If you’ve ever been asked to provide fingerprints for a background check, you may have encountered two terms: Live Scan and traditional fingerprinting. While both serve the same purpose—capturing your fingerprints for identification and background checks—the methods, speed, accuracy, and convenience vary significantly.
Understanding the difference can help you know what to expect, especially if you’re applying for a job, professional license, or volunteer position. In this post, we’ll break down how each process works, how they compare, and why Live Scan is quickly becoming the preferred choice.
What Is Traditional Fingerprinting?
Traditional fingerprinting involves using ink and paper to capture your fingerprints. Each finger is rolled in ink and then pressed onto a fingerprint card. That card is then mailed or hand-delivered to the appropriate agency, such as the Department of Justice (DOJ) or Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), where it’s manually scanned and reviewed.
This method has been used for decades and is still accepted in certain cases, especially when Live Scan isn’t available or required.
What Is Live Scan Fingerprinting?
Live Scan is a digital fingerprinting technology that captures high-resolution images of your fingerprints electronically—without ink. These digital prints are then submitted directly to state and federal agencies through secure electronic channels.
Live Scan fingerprinting is faster, cleaner, and often more accurate than traditional methods. It’s widely used for employment, licensing, immigration, adoption, and legal purposes.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Here’s how Live Scan and traditional fingerprinting stack up across several important factors:
1. Method of Capture
- Traditional: Ink is applied to your fingers and rolled onto a paper fingerprint card.
- Live Scan: A digital scanner captures fingerprint images electronically.
Advantage: Live Scan – Cleaner and more efficient with less mess.
2. Submission Process
- Traditional: The fingerprint card must be mailed or hand-delivered to the requesting agency, which can take several days.
- Live Scan: Fingerprints are transmitted electronically to the DOJ, FBI, or other agencies within minutes.
Advantage: Live Scan – Faster delivery and reduced chance of documents being lost or delayed.
3. Processing Time
- Traditional: Background check results may take 2–3 weeks or longer, depending on mail times and manual processing.
- Live Scan: Results typically return within 1–7 business days.
Advantage: Live Scan – Rapid turnaround helps meet deadlines for employment or licensing.
4. Accuracy and Quality
- Traditional: Ink smudges, uneven pressure, or card damage can lead to poor quality prints, increasing the risk of rejection.
- Live Scan: Digital scanning allows for immediate quality checks and retakes, improving accuracy and reducing rejections.
Advantage: Live Scan – Real-time adjustments mean fewer errors and re-scans.
5. Security and Privacy
- Traditional: Physical cards may be lost or tampered with in transit.
- Live Scan: Data is encrypted and securely transmitted to designated agencies.
Advantage: Live Scan – Electronic encryption enhances security and compliance with privacy laws.
6. Convenience
- Traditional: May require appointments at a police station or specialized facility, with longer processing times.
- Live Scan: Offered at many independent providers, mobile services, and walk-in centers with same-day availability.
Advantage: Live Scan – Easier access and flexibility in scheduling.
When Is Traditional Fingerprinting Still Used?
Despite Live Scan’s advantages, traditional ink fingerprinting is still required or accepted in certain situations:
- Out-of-state or federal applications where Live Scan systems aren’t integrated
- International background checks for visa or immigration purposes
- Manual FBI background checks when a digital method isn’t accepted
- In locations where Live Scan services are not available
Some government forms may still request a standard fingerprint card (FD-258), especially for mail-in submissions.
Which Method Should You Choose?
In most cases, the agency requesting your fingerprints will specify whether you need Live Scan or traditional fingerprinting. Always follow their instructions closely to avoid delays.
Choose Live Scan when:
- It’s accepted or required by the requesting agency
- You want faster results
- You want a cleaner, more accurate experience
- You’re applying for a job, license, or role in California or other Live Scan-supporting states
Choose traditional fingerprinting when:
- The agency specifically requests ink fingerprint cards
- You’re applying to a jurisdiction that doesn’t accept Live Scan
- You’re submitting a background check internationally
Final Thoughts
While both Live Scan and traditional fingerprinting serve the same function—capturing your fingerprints for identity verification or background checks—the speed, convenience, and accuracy of Live Scan make it the preferred method for most modern applications.
Still, it’s important to verify which method is required by the organization requesting the background check. Showing up with the wrong form or using the wrong process could delay your job offer, license, or application.
If Live Scan is available to you, it’s almost always the better choice—faster, cleaner, and more secure. Be sure to bring your request form and valid ID, and you’ll be done in minutes, not weeks. We recommend newport beach livescan.
