Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Cards: Why Background Checks Matter When Hiring a Caregiver in Arizona
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Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Cards: Why Background Checks Matter When Hiring a Caregiver in Arizona

Published On
June 15, 2026

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When you hire a caregiver for an aging parent in Phoenix, Arcadia, or Tempe, you’re inviting someone into your loved one’s home, often during the most vulnerable moments of their day. The single most important question most families forget to ask isn’t about scheduling or pricing. It’s this: does this caregiver have a current Level 1 Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card?

In Arizona, the Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card is the highest tier of background check the state issues to people working with vulnerable populations, children, seniors, and adults with disabilities. It’s screened against a longer list of disqualifying offenses than a standard fingerprint card, processed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) with FBI participation, and required by Arizona law for direct-care workers in licensed home care, residential care, and nursing care settings. It’s not a “nice to have.” For agencies that take this seriously, every direct-care worker holds one before they step into a client’s home for the first time.

This guide explains what the Level 1 card actually verifies, how it differs from the standard card, what the application and renewal process looks like, why hiring locally matters, and the questions every Phoenix-area family should ask before signing a home care contract.

What a Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card Actually Verifies

Issued by Arizona DPS under A.R.S. § 41-1758.07, the Level 1 card is the result of a biometric criminal background check. The applicant’s fingerprints are compared against Arizona state criminal history records and the FBI’s national database. Disqualifiers, called “precluded offenses”, are listed in statute subsections B and C. They include felony offenses against vulnerable adults, child abuse, sexual offenses, certain violent crimes, fraud, theft, and drug trafficking, among others. DPS issues the Level 1 card only when the applicant’s record contains none of these offenses.

Level 1 vs. Standard Fingerprint Clearance Card, What’s the Difference

Both cards involve fingerprint-based background checks, but the Level 1 disqualifier list is significantly longer than the standard card’s list, and it covers more categories of vulnerable-population offenses. DPS began issuing Level 1 cards on July 1, 2009 specifically to provide stronger protection for children, seniors, and adults with disabilities.

Arizona law requires a Level 1 card, not a standard card, for anyone providing direct care in a residential care institution or nursing care institution, including anyone whose primary job responsibilities don’t include direct care but who occasionally provides it. “Direct care” is defined as medical services, nursing services, health-related services, or social services provided to a resident. In practice, that covers every in-home caregiver, CNA, home health aide, and skilled nurse working with seniors through a licensed agency.

How the Application and Renewal Process Works

A prospective caregiver applies through the DPS Public Services Portal and submits fingerprints electronically or by hard card. DPS compares the prints against state and FBI records and, if no precluded offenses are found, issues the Level 1 card, typically within a few weeks. Cards are valid for six years and must be renewed before expiration.

If an application is denied because of a record on file, the applicant can ask the Arizona Board of Fingerprinting for a “Good Cause Exception.” That process begins with an expedited review by Board staff. If the exception isn’t approved at that stage, the applicant can request an administrative hearing in Phoenix, conducted by an administrative law judge. The applicant has the opportunity to submit testimony showing rehabilitation and that they’re not a recidivist. Hearings take place between 20 and 45 days after the expedited review. A reputable home care agency tracks every caregiver’s card status closely, removes anyone whose card is suspended or expires, and asks targeted questions about any caregiver who has needed a Good Cause Exception.

Why a Fingerprint Card Beats an Online Background Check

Many families assume any home care agency “runs background checks,” and most do. But online background-check services pull from civil and criminal databases that are often incomplete, out of date, or limited to one or two jurisdictions. A name-based check can miss a record filed under an alias or a different jurisdiction. A fingerprint-based check matches on biometric identifiers and is run against the FBI’s national database, the difference is substantial.

Arizona has also strengthened protections beyond fingerprinting. Under HB 2764, in effect for 2025, home health agencies must verify that no employee is listed on the Arizona Adult Protective Services Registry, and any current employee found on the registry must be terminated. Combined with the Level 1 card requirement, that creates two independent layers of screening: federal and state criminal records on one side, and Arizona’s vulnerable-adult abuse and neglect registry on the other.

Why Locally Owned, Accredited Agencies Hold the Highest Standard

National franchises can vary in how strictly hiring standards are enforced across locations. A locally owned, state-licensed, Joint Commission–accredited agency in Phoenix has its own reputation tied to the quality of every hire, and the local owners are usually living in the same community as the clients they serve. At BrightStar Care of Phoenix NW/NE and Tempe, every direct-care caregiver holds a current Level 1 fingerprint clearance card before their first shift. Every case is overseen by a Registered Nurse from the first assessment forward. The agency is state licensed, has been Joint Commission Accredited, and is locally owned and operated, not a remote operator running an Arizona territory from out of state. Families in Phoenix, Arcadia, and Tempe can call 480-897-1166 to ask about hiring standards, RN oversight, and care planning.

What to Ask Before You Hire

Use these questions with any prospective home care agency or independent caregiver:

  1. Does every direct-care caregiver hold a current Level 1 Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card?
  2. Can you verify the card number and show me proof of current status?
  3. Are caregivers screened against the Arizona Adult Protective Services Registry?
  4. Is the agency state licensed and Joint Commission accredited?
  5. Who supervises the caregiver, and how often does a Registered Nurse evaluate the case?
  6. What’s your policy if a caregiver’s clearance is suspended or revoked during employment?
  7. Beyond fingerprinting, what reference checks, drug testing, and ongoing review do you do?

If you don’t get a clear, confident “yes” to question 1, keep looking.

Phoenix-Specific Context

Maricopa County’s older-adult population has grown substantially over the past decade, and the home care workforce has grown alongside it. With more agencies operating across Phoenix, Arcadia, and Tempe than ever before, the variance in hiring standards is real. Arizona’s regulatory framework, ADHS licensing, DPS clearance requirements, the Adult Protective Services Registry, and Joint Commission accreditation for top-tier agencies, gives families practical tools to evaluate providers. Use them. Don’t rely on a website testimonial or a neighbor’s word alone; verify the credentials directly.

Local Resources for Phoenix-Area Families

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a caregiver work in Arizona without a Level 1 fingerprint clearance card?

For some informal arrangements between private individuals, the state doesn’t always require a Level 1 card. But any caregiver employed by a licensed home care or home health agency who provides direct care to seniors must hold a current Level 1 clearance. If you’re hiring through an agency, ask to verify the card before care begins.

How long is a Level 1 fingerprint clearance card valid?

Six years. Caregivers must renew before expiration. A reputable agency tracks expirations and removes any caregiver whose card has lapsed until renewal is complete.

What is the Good Cause Exception process?

If an applicant has a disqualifying offense in their history, they can apply to the Arizona Board of Fingerprinting for a Good Cause Exception. The Board reviews the case, first via expedited review, then through an administrative hearing if the exception isn’t initially approved, to determine whether the applicant has been rehabilitated and is not a recidivist. Even when a caregiver is hired through this route, the original concerns are documented, and families are entitled to ask about them.

How does BrightStar Care of Phoenix NW/NE and Tempe screen caregivers beyond the fingerprint card?

Every caregiver holds a current Level 1 fingerprint clearance card, is checked against the Arizona Adult Protective Services Registry, undergoes reference checks, and is supervised by a Registered Nurse on every case. The agency is locally owned, state licensed, and has been Joint Commission Accredited. Families can call 480-897-1166 to learn more about hiring standards and care planning.

What should I do if I suspect a caregiver has a problematic past despite holding a card?

Trust your instincts. Contact the agency immediately and ask for a different caregiver. If you suspect abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult, call Arizona Adult Protective Services at 1-877-767-2385. Document specific incidents in writing with dates and details so you have a record to share with the agency and, if needed, with investigators.

Talk to a Phoenix-Area Agency That Verifies Every Card

If you’re researching home care for an aging parent in Phoenix, Arcadia, or Tempe and want to know exactly how a caregiver is screened, supervised, and held accountable, BrightStar Care of Phoenix NW/NE and Tempe is ready to walk you through the process. Call 480-897-1166 for a free in-home assessment with a Registered Nurse, with no minimum hour requirement.

Sources

  • Arizona Department of Public Safety, Fingerprint Clearance Card (azdps.gov)
  • Arizona Revised Statutes § 41-1758.07, Level I fingerprint clearance cards (azleg.gov)
  • Arizona Board of Fingerprinting, Difference between Level I and standard fingerprint clearance card (fingerprint.az.gov)
  • Arizona Board of Fingerprinting, Applying for a Good Cause Exception (fingerprint.az.gov)
  • JDP, HB 2764: Arizona Strengthens Homecare Background Checks for 2025
  • Arizona Department of Health Services, Home care licensing and regulations (azdhs.gov)