Teacher Certification

Fingerprinting using a Fingerprint Card

You may have your fingerprints scanned and printed to a card or done using ink at any agency that provides fingerprinting services.  It is highly recommended that you get your fingerprint card from WWU.  Fingerprint cards are available in Miller Hall, Teacher Certification Office, Room 250 or from your Teacher Education Outreach Program site.  To request a card be mailed to you email CertOffice@wwu.edu and include your name, W# and address.

The cost of this record check is $46.25 with checks made payable to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (O.S.P.I.) to be mailed with the completed fingerprint card.  In addition, fingerprinting agencies charge between $5 - $25.

If you are fingerprinted using a card you must follow these instructions.  (printer friendly format)

DO NOT STAPLE, HIGHLIGHT, BEND OR FOLD THE FINGERPRINT CARD!

1. Complete the fingerprint card by entering the information listed below in the appropriate box. Use black ink. A card with incomplete or missing information will be rejected.
   

   Required:

   • Name, any aliases, full mailing address, citizenship, date of birth, and personal information (sex, race, height, weight, eye color, hair color).

   • * ORI: WA920310Z, OSPI, Olympia, WA

   • * Employer and Address:  Western Washington University, Certification Office.

   • * Reason Fingerprinted: School District Contractors, 28A.400 RCW

     * these items are preprinted on fingerprint cards from WWU

   Optional:

   • Social Security Number: useful for verifying identity. It will only be used for this purpose, and not shared with any other agencies.  

   • The spaces for OCA, FBI, MNU numbers may be left blank if you do not have one of these numbers.

2. Gather the following items.

   • A minimum size 9” x 12” envelope with adequate postage attached, addressed as follows:
     
     Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (O.S.P.I.)
     Fiscal Office
     P. O. Box 47200
     Olympia, WA   98504-7200

   • The fingerprint card, completed in accordance with the instructions in (1) above.

   • Your check in the amount of $46.25, payable to O.S.P.I.

   • Cash for fingerprinting service fee (generally, $10 - $15 depending upon the agency.)

   • One form of picture identification to show to the agency.

3. Identify the fingerprinting agency you will use, and make an appointment if required by the agency.  Some, but not all agencies that provide fingerprinting service are listed below.

   • WWU Campus Police (Bellingham): uses the digital process.

   • Bellingham Police Department, 505 Grand Ave., Bellingham.  No appointments given, drop in hours: Tuesdays 12:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. and Thursdays 9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

   • Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, 311 Grand Ave., Bellingham. No appointments given, drop in hours: Tuesdays 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and Thursdays 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.   Can process digitally or on a card.

   • Other local police departments and sheriff’s offices.  Call ahead to confirm when and if they do prints.

   • Washington State Patrol (Olympia): Contact the Customer Service Unit at (360) 534-2000  for details on location. The hours are 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. weekdays, except legal holidays. 

   NOTE: The WSP never rejects prints that they take.  If your prints are rejected several times for “poor print quality” we may suggest that you drive to Olympia WSP office.  This is the only WSP Office in the state that does fingerprinting.

4. Complete the fingerprinting process.

   • Take the completed fingerprint card and all other items listed in (2), to the fingerprinting agency for fingerprinting. Agencies will refuse to fingerprint unless you come prepared.

5. After you have mailed your prints submit your fingerprinting service fee receipt with name and student ID noted, to the Woodring College of Education Certification Office (Miller Hall 250) or mail to Certification Office, WWU, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA  98225-9090C. 

6. The fingerprint card will be rejected for these reasons: illegible handwriting, incomplete information, failure to include the fee, or if the fingerprints were not readable. If your fingerprints are difficult to read there may be several reprints necessary.

   • The rejected fingerprint card will be returned to you with instructions for re-submittal.

   • If you must reprint because fingerprints were not readable there is no additional OSPI fee; fingerprinting agency fees may apply.

Preparing Thoughtful, Knowledgeable, and Effective Educators
for a Diverse Society