Delaware State Background Check

Choose the purpose before choosing the appointment

Delaware’s State Bureau of Identification uses fingerprints for certified criminal-history reports. A personal report is for the requesting citizen; a legally mandated employment, licensing or other program needs that program’s service code and destination. Start by asking the organization exactly which check it requires. Do not substitute a court-name search, a printed fingerprint card or your own FBI summary for an agency-directed submission.

For professional licensure, Delaware’s Division of Professional Regulation publishes profession-specific codes. It warns that incorrect registration information or the wrong code can require a new background check and another payment. Confirm the profession and applicant details against the agency’s instructions before paying, and keep a copy of the registration confirmation.

Budget for the actual product

• Certified Delaware history: $72.
• Certified Delaware plus federal history, where mandated by law: $85.
• Personal Delaware history service code: 27RVGT; it does not satisfy legally mandated agency checks.
• Printed fingerprint card only: code 1111G2, $30; this does not purchase an SBI background check.

These are different products, not upgrade levels for an informal people search. Ask whether the requesting organization pays the charge and whether it needs the result sent directly to it. If you already bought the personal service but now need a licensing check, resolve the required code with the licensing agency before arranging another appointment.

Register through the State Police appointment link

Open the State Police page in Sources and follow its IdentoGO scheduling link. Use the supplied service code, select an enrollment location, and review the accepted identification and payment methods on the registration page. SBI lists Dover at 600 S. Bay Road and Georgetown at 546 S. Bedford Street, with additional partner locations.

Mail-in applicants must use the linked IdentoGO process; SBI warns that mail sent to its locations will be delayed. As of October 2, 2026, SBI announces a transition at all locations to remotely assisted SMART-E fingerprint kiosks beginning October 5. Check the appointment’s instructions before travel. For SBI questions, call 302-739-5884.

The announced kiosk workflow captures fingerprints and a facial image, scans government-issued ID and takes electronic payment, with a remote agent available to help. For questions about that new process, the September 30 announcement provides 302-739-2134 and [email protected]. Keep your program’s required documents with your appointment confirmation; the technology change does not remove the service-code requirement.

Check who will receive the result

Professional Regulation’s checks are for Delaware licensure and cannot be transferred to another state or repurposed for employment. The division generally cannot give applicants or other agencies copies; its stated exception allows an applicant a copy to dispute charges for Delaware licensure. A recipient’s acceptance rule therefore matters as much as obtaining fingerprints.

SBI issues the personal report only to its requesting citizen. For foreign use, its instructions require further sealing at the Dover office before submission for apostille/authentication. The general SBI page does not publish one universal turnaround for every service. Retain the enrollment reference and ask the recipient or SBI about a delayed result rather than treating an appointment receipt as a completed clearance.

Review errors through the owner of the report

For your own federal history, the FBI offers an Identity History Summary for review, correction or updating, not an employment or licensing substitute. Its personal-summary fee is $18; electronic requests receive an electronic response with an optional mailed copy. Fingerprints remain necessary. This request does not automatically cause Delaware or a licensing board to receive a result.

If a Delaware result appears wrong, contact SBI with the report reference and ask how to submit the disputed entry and supporting court disposition. For a licensing report, use the Division’s dispute-copy exception. An FBI challenge is free and should identify the inaccurate or incomplete information with available proof. Separately, a third-party employment report can be disputed with its screening company; request the report used for the decision and identify the exact error.