid to IdentoGO either when you schedule your appointment to have your fingerprints taken, or when you show up to have them taken. Fees are subject to change.

No, the fingerprints must be done by someone trained to collect fingerprints.

Yes. By law, the fingerprints submitted to other entities may not be used by the Commission to obtain criminal history records from DPS and the FBI.

Schedule your appointment with the nearest IdentoGO facility or, if there isn't a facility close to you, you may be able to go to your local law enforcement department to be fingerprinted. However, there is no guarantee that they will fingerprint you. If your law enforcement department cannot fingerprint you, you may need to search locally for fingerprinting services. Once printed, mail the fingerprint card to the facility listed on your Texas Fingerprint Service Code Form. For information on locations, you must contact IdentoGO. Their phone number is 1-888-467-2080. You must submit your completed Texas Fingerprint Service Code Form with your fingerprint card as well.

This is a unique originating agency identifier assigned to the JBCC.

Take it with you when you go to get fingerprinted because this document must be given to staff at IdentoGO when your prints are taken.

Send inquiries to the Commission in writing via email or mail. Staff will route inquiries to DPS for further research and respond to you in writing via email or mail (depending on what format was used to submit the inquiry). When submitting inquiries please include your name, CSR or File #, specific problems encountered, the date and location of the fingerprinting facility, and, if known, the name(s) of staff who assisted you at the facility.

You will receive notification only if further action is required.

Under Rule 3.5 (c) of the JBCC Rules, if you are enrolled or planning to enroll in an educational program that prepares a person for an initial certification or license or are planning to take an examination required by the Commission, and you have reason to believe that you may not be eligible due to a criminal history, you may submit a written request to the Commission to issue a criminal history evaluation letter regarding your eligibility. The request must also state the basis for your potential ineligibility.

Email your request to the address for your program’s certification department:

• Court Reporter Certification: courtreporting@txcourts.gov

• (Professional) Guardianship Certification: guardians@txcourts.gov

• Licensed Court Interpreter: courtinterpreters@txcourts.gov

• Process Server Certification: processservers@txcourts.gov

Upon receipt of your request, staff will contact you with instructions on what procedures you must follow in order for us to obtain your criminal histories. Once the reports have been received, a determination will be made on your eligibility and you will be notified of the determination in writing.

Please note that evaluations are based solely on TX (DPS) criminal history reports. Once all certification requirements have been met, an updated DPS report will be generated as well as a national (FBI) report. If either report displays information not previously reviewed, a new determination will be made.

Please notify us in writing if you feel your information is incorrect and whether or not you intend to challenge it so that staff may anticipate what, if any, actions are necessary on this end. If you believe your FBI criminal history record is inaccurate, you may change, correct or update the information. Procedures for doing so are set forth in Title 28, C.F.R., § 16.34. Please visit the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) website for more information. The Commission will not make a determination regarding your application until you have had a reasonable time to correct or complete the record, or have declined to do so (Title 42, U.S.C. § 14616, Article IV(c); Title 28 C.F.R. §50.12 (b)). You may also challenge the accuracy and completeness of your Texas criminal history record information. Please go to the Texas Department of Public Safety's website (DPS), then choose Crime Records for more information.