BCI and FBI Background Check Requirements Instructions

In order to begin your undergraduate or graduate program at the College of Nursing, you are required to complete both a BCI (Ohio) and an FBI (national) background check. You may not be eligible to begin coursework until the fingerprint background check results have been received and recorded.

The College of Nursing only accepts background check results that are sent directly from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to the OSUHR Background Check Office. The college does not accept background check results or copies of results from any other source, even if unopened, from the student, any current or previous school, program, employer (even if that employer is associated with the OSUMC), or any other third party.

All students, except for students enrolled in the School Nurse Professional Pupil Services Licensure Certificate* program, are required to follow these steps when completing the background check requirement.
*School Nurse Professional Pupil Services Licensure students, please visit this page for information specific to your program requirements.

  1. “Reason Fingerprinted” Code: ORC 4723.09
  2. “Send Background Check Results To” Address:

    Background Checks – Nursing
    OSU Office of Human Resources
    1590 N. High Street, Suite 300
    Columbus, OH 43201

BSN students admitted to the Autumn 2024 semester will be fingerprinted in the College of Nursing during the first week of classes in August. Do not complete this requirement early. More information will be provided at the Compliance Touchpoint Session in July.

Students living in Ohio:

You are encouraged to utilize the fingerprinting services at the Ohio State Office of Human Resources. To complete the fingerprint requirement at this campus location, you must schedule an appointment.

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) is located at 1590 N. High Street, Suite 300, Columbus, Ohio 43201 and is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays by appointment only.
 
After scheduling your appointment, please complete the WebCheck Consent Form via DocuSign. The online consent form must be completed before your scheduled appointment.

Ohio students who are unable to utilize the Ohio State Office of Human Resources services can find an approved fingerprinting agency in their area here.

Please note: ID Processing at the Wexner Medical Center is NOT an approved fingerprinting location.

 

Students not living in Ohio:

Students not living in Ohio will need to follow these steps for completing their background checks:

  1. Print the Out of State Fingerprinting packet 
  2. Bring the BCI card and the FBI card to an approved fingerprinting location and have them put your ink fingerprints on both cards. The cards must be validated by a fingerprint official.
  3. Fill in all highlighted sections of the fingerprint cards with your information.
  4. Sign and date page 3 of the packet.
  5. Fill out the ‘Request for Exemption from Electronic Fingerprint Submission Requirement’ form (page 7).
  6. After completing the fingerprinting process send the BCI card, the FBI card, the exemption form, page 3 of the packet, and payment to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation using the London, OH address listed on page 1 of the packet.

Graduate Entry and Traditional Master’s students are required to obtain a copy of their BCI/FBI background check results from Central HR within the year of completing the background check process. If students do not complete this step, and background check documentation ends up being required during their clinical year, the students will have to get a new background check at their own expense.

Local and in-state students must go to OHR to receive copies. Out-of-state students may email HR-Backgroundchecks@osu.edu to request copies. You will essentially be required to complete an exemption form via Docusign before the report can be emailed back to you (secured file).