Volunteering is a powerful way to give back to your community, especially when working with children, seniors, or vulnerable populations. But in Ohio, many volunteer positions require a fingerprint background check to ensure the safety and well-being of those being served.
At FastFingerprints, we help volunteers across the state quickly and easily complete their required background checks. Whether you’re helping in a school, nonprofit, or youth organization, this guide will help you understand when fingerprinting is required and how to get started.
🔍 Why Are Volunteers in Ohio Fingerprinted?
Fingerprinting provides a more secure and accurate background check than name-based searches. It ensures that individuals with disqualifying offenses are not placed in sensitive volunteer roles—especially those involving:
- Children (schools, camps, daycare)
- The elderly (assisted living, hospice)
- Individuals with disabilities
- Financial or legal responsibility
The requirement for fingerprinting is often tied to Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 109.572, which mandates background checks for individuals working or volunteering in regulated environments.
✅ Common Situations Where Volunteer Fingerprinting Is Required
🏫 Schools and School Districts
- Classroom helpers, field trip chaperones, library aides, etc.
- Required by Ohio Department of Education (ODE)
- May require BCI or BCI + FBI background checks depending on residency
👧 Daycare and Youth Programs
- Volunteers with access to children in licensed childcare centers or after-school programs
- Required by Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS)
🏥 Healthcare Facilities and Hospice Centers
- Volunteers interacting with patients or residents
- Often required under facility policies and healthcare board guidelines
🧑⚖️ Court-Appointed and Legal Volunteers
- Guardians ad litem, CASA volunteers, or those assisting with legal paperwork
- Background checks ensure eligibility and compliance with local court standards
🏦 Nonprofits Handling Finances or Personal Data
- Volunteers working in roles that involve money management or sensitive data
- Some organizations conduct fingerprint checks as a best practice—even when not required by law
📋 What Type of Background Check Do Volunteers Need?
The two main fingerprint-based checks in Ohio are:
- BCI: State of Ohio background check (required if you’ve lived in Ohio for 5+ years)
- FBI: National background check (required if you’ve lived outside Ohio in the past 5 years)
Some agencies may require both BCI and FBI checks depending on the volunteer’s role.
📝 What You’ll Need for Your Appointment
- A valid government-issued photo ID
- The correct ORI number or reason code (provided by the school or agency)
- Payment (some organizations provide a code to cover the fee)
- The name of the agency receiving your results
🏆 Why Volunteers Choose FastFingerprints
- Authorized WebCheck provider for BCI and FBI background checks
- Dozens of locations across Ohio for easy access
- Walk-in and appointment options available
- Same-day processing in most cases
- Friendly, trained staff ready to help you navigate the process
Whether you’re helping in a classroom or volunteering at a hospice, we make fingerprinting fast, easy, and compliant.
📬 Ready to Get Fingerprinted?
👉 Schedule your appointment now
📞 Or call 614.457.8900 to find a location near you or confirm what you need for your volunteer role.