Criminal Background Checks

All applicants who wish to obtain licensure or registration from the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (the “Board”) are required to have a state and federal criminal background check completed with the Louisiana State Police.  The Louisiana State Police (LSP) shall report the result of the criminal background check to the Board, which may use that information to determine the applicant’s moral character and suitability for licensing/registration.  LA R.S. 37:2659.1 authorizes the Board to conduct a criminal background check on applicants as a condition for eligibility for licensure/registration.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to read and understand the instructions to complete a criminal background check with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Criminal background reports generated for or by another agency cannot be accepted to satisfy this requirement.  The Board is not permitted to issue a grace period, license or registration until the results of the report and a completed application have been received. (Effective May 1, 2019)

Forms and Procedures

Please carefully review the Fingerprint Service Code Form and the applicable Background Check Procedures sheet below on how to complete the criminal background check.  Upon completion, the Louisiana State Police will forward the results directly to the Board office.


Fees
The current fee for the state and federal background check for in-state applicants is up to $60.75. 

The current fee for the state and federal background check for out-of-state applicants is up to $60.75, plus an additional $39.99 convenience fee. 

Privacy Notice
For LSP/FBI Applicant Privacy Notice, click here.


Completion Time
Completion time varies from days to weeks, depending on circumstances.

Background checks are valid for 90 days upon receipt from the Louisiana State Police (LSP) without an application submitted to the Board.  If 90 days passes without a completed application, the background check must be completely reprocessed and resubmitted.

Applicants may check the status of their application by logging into their dashboard. Receipt of the criminal background check or the need for more information will be updated in milestones for license applicants.

Incorrect or Incomplete Criminal History Record Information

If an applicant believes that the criminal history record information is incorrect or incomplete, the procedures to request a change, correction, or update are identified in 28 CFR § 16.34 as stated below:

28 CFR § 16.34 Procedure to obtain change, correction or updating of identification records.

If, after reviewing his/her identification record, the subject thereof believes that it is incorrect or incomplete in any respect and wishes changes, corrections or updating of the alleged deficiency, he/she should make application directly to the agency which contributed the questioned information. The subject of a record may also direct his/her challenge as to the accuracy or completeness of any entry on his/her record to the FBI, Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division, ATTN: SCU, Mod. D-2, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306. The FBI will then forward the challenge to the agency which submitted the data requesting that agency to verify or correct the challenged entry. Upon the receipt of an official communication directly from the agency which contributed the original information, the FBI CJIS Division will make any changes necessary in accordance with the information supplied by that agency.  [Order No. 1134-86, 51 FR 16677, May 6, 1986, as amended by Order No. 2258-99, 64 FR 52226, Sept. 28, 1999]