FAQs

Information for Police Services about the Electronic Submission of Fingerprints by Accredited, Certified Private Fingerprinting Companies in Support of Vulnerable Sector (VS) Checks

Why did the RCMP introduce this process with private certified, accredited fingerprinting companies?
Electronic fingerprint submissions shorten the wait-times for VS checks from weeks to days. This process provides clients in our communities with an option to have their VS check completed faster.

As the applicant’s police service of local jurisdiction, is the police service or detachment still responsible for the completion of the VS check?
Yes. Only the electronic fingerprint submission portion can be completed by a private company. The police service of local jurisdiction must still complete the initial verification, including local indices checks.

The nearest private fingerprinting company is located in other jurisdiction. Can the applicant still have their fingerprints submitted electronically?
Yes. The electronic fingerprinting portion of the VS check can be completed by an RCMP-certified, accredited private fingerprinting company of the applicant’s choosing.

What do applicants need to have their fingerprints taken by a private fingerprinting company?
The police service of local jurisdiction must provide the applicant with a Letter of Instruction. A template Letter of Instruction has been provided as part of this package and is also available on the CPIC website – www.cpic-cipc.ca under “What’s New” – Accredited Fingerprinting Companies for Electronic Vulnerable Sector Checks.

What information must be included in the Letter of Instruction?

• Official name and insignia of the Police Service
• Date that the Letter of Instruction was issued by the Police Service
• Name, title and signature of the Police Service authority that issued the Letter of Instruction
• Applicant name and date of birth
• Applicant signature acknowledging intent to attend an Accredited Fingerprinting Company for the purposes of having his/her fingerprints electronically taken and submitted to the RTID system (RCMP CCRTIS) for vulnerable sector purposes
• Police Service return mailing address for all hard copy search results that apply to the VS check
• Confirmation that the Police Service verified the identity of the Applicant
• Confirmation that the Police Service obtained the Applicant’s written consent for: verification of pardoned sex offender records maintained in the RCMP National Repository of Criminal Records, and; disclosure of any pardoned sex offender records to the Police Service requesting the VS check
• Confirmation that the Police Service verified the position, for which a VS check is being sought, as relative to the vulnerable sector
• Description of the vulnerable sector position
• Name of person(s) or organization requesting the VS check
• Details regarding children or vulnerable person(s) relative to the vulnerable sector position
• Confirmation that the vulnerable sector position is for employment (paid) or volunteer (unpaid) purposes
• Confirmation that the Police Service received and verified a Volunteer Confirmation Letter (volunteer (unpaid) purposes only).
• RCMP website link that identifies all Accredited Fingerprinting Companies that are approved for electronic VS checks. (http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/rtid-itr/vulner-eng.htm)

How long will it take to get the results?
The results of the VS check will be mailed to the detachment that requested the check within 2-3 business days when there is no match to a fingerprint holding. When you provide applicants with an expected total wait-time, please be sure to consider factors such as your police service’s or detachment’s internal processing time requirements or unusually high volumes of VS checks.

Is the cost of using a private fingerprinting company included in the $25.00 application fee?
No. The $25.00 government regulated application fee (for paid positions only) does not include the services of private fingerprinting companies. Additional charges may apply and applicants should contact the private fingerprinting companies for service prices.

What should applicants know about having their fingerprints taken by private fingerprinting company?
The companies that can take fingerprints for VS purposes are RCMP-accredited and certified. Accredited means that employees have been screened and have all the appropriate security clearances. Certified means that the private fingerprinting companies have the necessary technology and it is compatible with RCMP systems.

With this new process, should detachments or police services still acquire LiveScan devices?
Yes. This is an interim process to ensure more Canadians have access to faster VS checks.

Where can detachments get more information about this process?
The complete policy is available at www.cpic-cipc.ca under “What’s New.”