Accessing the Background Check System (BCS)
DSHS Authorized Licensed Facilities, Contractors, Vendors and Providers
- Please copy the link below and paste into Google Chrome address bar https://secureaccess.wa.gov/dshs/bcs
- You will be directed to the BCS Welcome page. Click “Okay.”
- You will then be directed to the BCS User Agreement. Click "I Agree."
- Please refer to our training materials below if you do not have a SAW account or contact BCCU with questions.
Active Directory (email@agency.wa.gov) Employees
- Please copy the link below and paste into Google Chrome address bar https://bcs.dshs.wa.gov/
- You will be directed to the BCS Welcome page. Click “Okay.”
- You will then be directed to the BCS User Agreement. Click "I Agree."
- You should now have an active profile in BCS.
- Please refer to our training materials below or contact BCCU with questions.
BCS User Guides and Training
User Guides and Training Materials
The Background Check System works best in GOOGLE CHROME internet browser.
Entity
- Logging into BCS Using SecureAccess Washington (SAW) (6/2021) - Instructions on how to login to your account.
- Entity User Guide (1/2024) - Instructions on how to submit, review status, and retrieve background check results.
- Entity Admin User Guide (9/2024) - Instructions for the Primary Account Administrators (PAA) on managing account and users.
- Instructions on Submitting Fingerprint Hard Cards to BCCU (Effective June 25, 2018)
Applicant
- Online Background Check Authorization Form Guide (12/2020) - Instructions for applicants when completing the online Background Check Authorization form. Applicants do not need a SAW account to complete the online form.
Additional Guides and Resources
- BCS ALTSA/DDA Lookup Tool Guide (4/2020)
- BCS DOH LTC Lookup Tool Guide (7/2024)
- BCS Oversight Guide (4/2020)
-
BCS Training PowerPoint (4/2020)
BCS Training Sign-Ups
BCS User Training- this training will cover how to submit, review, and retrieve background check results as well as commonly asked questions about the background check process. Please check back soon for updates.
Newsletter Archive
BCCU launched a quarterly newsletter in 2022. Our newsletter keeps our users informed about Background Check System (BCS) updates and topics. You can subscribe to our ListServ to receive the newsletter.
You will find past editions of The BCCU Buzz below:
- 2024 Editions
-
2023 Editions
- October 2023
- July 2023
- April 2023
- January 2023
Enhancements
The Background Check System (BCS) went live in June of 2018. The Background Check Central Unit (BCCU) is committed to continuously improving BCS for its customers. Below you will find recent enhancements and issues resolved in BCS that impact our customers.
| Date | Issue Resolved (IR) or Enhancement (E) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 11/19/2024 | Applicant Packets (IR) | Page stamps on PDFs are now visible on watermarked pages. |
| 11/19/2024 | Email Results (IR) | The landing page for downloading emailed results no longer accepts improperly formatted dates. |
| 11/19/2024 | User Management (E) | Fingerprint inquiries for Inquiry Type Groups with a contractor ORI now ask if the applicant is a contractor when entities submit applications. |
| 7/23/2024 | BCS Inquiry Statuses (E) | Inquiries are no longer expired for lack of fingerprints when there is a future fingerprint appointment, or there has been an appointment within the past three days. |
| 6/25/2024 | BCS Inquiry Statuses (E) |
WIN inquiries that are in Pending Additional Information status for more than 6 months are now expired. |
| 6/25/2024 | BCS User Access Request Form (E) | Updated verbiage on online BCS Access Request form for better understanding. |
| 6/25/2024 | User Management (E) |
|
| 5/28/2024 | User Management (E) | Inquiries now show who made the FP continue decision, and when they made it. |
| 2/27/2024 | Background Check Authorization Form (E) | SSNs with the same number repeating, such as 111-11-1111, are no longer accepted as valid. |
| 2/27/2024 | BCS Inquiry Statuses (E) | The help text for the Status column on the Entity Home page has been updated with an explanation of the various expired statuses. |
| 1/23/2024 | Background Check Authorization Form (IR) | Alias middle names now display properly on the Background Check Application review page. |
| 1/23/2024 | Background Check Authorization Form (E) | A link to the video tutorial for the Background Check Application Form has been added to the online form instructions. |
| 1/23/2024 | BCS Inquiry Statuses (E) | The status for expired inquiries has been reworded to make the reason for expiration clearer. |
| 1/23/2024 | BCS User Access Request Form (E) |
There is now an electronic version of the User Access Request Form at https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/bcs/userAccessRequest |
| 11/28/2023 | Background Check Authorization Form (IR) |
A single trailing space no longer causes a validation error on the online Background Check Authorization Form. |
| 11/28/2023 | Fingerprint Appointment Form and Reject Notice (E) |
The Idemia URL for scheduling a fingerprint appointment has changed, and the Fingerprint Appointment Packet and Notification of Rejected Fingerprint letter have been updated. The old URL will continue to work until the end of the year. |
| 10/24/2023 | User Management (E) | The State Employee - RHC Inquiry Type Group may now perform fingerprint background checks. |
| 10/24/2023 | Background Check Authorization Form (E) |
DC is now listed as “District of Columbia/Washington DC” in BCS for the state dropdowns. |
| 10/24/2023 | Background Check Authorization Form (E) |
When saving the Background Check Authorization Form the email sent to applicants now says “saved” instead of “submitted”. |
| 8/22/2023 | FBI Rap Sheets (IR) | The stamp in the footer of FBI rap sheets is now shorter to avoid covering text. |
| 8/22/2023 | Background Check Authorization Form (IR) |
The Background Check Authorization Form no longer allows signature dates older than 90 days. |
| 8/22/2023 | Disqualifying Crimes List (E) | The disqualifying crimes list for DSHS agencies has been updated with the addition of “False statements, fraud RCW 74.09.230 (5 or more years)”, “Hate Crime”, “Permitting Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor”, “Theft of a firearm (5 or more years)”, “Trafficking RCW 9A.40.100”, and “Promoting Travel for Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor. |
| 7/25/2023 | User Management (IR) | Users with View Only roles may archive inquiries with their non-View Only roles. |
| 7/25/2023 | Admin System Settings (E) | The Background Check Authorization Form page may be put into maintenance mode, preventing new applications from being submitted and displaying a maintenance message. |
| 2/28/2023 | User Management (E) | When adding an entity user with a wa.gov email address, BCS will check to see if the user already exists under an alias email address before trying to create a new user. |
| 2/28/2023 | Result Letter (E) | The contact info for RCPP findings has been updated to reflect the current RCPP contact. |
If you have any questions regarding BCS, please email us at bccuinquiry@dshs.wa.gov.
Policy Questions
If you have any of the questions listed below, then you will need to reach out to your Program’s Policy Contact.
- What type of background check to submit
- What your renewal schedule is
- How to complete a Character, Competency, or Suitability Review
- What documentation your licensor requires you to keep on file
BCCU cannot keep track of all the different policies for all our oversight programs, but your Program Policy Contact will have the information that you need.
If you do not know who your Program Policy Contact is, then please contact us at BCCUinquiry@dshs.wa.gov and we would be happy to locate their contact information for you.
Making a Change?
- Change of Ownership (CHOW)
- Change of Location
- Change of Business Structure
When you go through a license change, your old background check account closes and a new one is opened under the new license. Additional guidance on this process can be found in the fact sheet below.