Fingerprinting

(1) Any applicant for initial registration, licensure, or certification who is required to submit a complete and legible set of fingerprints for the purpose of obtaining a criminal background check pursuant to T.C.A. § 62-39-301 shall submit said fingerprints in an electronic format. (a) An applicant for initial registration, licensure, or certification shall be deemed to have supplied the required set of fingerprints if that applicant causes a private company contracted by the State to electronically transmit that applicant’s classifiable prints directly to the TBI and FBI to forward an electronic report based on that applicant’s fingerprints to the Commission. (b) All sets of classifiable fingerprints required by this rule shall be furnished at the expense of the applicant for initial registration, licensure, or certification. (c) The applicant for initial registration, licensure, or certification shall make the arrangements for the processing of his or her fingerprints with the company contracted by the State to provide electronic fingerprinting services directly and shall be responsible for the payment of any fees associated with processing of fingerprints to the respective agent authorized by the TBI and FBI. (d) All applicants for initial registration, licensure, or certification shall in all cases be responsible for paying application fees for registration, licensure, or certification as established by the Commission in addition to any fees required to submit a complete and legible set of fingerprints pursuant to T.C.A. § 62-39-102. (2) In the event that an applicant for initial registration, licensure, or certification furnishes unclassifiable fingerprints or fingerprints which are unclassifiable in nature, the Commission shall refuse to issue the requested registration, license, or certification. (a) For the purposes of this rule “unclassifiable fingerprints” means that the electronic scan or the print of the person’s fingerprints cannot be read and, therefore, cannot be used to identify the person. (b) Should an applicant for initial registration, licensure, or certification’s fingerprints be rejected by the TBI or FBI, the applicant shall pay any fees assessed by the TBI or FBI for resubmission. (3) The provisions of this rule shall apply to any applicant applying for initial registration, licensure, or certification on or after January 1, 2015.