An Ohio background check for a job that needs one by law is a fingerprint check by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), part of the Ohio Attorney General's office, often paired with an FBI fingerprint check, and both are taken electronically at a WebCheck location. Employers with no duty to fingerprint usually turn to a private screening firm instead, and it searches county courts by name.
Please note this site is not BCI or the Attorney General. The official program information is on the Attorney General's WebCheck and Livescan page. This guide explains the difference between the two checks, who needs which, and the steps to take when results look wrong.
Quick answers
Official source
Ohio Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)Check type
Fingerprint based (BCI for Ohio records, FBI for national records)How prints are taken
WebCheck, the state's electronic fingerprint program, at approved sites such as sheriff's officesOut of state applicants
Paper fingerprint cards printed from the Attorney General's office, sent by mailWho sees results
The employer, you, or both, depending on what the request form saysName searches
Done by screening companies and county courts, not by BCI for the public
BCI or FBI: which Ohio background check do you need?
Both are fingerprint checks, but they search different files. A BCI check looks at criminal history reported to the state of Ohio. An FBI check looks at the national file, which includes arrests and convictions sent to the FBI by other states and federal agencies.
| BCI check | FBI check | |
|---|---|---|
| Records searched | Ohio criminal history | National criminal history held by the FBI |
| Run by | Ohio Attorney General's BCI | FBI, with the request passed through BCI |
| When used | Most Ohio jobs and licenses that require prints | When state law calls for it, often with a BCI check |
| Good to know | Will not show a conviction from another state | Only allowed for purposes the law approves |
Some employers ask for the FBI check too if you have lived outside Ohio within the past five years, since an out of state case would not appear in the BCI file. If you are unsure, ask for both; it is easier than being printed twice.
Which Ohio jobs need fingerprints
Ohio law lists jobs where a fingerprint check is required. Common ones are teachers and other school staff, child care workers, people in nursing homes and home health, nurses and similar licensed health staff, and some volunteers who work with minors. Many licensing boards, such as those for real estate and other trades, also ask for BCI and FBI results with the application.
Each employer or board gives you a reason code or tells you which box to tick. That code decides which records BCI may release and which disqualifying offenses apply. Our guide to checks for healthcare and care jobs explains why care roles are screened more closely.
Keep a scan of every result letter you receive. Some employers accept a recent BCI result you already have, which saves you a new appointment.
Getting printed through WebCheck
WebCheck is the civilian part of Ohio's automated fingerprint system. An approved site scans your prints and sends them electronically to BCI. Sheriff's offices, police departments, colleges and private sites take WebCheck prints; some take walk ins and others want an appointment. Each site sets its own service charge on top of the state and FBI charges, so call ahead.
If you live outside Ohio, you cannot use WebCheck in person. Instead you print the BCI civilian background check card from the Attorney General's site, have a local agency roll your prints in ink, and mail the card with a release form. Mailed cards take longer than electronic prints.
Smudged or worn prints get rejected. If you work with your hands or use lotion, mention it at the appointment so the technician can take extra care.
Results, timing and your own copy
Results go where the request form says. Some employers want them mailed straight to them; others ask you to bring your copy. If you want to see the results yourself, ask for a direct copy and give a mailing address in Ohio. County and university pages commonly say WebCheck results arrive within about 30 days, and paper cards can take longer. If a month passes with nothing, call BCI with the date and place you were printed.
A background screening company report works on a different clock, usually a few business days. Our page on typical wait times lists what slows each piece down.
Name searches, county courts and screening companies
Plenty of Ohio employers that are not required to fingerprint you hire a screening firm. The firm searches county clerk of courts and municipal court records by name, plus national databases and sex offender registries. The Fair Credit Reporting Act covers these reports, so you first get a separate written notice and sign a permission form, and you are owed a copy of the report before any rejection that relies on it. Every step is listed by the FTC.
The EEOC also says an arrest alone does not show someone committed a crime. If an employer brings up an old arrest that went nowhere, you can say so calmly and offer the dismissal paperwork.
Sealed records and fixing mistakes
Ohio courts can seal or expunge many records, and a sealed record should not appear in a regular screening report. Fingerprint checks for some sensitive jobs, such as schools or law enforcement, may still reveal certain sealed cases because Ohio law lets those employers see them. Ask the court or a legal aid office what your order covers. Our page on expunged and sealed records covers this in more depth.
If a BCI or FBI result shows a case that is not yours, or an old charge with no outcome, get the court's certified record of how the case ended and ask BCI to update its file. FBI records are challenged through the FBI. If the error came from a screening company, dispute it with them in writing using our dispute steps.
This page sums up what Ohio's official sources describe. For advice about your record, ask the Attorney General's BCI office, the legal aid society that serves your county, or an Ohio lawyer who handles hiring disputes.
Questions people ask
What is a BCI background check?
BCI stands for the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Its check compares your fingerprints with Ohio criminal history, and the bureau sits inside the Ohio Attorney General's office. Employers and licensing boards use it when Ohio law requires a check.
What is the difference between BCI and FBI background checks?
A BCI check searches Ohio records only. An FBI check searches the national file, so it can show cases from other states. Many Ohio jobs ask for both.
What does a BCI background check show?
It shows Ohio criminal history linked to your fingerprints that BCI is allowed to release for the reason code on your request. What is released can differ by job type, so a school check may show more than a general one.
How many weeks do Ohio BCI results take?
Electronic WebCheck results often arrive within about 30 days, and mailed ink cards take longer. Screening company reports for private jobs usually take a few business days.
Can I run a free background check in Ohio?
BCI checks are paid and need fingerprints. Many county clerk of courts websites let anyone search local case records by name at no cost, one court at a time.
Where do I get a BCI and FBI background check in Columbus or Cincinnati?
Any approved WebCheck site in the state can take your prints, including many sheriff's offices and police departments. Call ahead to ask about hours and whether they take walk ins.