If you’re applying for a California Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) permit through the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), one critical step you cannot skip is completing a Live Scan fingerprint submission. At Santa Clarita Live Scan, we specialize in helping applicants navigate this important requirement quickly, accurately, and without unnecessary delay

In this post, we’ll walk you through what Live Scan is, why it matters for your CCW application, and how to make sure you get it done right the first time.

WHAT IS LIVE SCAN FINGERPRINTING?

Live Scan is a digital fingerprinting system used by California law enforcement agencies to submit your fingerprints electronically to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Unlike traditional ink fingerprinting, Live Scan provides:

• Faster processing times

• Clearer, higher-quality prints

• Secure, direct submission to government databases

For CCW applicants in Los Angeles County, the LASD requires a completed Live Scan before your application can move forward.

Why Live Scan Matters for Your CCW Permit

The fingerprinting process verifies your identity and checks for any criminal history that may affect your eligibility for a CCW permit. If your Live Scan isn’t completed correctly, it could delay your application by weeks or even months.

That’s why working with a provider who understands the CCW process inside and out can save you time, stress, and frustration.

• Expertise in LASD CCW Requirements – We work with CCW applicants every day and know the process in detail.

• Fast, Accurate Fingerprinting – Our state-of-the-art Live Scan machines produce clear prints that meet DOJ and FBI standards.

• Track Your Progress in Real Time – Get instant confirmation of your submission and monitor your application status.

• Convenient Location & Flexible Scheduling – Serving Santa Clarita, Valencia, Stevenson Ranch, and nearby communities, with both walk-ins and appointments available.

WHAT TO BRING TO CCW LIVE SCAN APPOINTMENT

When you arrive at Santa Clarita Live Scan, you’ll need:

1. A valid government-issued photo ID (Driver’s License, State ID, or Passport)

2. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department CCW Live Scan Request Form (provided by LASD)

3. Payment – We accept cash, debit cards, and major credit cards

HOW THE PROCESS WORKS

1. We Verify Your Identity – Our technician checks your ID and CCW Live Scan request form.

2. We Capture Your Prints Digitally – Using our Live Scan equipment, we take multiple impressions to ensure accuracy.

3. We Submit Your Prints Securely – Your fingerprints are transmitted directly to the DOJ, FBI, AND THE FIREARMS BUREAU 

4. You Track Your Submission – Using our real-time tracking feature, you can follow your submission status online.

AVOIDING DELAYS IN CCW APPLICATION

Many CCW application delays happen because of fingerprinting errors — often from inexperienced operators or incorrect form completion. By choosing Santa Clarita Live Scan, you reduce the risk of rejections or resubmissions, keeping your application moving forward.

Final Thoughts

If you’re applying for your California Concealed Carry Weapons permit in Los Angeles County, don’t take chances with your Live Scan. Work with a trusted provider who understands the process, meets all LASD requirements, and can guide you every step of the way.

You may check your status by visiting this link https://applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov/  Please make sure you have your ATI# (located at the bottom of your Live Scan form) and your date of birth.  You will need both your ATI number and birth date available.

The results are sent electronically only to your employer or requesting agency within 24 to 72 hours after fingerprinting unless there is an additional review required by the agency to which your prints were submitted. Santa Clarita Live Scan does not receive your results.

If an applicant’s fingerprints match fingerprints in the database, a manual review by a technician is initiated. This manual process may take an indeterminate amount of time. Again, it’s important to clarify that Santa Clarita Live Scan does not control this process.

If your record shows “completed,” then the requesting agency has received its response. If it shows that it’s “in process,” then you must wait until the record shows “completed.” We have no control over when the results are submitted to the requesting agency. For any questions, please reach out directly to the requesting agency, school district, or business entity. It’s important to emphasize again that Santa Clarita Live Scan solely facilitates the submission process and does not have access to the records. Only the requesting agency possesses the authority to access and manage the results.

The biggest delay in providing excellent service to our customers is the lack of the customer being prepared for the process. Many arrive without the proper paperwork, have paperwork not filled in, or do not bring proper ID.

Our What to Bring page is a good resource for applicants to review before arriving.

99% of the applicants will need to bring 3 copies(completely filled out of course). Why do you ask? One copy is for us, one copy is for you and one copy goes to the employer or agency if requested.

Proper photo identifications is another area that creates questions. Our Identification page clearly shows what proper identification means. If you are bringing a minor without ID there are steps you can take to prove identity.

With your preparation, we can streamline the process and have you completed in just five minutes!

If you have any questions about the Live Scan process, please give us a call at 661-294-8048

Low-quality, poor quality, or rejected fingerprints are the generic terms used when the fingerprint quality doesn’t meet the DOJ or FBI requirements.

Often live scan applicants come to us and have been told they have poor or no fingerprints. With our process, we can quickly determine if you have low-quality fingerprints and advise you on how to increase your chances of passing on your resubmission.

The following are some circumstances that can increase the chance of fingerprints being rejected:

Age  - skin becomes smoother, and fingerprint ridges become more challenging to capture.

Frequently washing/disinfecting hands  -   We see this with nurses, doctors, and other health care professionals.  School professionals and preschool.

Sports  - rock climbing, weight-lifting, rock climbing

Musical instruments  -  Piano, violist, and others have shown worn fingerprints.

Jobs that handle paper, chemicals like bleach, or antibacterial products that dry hands

Ethnicity  -  Some groups can suffer from worn or soft skin.   

We have also found that poor technique can play a role in receiving a rejection. That is why you want to make sure that the facility you use has certified fingerprint rollers that have received training on the latest fingerprinting techniques.

If we perform the fingerprint process, we provide our applicants with a letter when we anticipate that you will receive a rejection notice explaining the “what do I do now” process. We also take the time during your visit to show you why your prints could be rejected plus samples of good-quality fingerprints.

With over 1 Million fingerprint impressions taken, Santa Clarita Live Scan is proud of our less than .01% rejection rate. If you have been rejected by another live scan facility, please give us a call at 661-294-8048 to see if we can assist you with passing your next live scan fingerprinting process.

With Live Scan Fingerprinting becoming a regular part of the pre-employment process, many employers can and do cover the cost of fingerprinting. But when you are Live Scan fingerprinting for a license(nurse, lawyer, security guard, etc) you will be responsible for all fees unless the agency collects those fees as part of your licensing application.

Also many times, employers or agencies have a billing number that covers the cost of the Level of Service fees for either the DOJ Fees or FBI Fees but not the rolling fees. This billing number is indicated by a six-digit number located on your Request for Live Scan form in the billing number section.

Please always verify with your employer or agency if they pay or possibly reimburse the fees associated with fingerprinting.

If your fees are not reimbursed or covered by your employer, we suggest talking with your tax professional about the possible deductions associated with those costs when filing your income taxes.