AHCA Background Screening: Your Complete Guide

Thomas Fine - September 20, 2024

The AHCA background screening is a unique and in-depth background screening process that is utilized by Florida’s Agency for Healthcare Administration. Every individual who wishes to work in a healthcare facility or those who will be working with vulnerable populations, such as children, the disabled, and the elderly, must complete an AHCA background screening. 

It can be difficult to find complete information about this background screening process online, which is why our complete guide is here to tell you everything you need to know about the AHCA background screening process.

What Is the AHCA?

The AHCA is Florida’s Agency for Healthcare Administration. This agency oversees and enforces the fundamental rights of individuals receiving healthcare services in dedicated healthcare facilities, regulates home healthcare services, and upholds the rights of vulnerable populations who may need special needs care.

Florida’s AHCA also oversees background screening for individuals seeking employment in healthcare facilities and related careers, including home healthcare nurses and special needs caretakers. 

For individuals who have obtained applicable medical licensure and certifications and are working their way through the hiring process, the AHCA background screening is the final step, in addition to drug tests in many places, to ensure they are safe to work with vulnerable populations and being approved to start work in their chosen facility.

What Is an AHCA Background Screening?

The AHCA background screening is a necessary background check that primarily looks at criminal records for any individual who wishes to be employed by a healthcare facility or other company that provides services to vulnerable populations. 

In most cases, an AHCA background screening includes a Level 2 criminal background check, which involves fingerprinting and the review of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Background Screening Unit.

All results from AHCA background screenings are kept on file with the AHCA’s background screening Clearinghouse.

Who Needs to Submit an AHCA Background Screening?

AHCA background screenings are unique to individuals who wish to work or volunteer in a healthcare facility or with vulnerable populations. This means that if you have your medical licenses and certifications and you wish to work at a hospital in Florida, you will need to submit an AHCA background screening. The same goes if you are a home healthcare nurse or special needs caretaker.

However, if you are applying to any other job or volunteer position in Florida that is outside of the healthcare and caretaking spectrum, you will not need to submit an AHCA background screening. Your potential employer may have you submit another type of background check, but the AHCA background screening is for healthcare professionals.

Does My Facility Count As a Healthcare Facility?

Facilities that count as healthcare facilities in the state of Florida must submit AHCA background screenings for all employees, though the level of the background screening does vary depending on the type of facility. 

If your facility or company is providing healthcare services, home health services, working with children or the elderly, or providing services for special needs and disabled individuals, it likely qualifies as a healthcare facility.

You can consult the AHCA website for more details on which facilities must utilize AHCA background screening and the level that is required for each facility.

What Does an AHCA Background Screening Look At?

The AHCA background screening looks at many of the same things that a regular background check looks at, with the exception being that these background screenings are typically more in-depth and are reviewed by members of Florida’s Department of Law Enforcement. 

In general, your AHCA background screening will look at the following items.

Criminal History

Criminal history is one of the most important things that an AHCA background check looks at. Your criminal history determines whether or not you are eligible for many positions in the healthcare field, and some employers will not employ you if you have disqualifying criminal convictions on your record, such as sex offenses, violent felonies, and crimes against children.

That being said, you can still secure a position as a healthcare worker with an AHCA background check and a criminal history. You will need to speak to your potential employer about the types of crimes that are disqualifying, and you may need to provide context and details on your criminal convictions to your employer in order to be approved to work or volunteer in a specific location.

Personal History

An AHCA background screening primarily looks at your criminal history, but it may also review your personal history in order to confirm your identity and information. Your educational and employment history is likely to be reviewed, and employers may want to contact your references or previous workplaces once they get the results from your background screening returned.

Certificates and Licensure

Certificates and licensure are sometimes looked at on an AHCA background screening, and this is typically done when someone is trying to be employed in a healthcare facility or other caretaking service. Volunteer positions may not need certain certifications or licenses for work to be completed, though an AHCA background screening is common for volunteers who work with vulnerable populations.

During this check, the Background Screening Unit will ensure that you are fully qualified and educated for the position that you are applying for.

How Do I Fail an AHCA Background Screening?

Failing an AHCA background screening can depend on the regulations of a specific employer and any criminal offenses a company might find disqualifying, though most healthcare facilities will automatically fail your AHCA background screening if you are found to have committed sex offenses, violent felonies or crimes against children. Acts of terrorism, certain drug offenses, and other major federal crimes are also commonly disqualifying.

Additionally, if you commit a crime or you are arrested during the process of your AHCA background screening, this can disqualify you altogether. Make sure you understand what could potentially disqualify you before you submit your AHCA background screening, and ask your potential employer if you have any questions about passing or failing an AHCA background screening.

How Long Does an AHCA Background Screening Take?

On average, an AHCA background screening will take between five and seven business days to complete review once fingerprinting or other identity information is received by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. This can take between 24 and 72 hours. 

Once your background screening has been completed, it can take another day or two for your results to be communicated to you by your potential employer. Overall, you can expect to wait between six and ten business days in total for your AHCA background screening.

Does My AHCA Background Screening Need to Be Conducted Through the Clearinghouse?

Every AHCA background screening check will need to be conducted through Florida’s Agency of Healthcare Administration’s Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. This Clearinghouse is maintained by the Background Screening Unit of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

You must be an authorized user to access the Clearinghouse, and this website exists to provide a directory of individuals who have been screened before working in positions that provide healthcare and other services to vulnerable populations like children, the disabled, and the elderly.

The Clearinghouse keeps results from background checks of licensed and employed individuals, and the fingerprint records will also be on file for anyone who submits an initial AHCA background screening.

Do I Need to Submit My Fingerprints for an AHCA Background Screening?

Typically, an AHCA background screening process does require fingerprinting. This is because fingerprinting is one of the most reliable ways to determine your identity and to connect your information with public record information to determine your criminal history. Level 2 AHCA background screening checks are more likely to have fingerprinting as part of the process than other types of AHCA background screenings.

If you require the fingerprinting process, a hiring manager will communicate this and direct you to the proper facility where you can submit your fingerprint information as part of the background screening process.

Where Can I Learn More About AHCA Background Screening?

In general, the employer hiring you and reviewing your application will have a hiring manager or member of HR who can tell you more about your AHCA background screening. You can ask your questions, speak about the fingerprinting process, and understand more about submitting your AHCA background screening consent by speaking to this designated person.

Additionally, you should note that the results from a Level 2 AHCA background screening can only be shared with you and your potential employer; your hiring manager or HR staff member will communicate these documents to you as needed.

Completing Your AHCA Background Screening

The AHCA background screening in Florida is an essential part of your employment at a healthcare facility, and you will need to make sure that every step of this process is completed fully before you are eligible to be employed. AHCA background screenings can seem intense, and this screening process will examine your criminal history, licenses or certifications, and other essential items that determine your suitableness for a specific position.

If you have any questions about your AHCA background screening, speak to a hiring manager or HR staff member to learn more about this process. Additionally, consider using our people search tool here at Information.com on yourself and see if you have any personal background issues that need addressing before a company does its own check on you.