FEDERAL/STATE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS

KRS 314.011(21) defines conviction as an unvacated adjudication of guilt, pleading no contest or nolo contendere, entering an Alford plea, or entering a guilty plea pursuant to a pretrial diversion order regardless of whether the penalty is rebated, suspended, or probated.  

Required of:

• RN and LPN applicants for licensure by examination, endorsement and reinstatement 
• All APRN applicants
• All SANE applicants

Request a fingerprint card

• Instructions for completing the fingerprint card [PDF Format - 15KB]
• Send the Kentucky State Police (KSP) the completed fingerprint card and the $16.50 fee, check or money order made payable to the KSP.  The address is:

Kentucky State Police
1266 Louisville Road
Frankfort, KY  40601

• Allow 10 business days after mailing the fingerprint card and fee to KSP for KBN to receive notification that they were received.  
• Fingerprint reports may take up to 4 weeks to be received from the FBI

Required of:

• RN and LPN applicants for licensure by examination and reinstatement only
• APRN only applicants
• All SANE applicants

NOTE:  Applicants applying for licensure by endorsement (RN, LPN or RN & APRN combined) do not have to complete this requirement. 

• Request a state background check (courtnet) from the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)
  • Only an AOC report is accepted: Online Requests
  • Processed by AOC within 2 weeks
  • KBN will receive an electronic copy of the report, if you request the report online and AOC FastCheck Instructions accurately [PDF Format - 201KB].   When the copy is sent to you by email you should download it and save a copy for your records in case KBN does not receive the electronic copy.
  • Paper requests are available [PDF Format - 56KB]
    • May take 4-6 weeks for AOC to complete the request
    • Applicants must mail or fax a copy of the report to KBN

Note: All previous surnames MUST be reported when requesting a Criminal History Report. For instructions on how to include a maiden name, alias, etc., please click here.

KRS 314.011(21) defines conviction as an unvacated adjudication of guilt, pleading no contest or nolo contendere, entering an Alford plea, or entering a guilty plea pursuant to a pretrial diversion order regardless of whether the penalty is rebated, suspended, or probated.  

• OTHER THAN DUIs, do not report traffic offenses. Letters of explanation may be faxed to 502-429-3353. Certified court documents must be mailed to KBN at:

Kentucky Board of Nursing

Consumer Protection Department

312 Whittington Parkway

Suite 300

Louisville, KY 40222

Click here for more information on reporting criminal convictions.  

• Send a letter correcting the information
  • Fax to 502-429-3336

Follow the status of your application as it is being processed and always know what requirements are needed.