What is the difference between California Live Scan and traditional ink fingerprinting?
The main difference is how the fingerprints are captured and submitted. Live Scan is a digital method where your prints are scanned and sent electronically to agencies like the California DOJ or FBI. It’s faster, more accurate, and commonly used for state-required background checks in California. Ink fingerprinting, on the other hand, involves rolling your fingers in ink and pressing them onto a fingerprint card (like the FD-258). These cards must be mailed in, so the process takes longer and is more prone to smudges or errors. Ink is often used for out-of-state, federal, or specific agency requests.
