Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card Arizona: What Caregivers Need to Know

Why Arizona Requires a Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card for Caregivers

Arizona does not license non-medical home care agencies at the state level. That means anyone can legally start a caregiving business without proving they have insurance, training, or even a clean criminal record. The burden of vetting falls entirely on families.

The Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card (FCC) under A.R.S. § 41-1758.07 is the closest thing Arizona has to a universal caregiver credential. Issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), it requires a full FBI and state criminal background check using live-scan fingerprints. Licensed home health agencies, ALTCS-contracted providers, and adult care facilities are legally required to verify that every employee holds a current card before they provide direct care.

If you are hiring a private caregiver or evaluating a home care agency for your parent, the FCC is the single most important document to check.

How the Application Process Works

The Level 1 card covers the broadest set of precluded offenses and is required for anyone working in a "position of trust" — including roles involving vulnerable adults and children.

Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Submit an application through the DPS website or via a fingerprint vendor location. The application includes personal identification data and consent for a federal and state criminal records search.
2. Complete live-scan fingerprinting at an authorized vendor. DPS maintains a list of approved locations statewide.
3. Pay the application fee. Check the DPS fee schedule for the current card fee. Some employers cover this cost.
4. Wait for processing. Processing times and any expedited option vary; check DPS's current estimate when applying.
5. Receive the card — a physical plastic card valid for six years from the date of issuance.

For family members who want to become a paid caregiver through ALTCS programs like Agency with Choice (AWC), completing the FCC is a mandatory step before the contracted agency can process your hire.

Precluded Offenses That Block a Card

DPS runs the fingerprint submission against both the Arizona criminal records database and the FBI's national database. A Level 1 card is automatically denied if the applicant has been convicted of (or is awaiting trial for) any precluded felony offense, including:

• Violent crimes — murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, kidnapping, sexual assault, child abuse, abuse of a vulnerable adult
• Sexual offenses — sexual exploitation of a minor, indecent exposure to a minor, sexual abuse
• Property crimes involving trust positions — theft, fraud, forgery, identity theft, burglary (when committed against a vulnerable adult or in a position of trust)
• Drug offenses — manufacture, distribution, or transportation of dangerous drugs or narcotics (not simple possession in all cases, but many drug felonies are precluded)
• Financial exploitation — exploitation of a vulnerable adult under A.R.S. § 46-456

The list of precluded offenses is extensive and categorized by severity. Some misdemeanors also preclude issuance depending on the nature of the offense and the population served.

The Good Cause Exception

A denial is not always permanent. Arizona law provides a Good Cause Exception (GCE) process that allows individuals with certain precluded offenses to petition the Board of Fingerprinting for clearance.

The GCE evaluation considers:

• How long ago the offense occurred — more weight is given to offenses that are decades old versus recent convictions
• Rehabilitation evidence — completion of probation, community service, counseling, or education programs
• The nature of the intended employment — whether the applicant will have unsupervised access to vulnerable adults
• Whether the offense is directly relevant to the caregiving role

Some offenses are permanently precluded and cannot receive a GCE, including most violent felonies and sexual offenses involving minors. The Board of Fingerprinting holds regular hearings, and applicants may present their case with supporting documentation.

GCE processing time is not guaranteed, so families planning to hire a relative through ALTCS should start this process well before the ALTCS application itself.

What Families Should Verify When Hiring a Caregiver

Whether you are hiring through an agency or independently, here is what to check:

• Ask to see the physical card. A valid Level 1 FCC is a plastic card with the holder's photo, name, DPS card number, and expiration date. Cards are valid for six years.
• Verify the card is current. An expired card means the caregiver has not undergone a background recheck. DPS does not automatically notify employers when a cardholder commits a new offense during the card's validity period — the card itself is a point-in-time clearance.
• Check the APS Registry. Since January 1, 2025, all licensed residential care institutions, nursing facilities, and home health agencies must verify that employees are not listed on the Adult Protective Services (APS) Registry under A.R.S. § 46-459. The APS Registry is separate from the FCC — a caregiver could hold a valid clearance card but still appear on the registry for a substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
• Ask about workers' compensation and liability insurance. Since Arizona does not regulate non-medical home care agencies, there is no state requirement for agencies to carry these policies. The Arizona In-Home Care Association (AZNHA) requires its member agencies to maintain both, making AZNHA membership a useful proxy for minimum operational standards.

The Connection to ALTCS and Paid Family Caregiving

If your parent qualifies for ALTCS and you want to become their paid caregiver through the Agency with Choice or Self-Directed Attendant Care models, the Level 1 FCC is non-negotiable. The contracted provider agency will not process your employment paperwork without a valid card.

The timeline matters: if you are simultaneously applying for ALTCS and planning to be the primary caregiver, submit your FCC application immediately. ALTCS applications typically take 60 to 180 days to process. If your fingerprint clearance arrives before the ALTCS approval, it can remove one onboarding step, but paid work begins only after ALTCS approval, MCO care-plan authorization, and completion of the contracted agency's hiring process.

For a complete walkthrough of the ALTCS application process, financial eligibility thresholds, and caregiver compensation models, the Arizona Home Care, Waivers & Support Guide covers every step from the initial PAS assessment through managed care enrollment and paid family caregiving setup.

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