Announcement:
Effective 11/01/2023, the Department of Health and the Department of Family and Community Services are implementing new background check variance applications. Applicants seeking a variance for an employer/facility under the oversight of the Department of Health need to complete the Department of Health Background Check Variance Application. Applicants seeking a variance for foster care, adoption, or guardianship subsides, under the oversight of the Office of Children’s Services, need to complete the Department of Family and Community Services Background Check Variance Application. Copies of these applications can be found under the “All Users” section of this page.
Both departments will continue to process variance applications submitted on the old background check variance application until 01/31/2024.
Ongoing:
If you have any questions or feedback regarding the new variance applications, please email us at bcpvariance@alaska.gov.
The Background Check Program and the Chair of the Variance Committee are now offering a monthly webinar regarding the Department of Health's Background Check Variance Application Process.
This training is intended for individual’s seeking a background check variance or for providers assisting individuals through the background check variance process.
For future dates and instructions to register please visit our Provider Resources Section.
Background Check System (NABCS) Access
Provider Portal (Prospective Employer-Submitted BCP Applications)
If you are an employer who has been granted access to NABCS, please use the provider portal to submit applications.
Individual Applicants: This option is currently not available.
State Division employees: If you are a State of Alaska employee who has been granted access to NABCS please use https://nabcs.dhss.ak.local.
Remember: Incomplete applications will not be processed. Applications remaining incomplete after 30 days will be closed without further notice. A complete application includes a completed application form, payment of applicable fees, and fingerprint card, if applicable. If your application is closed due to being incomplete, you will need to submit a complete new application including applicable fees and fingerprint card. Please remember any fees paid to the Background Check Program are non-refundable.
Please note: If you are having difficulties with NABCS, please contact the Background Check Program at 907-334-4475 or BCUnit@alaska.gov.
If you have programmatic questions, such as, who is required to have a background check, or who needs a new provider account, contact your oversight division point of contact. The Division Contact List is located both on this website (listed below) and on the NABCS Home screen. To access this list on NABCS, select the Help link located at the upper right hand corner of your home screen and select the Division Oversight Agency Contact link.
BCP No Refund Policy
All Background Check Program fees are non-refundable.
System Guides
The Background Check Program has developed the following guides and forms for the New Alaska Background Check System (NABCS):
Individual Applicants:
- This option is currently not available.
Providers:
- Provider User Guide
- NABCS New Provider User Account instructions
- New Provider User Registration Form
- Employment Verification Instructions
- How To: Terminate Expired Applications
- How To: Choose the Right Position Category
- How To: Separate Employment/Association
- Eligibility Determination Complete Guide
- Variance Extension Request
- Variance Transfer Request
Provider Resources:
Background Check Variance Application Process Webinar:
This webinar is intended for individual’s seeking a background check variance or for providers assisting individuals through the background check variance process.
The webinars for 2024 will take place on the dates below and will run from 10:30am to 12:00pm AKST:
- January 18th
- February 15th
- March 21th
- April 25th
- May 16th
- June 20th
To register for this webinar, please email BCPvariance@alaska.gov. Please use “Background Check Variance Webinar” as the subject line and provide your names and the email addresses you would like the webinar invitations sent to.
Division Oversights:
- Division User Guide
- Division Oversight - Variance Extension/Transfer Request
All Users:
- Basic Instructions for All Application Submissions
- Release of Information and Privacy Statement
- Fingerprint Card Instructions
- Division Contact list
- Fingerprinting before submitting a NABCS application
- Department of Health Background Check Variance Application
- Department of Health Background Check Variance Application Letter of Recommendation Sample Form
- Department of Family and Community Service Background Check Variance Application – Foster Care, Adoption, and Guardianship Subsidies
- Department of Family and Community Service Background Check Variance Application Letter of Recommendation Sample Form
- Background Check Redetermination Request
- Barrier Crime Matrix 01-01-2020
DISCLAIMER: This matrix has been developed based on the statutes and regulations that the Background Check Program uses to evaluate applications. It is a reliable tool for determining barrier time frames. However, should there be any discrepancy between this list and applicable regulations, the statutes and regulations always control.
Mailing Address:
You may mail fingerprint cards and/or payment to the Background check Program at the following mailing address:
Background Check Program
4601 Business Park Blvd., Bldg. K
Anchorage, AK 99503
Background Check Statutes:
The current statute governing the background checks system used by the Department of Health is AS 47.05.300–47.05.390.
Background Check Regulations:
The current background check regulations, including but not limited to identification of barrier crimes and conditions, variance request processes, and monitoring and notification requirements.
7 AAC 10.900-7 AAC 10.990.
If you are having any difficulties with NABCS, please contact the BCP at 907-334-4475 or BCUnit@alaska.gov. If you have programmatic questions, such as who is required to have a background check, or need a new provider account, contact your oversight division. Contact information is available on the Division Oversight Agency Contact List.
