Once you are actually in the CPA license application part of the CPA process, the application will tell you what to do. It will tell you how and where to take the ethics exam and how to do the fingerprints. The application will contain a page that you have to fill out and take with you do the fingerprinting place. I did mine in California but most likely you will be doing it via LiveScan, which is a machine that scans your prints and sends them digitally to the DOJ/FBI for processing. The application form will give you directions and a link to where you can find a local place to get your Live Scan done. It can be a police station, court house, postal annex… You have to pay for it when you go as it is not part of your application fee. I paid $75 and I don't know if that is the going rate. I did mine at the local postal annex, which is like a MailBox Etc. store. Just make sure you bring proper identification. Your name and address should match what is on the application.
For any reason, your state (or if you're applying as an out of state candidate) requires you to submit fringerprints via hard copy. The CPA licensing application will give you instructions on how to order fingerprinting cards. They will likely issue you two cards. Same as LiveScan, follow the instructions on how to locate a place to get your fingerprints done. I've done this for another purpose not for CPA but it's all the same. I went to a different postal annex that only did the manual prints. Bring the cards and identification to the fingerprinting place and they will do manual ink on paper prints for you. I paid $30 for these prints. Not sure why there's such a big price discrepancy.
Both employess at the two different postal annexes I went to were also notaries. They notarized my forms for no additional cost but I do not believe it is necessary. If you did it via LiveScan, the postal annex employee will have you read the computer screen to validate your info and he will click on the “submit” button to send your prints electronically. All you have to do is send in the form with the postal employee's signature on it along with your application. For fingerprinting cards, just follow the instructions.
Don't worry. Fingerprinting is probably the easiest and most straighforward part of the CPA journey. You'll be fine! But hope this helps.
B - 83 Done
A - 88 Done
R - 81 Done
F - 77 Done
Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done
Licensed-May 2013!
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