Fingerprint Requirements in WA’s Assisted Living Facilities
Initiative 1163 passed in 2011, requiring formal training, testing, and certification of caregivers in assisted living and other home- and community-based care settings. Along with a new home care aide credential came the expectation that caregiving staff must complete fingerprint background checks upon hire, in addition to the state name and date-of-birth background checks.
The initiative and the regulations written to support the law included two employee categories that require federal fingerprint checks in assisted living: long-term care workers (including caregivers and nurses) and administrators. There is no requirement for any other staff member to obtain fingerprint checks; the state name and date-of-birth background check, completed upon hire and every two years after, is enough.
Some highlights about caregivers, nurses, and administrators getting the federal fingerprint checks include:
- The state name and date-of-birth background check is required, upon hire and every two years thereafter
- Fingerprint checks must be completed with results available onsite within 120 days of starting work
- Fingerprint checks must be done only once, upon hire
- Fingerprint checks must be obtained using the DSHS-contracted company
- An assisted living employer may accept a national fingerprint background check results letter and any additional information from an individual who previously completed a fingerprint background check through the DSHS-contracted company
- There is no need to re-do a fingerprint check on someone who has already completed one, provided they share the results with the facility
For more questions about fingerprint background checks, visit the DSHS Background Check Central Unit website.
