How Much Does It Cost to Get Fingerprinted?

If you’re arranging fingerprints for a nursing program, a new healthcare job, a professional license, or an out-of-state background check, the cost depends on what kind of fingerprinting the requesting organization requires.

A basic ink-card appointment is priced differently from electronic fingerprinting for a state background check. And if you choose a mobile appointment, travel and convenience may affect the total. The simplest first step is to check the instructions from your employer, licensing board, school, or agency. They determine what you need, and which fees may apply.

What does fingerprinting usually cost?

There isn’t one standard price for every fingerprinting appointment. You may see separate charges for fingerprint capture, a background check or agency processing, electronic submission, mailing, and travel.

For a sense of local pricing, published Atlanta-area examples include a fixed-location provider listing $35 for the first ink card and $15 for each additional card, and another listing $70 for two FD-258 cards. These are examples, not a universal rate or an apples-to-apples comparison: providers may include different numbers of cards or services. Check the current price and what it covers before booking.

For mobile service, B. Noted’s mobile FD-258 ink fingerprinting is $99 across Metro Atlanta. You can review the details on our mobile FD-258 fingerprinting service page.

1. Ink fingerprinting on FD-258 cards

With ink fingerprinting, a technician rolls your prints onto a paper card, commonly the FBI FD-258 applicant card. You may need one or more cards, depending on the instructions you received. The fingerprinting provider’s fee usually covers taking the impressions and preparing the card or cards; it does not necessarily cover a background check, agency processing, postage, or any fee the recipient requires.

A few details can change the quoted cost:

• The number of cards you need
• Whether the appointment is at a provider’s location or mobile
• Whether the provider supplies the cards
• Whether you need a report or agency processing in addition to the prints
• Whether the service is for one person or a group

Before comparing prices, ask what is included. A quote for fingerprint capture alone may not include a separate report or submission fee.

2. Electronic fingerprinting and live scan

Electronic fingerprinting, often called live scan, captures prints digitally. The result is generally submitted through a designated system or provider, rather than handed to you on a paper card. It can be convenient, but you usually can’t choose it just because it seems faster: the organization requesting your background check may require a specific method or approved location.

In Georgia, some employment, licensing, and other non-criminal-justice background checks use the Georgia Applicant Processing Service (GAPS). The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s published fee schedule, effective January 1, 2025, lists a $42 fee for a Georgia/FBI check, or $51.99 through GAPS. The schedule also lists different amounts for other check types, including volunteer checks. These figures apply to the listed Georgia services; they are not a universal price for all electronic fingerprinting.

If your employer or licensing board gave you instructions for GAPS or a particular vendor, follow those instructions. A general live-scan appointment may not satisfy the requirement.

3. FBI Identity History Summary requests

A personal FBI Identity History Summary is another distinct service. The FBI’s fee for an individual request is $18, according to its Identity History Summary FAQ. That is the FBI’s fee, not necessarily the total cost if you use a fingerprinting provider or an FBI-approved channeler.

Channelers and service providers may charge their own fees, which vary. Read the full quote carefully to see whether fingerprint capture, submission, and report delivery are included. Also confirm that a personal FBI report is what your recipient wants; it is not interchangeable with every employment or licensing background check.

What does mobile fingerprinting add to the cost?

A mobile provider comes to your home, office, school, or another agreed location. The price may reflect travel time and the convenience of not needing to get to a fingerprinting office. For a busy healthcare worker between shifts, a nursing applicant without easy transportation, or an employer coordinating several people, that can make the visit worth the added cost.

B. Noted charges $99 for mobile ink fingerprinting in Metro Atlanta. The appointment is for FD-258 ink fingerprinting: we come to you, take the impressions, and provide completed cards. The requesting agency’s background-check or processing fees, if any, are separate. If you have questions about the number of cards or a particular agency’s instructions, share those details when you arrange the visit.

Which option should you choose?

Start with the exact wording in your instructions. Look for the required card or method, the recipient’s name, and directions about where the prints must be taken or submitted.

• If the instructions specify an FD-258 card, arrange ink fingerprinting and ask how many cards you need.
• If they specify Georgia GAPS or an approved electronic vendor, follow that process rather than booking a general ink-card appointment.
• If they ask for an FBI Identity History Summary, check whether they accept a direct FBI request or require a channeler.
• If the instructions are unclear, contact the organization that issued them before paying for an appointment.

This simple check can prevent paying for a service that doesn’t meet the requirement. It’s particularly helpful for travel nurses, nursing students, contractors, and licensed professionals, whose background-check instructions can differ by employer, school, state, or board.

What should I ask before booking?

A few practical questions can help you understand the full cost:

1. Does the fee cover fingerprint capture, the card or cards, or electronic submission?
2. Is a background-check or agency fee separate?
3. How many cards or prints does the recipient require?
4. Is mobile travel included, or does the provider quote it separately?
5. Will I receive the completed cards, or are they submitted on my behalf?
6. Does the recipient require a particular provider, location, or submission method?

If you’re booking for several employees or students, ask whether the provider offers group scheduling or a volume rate. For workplace appointments, confirming the required process ahead of time can help avoid delays for everyone.

Is B. Noted’s $99 mobile service right for you?

B. Noted provides mobile FD-258 ink fingerprinting for $99 across Metro Atlanta. We come to your home, office, school, hospital, or care facility, so you don’t have to fit a trip to a fingerprinting location into an already full day. The service is for fingerprint capture and completed FD-258 cards; follow your requesting organization’s directions for submitting them and obtaining any report.

B. Noted is operated by Rey and Yoshi, a husband-and-wife team, and has more than 250 five-star Google reviews. We regularly help healthcare, education, legal, and business professionals with mobile services. You can book a fingerprinting appointment online and share your location and agency requirements so the appointment can be arranged with the right details.

If you’re also comparing mobile appointment fees for document signings, see How Much Does a Mobile Notary Cost in Atlanta?. To learn more about B. Noted’s notary services, from wills and powers of attorney to affidavits, visit our mobile notary page, and to learn more about the team, visit our homepage.

The bottom line

Fingerprinting costs depend on the required method and what the quoted price includes. Ink-card appointments, electronic background checks, FBI Identity History Summary requests, and mobile fingerprinting are not the same service, and fees for the capture, agency processing, report, and travel may be separate.

Check your instructions first, then ask for a clear total. If you need mobile FD-258 ink fingerprinting in Metro Atlanta, B. Noted’s service is $99, with completed cards provided after the appointment.