All policies applying to testing and certification are included in the Examination Manual. The same policies can also be found in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC 388-03). You can find the answer to your specific question in either document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to DSHS Facilities, Finance and Analytics Administration's Frequently Asked Questions! Below you may search by topics such as information for bidders and question about our Language Testing and Certification Program, and Background Checks.
Upon release of any solicitation document, all communications concerning the procurement must be directed only to the coordinator identified in the solicitation document. Any communication directed to DSHS staff other than the coordinator may result in disqualification.
Any oral communications will be considered unofficial and non-binding to DSHS. Bidders should rely only on written statements issued by the coordinator.
All questions should be in writing to the coordinator and may be sent through fax, U.S. mail or email. Questions will be accepted until the date set forth in the solicitation document schedule.
Questions and Answers will be in the form of an amendment to the solicitation document.
- Invoice Express is a way to submit an invoice using a touch-tone phone.
- Several days of processing time are saved when you use Invoice Express.
- For each line of your invoice, use your telephone number pad to report units of service provided.
- You must mail in your invoice if you need to lower your rate. Invoice Express does not allow rate changes by telephone.
- The information you enter goes into the main computer in Olympia at 4:30 PM each business day.
- You can enter your invoice by telephone at any time of the day or night, seven days per week.
- Do not worry about having your invoice returned because of errors. You can correct errors on the spot.
- No problems with double entry: Once your claimed services have been put into SSPS either by mail or telephone, Invoice Express will not allow entry of an invoice a second time.
Submit your SSPS invoice for payment or inquire about a submitted invoice
The Invoice Express toll free number is 1-888-461-8855, and is printed at the top of every SSPS invoice.
An operator is available during normal business hours if the caller has problems, however SSPS staff cannot submit your invoice information for you.
Features:
- Callers may choose either English or Spanish voice prompts.
- Callers may choose to complete an entire invoice, or to complete selected pages of their invoice.
- Callers may choose to check on the status of an invoice.
- Callers may use the toll free line any time of day or night.
Helpful Information about Invoice Express
View the Invoice Express Brochure (DSHS 22-369 PDF)
Appointments take about 15 minutes and must be scheduled in advance. Online appointment scheduling is available at https://www.identogo.com/. You must be on time for your appointment. If you walk in without an appointment or show up late to your appointment, you will not be printed. Some of the fingerprinting sites do not allow children to be in the printing facility. Please call IDEMIA (formerly MorphoTrust) for more information: 1.888.771.5097.
Yes. To register for a test, please follow the steps in the how to schedule a test online. For step-by-step guides, use the following: Written Test Guide/ Translator Test Guide/ Oral Test Guide.
Once you are assigned a certificate number or authorization number in your score report letter, you are considered a certified or authorized interpreter or translator. DSHS does not employ interpreters and translators directly. Instead, we contract with external agencies to provide language services to our clients. If you are looking for work as an interpreter or translator, you need to contact the DSHS contracted agencies to start the process. Find a spoken language service provider.
For general instructions on proposal delivery please see Proposal Delivery Methods. The proposal is to be sent to the coordinator in accordance with the delivery instructions specified in the solicitation document.
You should allow sufficient delivery time to ensure timely receipt by the coordinator. You assume the risk for the method of delivery and for any delay in the mailing or delivery of your proposal.
Proposals must be prepared and submitted no later than the proposal submission date and time specified in the particular solicitation document. DSHS reserves the right to disqualify any proposal and withdraw it from consideration if it is received after the proposal submission deadline. All proposals and any accompanying documentation become the property of DSHS and will not be returned.
- Fill out the invoice before you call Invoice Express. Use it to help you report the units of service provided.
- Do not mail in your invoice. Keep it for your records in case of audit.
Submit your SSPS invoice for payment or inquire about a submitted invoice
The Invoice Express toll free number is 1-888-461-8855, and is printed at the top of every SSPS invoice.
An operator is available during normal business hours if the caller has problems, however SSPS staff cannot submit your invoice information for you.
Features:
- Callers may choose either English or Spanish voice prompts.
- Callers may choose to complete an entire invoice, or to complete selected pages of their invoice.
- Callers may choose to check on the status of an invoice.
- Callers may use the toll free line any time of day or night.
Helpful Information about Invoice Express
View the Invoice Express Brochure (DSHS 22-369 PDF)
BCCU processes background checks for DSHS authorized service providers and DSHS programs who serve vulnerable individuals across Washington State. These background checks are specifically for applicants that provide direct care/services to these vulnerable individuals.
BCCU runs the background checks through a centralized database collecting information from several sources:
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Applicant self-disclosure
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Department of Corrections
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Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
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Negative Actions from:
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Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA), Resident and Client Protection Program
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ALTSA/Adult Protective Services
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Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), Child Protective Services
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Department of Health
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Out-of-state service provider and professional license status
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Washington and other state court systems
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Washington State Patrol (WSP)
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Western Identification Network (WIN)
BCCU determines the type of result notification based on the criteria set by the DSHS program that oversees the background check activities; each program has a different criteria. The results are provided to the authorized service providers and DSHS programs that requested the background check.
BCCU does not make hiring or contracting decisions; BCCU collects and reports the information reported to us. Hiring decisions are made by the authorized service provider or DSHS program. The rules or protocols entities are expected to follow are based on the laws and rules of the DSHS oversight program and on their own internal policies procedures.
BCCU currently issues 4 different result notifications.
- No Record – None of the background check data sources reported criminal or negative action records that disqualify the applicant from having unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults and there are no background check records to be reviewed.
- Review Required – One or more of the background check data sources reported criminal or negative action records that are not listed on the oversight program’s list of disqualifying crimes and negative actions. The authorized entity must determine whether or not the applicant can work in a position that may have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults by: (a) completing a Character, Competence, and Suitability (CC&S) review; and (b) documenting and retaining the decision as required by the DSHS oversight program. BCCU does not accept or retain any CC&S review documentation.
- Disqualify – One or more of the background check data sources reported criminal or negative action records that are on the oversight program’s list of disqualifying crimes and negative actions and the applicant is disqualified from having unsupervised access to vulnerable adults, juveniles, and children.
- Additional Information Needed – You will receive this letter if there is an unclear crime or negative action that was reported by any of the sources that BCCU researches. BCCU will no longer send a Disqualify notification (ABC or Secretary’s List Letter) for unknown crimes and negative actions. Entities should not disqualify applicants based solely on the receipt of the Additional Information Needed Notification.
The Additional Information Needed Notification informs the facility requesting the background check that:
- The applicant needs to contact BCCU to provide additional information.
- The background check will be pending until the applicant provides the additional information.
The applicant cannot schedule a fingerprint appointment until they have provided additional information.
Your DSHS oversight program may have special requirements related to applicants who receive an additional information needed request. Examples may include:
- The time limit that the applicant must provide the additional information,
- If the applicant will be allowed to have unsupervised access pending the final notification;
- And how the entity requesting the background check will notify the applicant that additional information is needed.
If you have questions about what you are required to do, contact the DSHS oversight program listed on the background check result notification.
BCCU Background Check Data Sources
|
Data Source |
Type of background check/condition for use |
|---|---|
|
Washington State Patrol (WSP) WATCH |
All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
|
Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Public Data Mart – Criminal history records |
All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
|
WA State Adult Protective Services Findings |
All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
|
WA State Residential Client Protection Program Findings |
All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
|
WA State Child Protective Services Findings |
All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
|
WA State Department of Health Findings |
All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
|
Applicant Self-Disclosures |
All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
|
Stored WSP & FBI fingerprint* record rap sheets & WIN state rap sheets
*unless prohibited by federal law |
N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks that include an interim FP result/ |
|
WA State Administrative Office of the Courts |
N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks/when a crime or charge without disposition is reported by FBI, WSP or AOC needs additional research |
|
WA State Department of Corrections (DOC) |
N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks/when a WSP rap sheet reports a DOC offender # for the subject individual |
|
Washington State Patrol Fingerprint-based search |
All fingerprint checks |
|
Federal Bureau of Investigation Fingerprint-based search |
All fingerprint checks |
|
Western Identification Network (WIN) State Search (WIN states = Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming) |
When the WSP fingerprint result reports a hit from one or more WIN states, BCCU initiates a search from the state reporting a hit |
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The Department of Health has issued a final order finding or concluding the person abused, neglected, personally or financially exploited, or abandoned a minor or vulnerable adult;
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The person has entered into a stipulation or other agreement with the Department of Health in which the person admits he or she abused, neglected, personally or financially exploited, or abandoned a minor or vulnerable adult; or
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The person has had a certification or license issued by the Department of Health denied, terminated, revoked, suspended, or relinquished in lieu of discipline due to abuse, neglect, personal or financial exploitation or abandonment of a minor or vulnerable adult, and the licensing action has not been reversed by an administrative tribunal or a court. This criterion applies regardless of whether or not the person’s license was later reinstated by Department of Health.
All other enforcement actions provided by Department of Health will be reported as a record and the DSHS oversight program may require a character, competence and suitability review by the entity who receives the background check.
The turnaround time of a background check depends on the volume of checks received, the amount of research required for that inquiry, and the number of staff available to process. Please refer to our Turnaround Times page to get an estimate of when you will receive your background check.
If the applicant has an out of state crime, BCCU requests a review to determine if the out of state crime is equivalent to a Washington State crime and verifies if that crime is on the Disqualifying List of Crimes and Negative Actions. The amount of research involved, number of equivalencies, and staff available will determine how quickly an equivalency can be completed.
Please refer to our Turnaround Times page which is updated each business day.
In addition to No Record, Review Required, and Disqualify Result Notifications requesters may also receive an Additional Information Needed Notification. Inquiries that are left in the Additional Information Needed status for 6 months will expire and BCCU will not be able to update that inquiry. If you have an applicant with an expired Additional Information inquiry, you will need to submit a new background check request for that applicant.
Entities should not disqualify applicants based solely on the receipt of the Additional Information Needed Notification.
Applicants who have received an Additional Information Notification from their employer and have not received their packet can request a copy of the packet using the Applicant Request for a Copy of Background Check Information Form. Applicants cannot schedule a fingerprint appointment until they have provided the needed additional information.
An Additional Information Needed Notification will be issued if there is an unknown crime or negative action reported by any of the sources BCCU researches. BCCU no longer sends an ABC (Disqualify Result Notification) for unknown crimes and negative actions. The Additional Information Needed Notification informs the facility requesting the background check the following:
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The applicant needs to contact BCCU to provide additional information.
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The background check will be pending until the applicant provides the additional information.
Your DSHS oversight program may have special requirements related to applicants who receive an additional information needed request. Examples may include:
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The time limit that the applicant must provide the additional information;
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If the applicant will be allowed to have unsupervised access pending the final notification;
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And how the entity requesting the background check will notify the applicant that additional information is needed.
If you have questions about what you are required to do, contact the DSHS oversight program listed on the background check result notification.
Research the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) or municipal code listed in the RCW/ Code column of the search result or use an internet search engine to research the legal term. BCCU staff cannot give you legal advice or interpret the meaning of legal terms.
You can access RCWs on the Washington State Legislature website. To find more information about a municipal code, go to the municipality website and search for the ordinance or code listed on the background check results. RCWs and Codes can change over time, make sure you research the code that was in effect at the time the violation occurred.
BCCU does not schedule fingerprint appointments, you will need to contact the state's fingerprint vendor, IDEMIA (formerly MorphoTrust).
To schedule an appointment through IDEMIA, please call 1-888-771-5097 or visit their website at https://www.identogo.com/. You will need the following to schedule an appointment:
- Fingerprint Appointment Form
- Applicant's Date of Birth
- Applicant Inquiry ID/OCA number found on the Interim Fingerprint Check Notification
If you are rescheduling your appointment due to the WSP or FBI rejecting your fingerprints, you can reschedule online or by phone. You must call IDEMIA at 1-888-771-5097 with the three items listed above. IDEMIA has locations throughout Washington State. Please refer to their website at, https://www.identogo.com/ for the location nearest you.
Unfortunately, some applicants have fingerprints that are difficult to capture, this could be due to working with chemicals or wear. The Washington State Patrol (WSP) must determine that the fingerprints are the best quality. If WSP determines the fingerprints are not the best quality, the applicant will need to be printed again.
Once the WSP accepts the fingerprints, they will send them to the FBI for processing. The FBI will then determine whether the fingerprints are the best quality. If the FBI rejects the prints, the applicant will need to be printed one more time. If the FBI rejects them a second time, BCCU will request a National Name Date of Birth check from the FBI and the fingerprint process will be completed.
To view WSP and FBI fingerprint process, please refer to our flowchart.
There are a few reasons that may result in an applicant not being able to schedule a fingerprint appointment:
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The applicant received an Additional Information Needed notification. Applicants cannot schedule a fingerprint appointment until they have provided the requested additional information.
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There is a 30 minute delay from when the requesting entity has chosen to continue with fingerprinting from their Entity Account page in the Background Check System (BCS). Requesting entities must choose to continue with fingerprinting once an Interim FP result is issued for the applicant to be fingerprinted. We suggest waiting 30 minutes to an hour after selecting proceed to fingerprints in BCS before trying to schedule the fingerprint appointment.
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The background check Inquiry ID/OCA number that is being used may be a Name and Date of Birth (NDOB) background check, not a fingerprint check. Review the type of background that was submitted to confirm it was a fingerprint based background check.
If you are still unable to schedule an appointment, please contact BCCU.
BCCU conducts Name & Date of Birth (NDOB) and Fingerprint based background checks for DSHS programs and authorized service providers who serve vulnerable adults, juveniles, and children. The type of background check conducted is determined by state and federal guidelines.
A NDOB background check includes a search of the Administrative Office of Courts, Washington State Patrol, Department of Health, Department of Corrections, and the Department's founded findings of abuse/neglect of a child or vulnerable adult, and the applicant's self-disclosure.
Fingerprint based background checks search the same databases as NDOB checks, as well as the FBI, the national sex offender registry, and state police records in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming.