Nevada PID Background Check: The Complete NCCIS Guide for Nevada Residents
There is a moment most people do not anticipate until it is standing right in front of them. Suddenly you need your Nevada criminal history record, and you need it done right. The Nevada PID background check is the official fingerprint-based process for obtaining that record, and knowing exactly how it works before you start saves you time, money, and frustration.
Fingerprinting Express has been serving Nevada residents since 2003. Across our licensed locations in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, and Reno, we have helped hundreds of thousands of applicants complete their Nevada fingerprint background checks accurately and efficiently. This guide covers everything you need to know about the NCCIS PID process from start to finish.
What Is a Nevada PID Background Check?
A Nevada PID, or Personal Identification background check, is a fingerprint-based criminal history check administered through the Nevada Civil and Criminal Information System, commonly known as NCCIS. It is processed by the Nevada Department of Public Safety (DPS) and is the official method for individuals to obtain their own Nevada state criminal record.
Unlike a name-based search, a Nevada fingerprint background check pulls records tied directly to your biometric identity, making results more accurate and legally defensible. Your fingerprints are matched against the Nevada state fingerprint database, and what comes back is an official record of your criminal history in Nevada.
The NCCIS PID background check is not for employment or licensing purposes. It is for a personal report where the results go to the applicant requesting the Nevada Fingerprint Background Check.
The process is managed through the NCCIS Flex-Check portal at https://fc.nccis.nvdps.gov/NCCISPid/. You pre-enroll online, pay the required processing fee, get your fingerprints taken at a licensed Nevada Live Scan location, and receive your results.
The Three Types of Nevada PID Background Checks
Before you begin your Nevada NCCIS background check, you need to select the right result type. Each option delivers results differently, and choosing incorrectly means starting the process over.
Standard PID The Standard PID delivers your Nevada criminal history record electronically. Once your fingerprints are processed by the Nevada DPS, you receive an email with a secure link to view and print your results. Those results remain accessible for 30 days from the date of the results email. During pre-enrollment you will create a security question and answer used to log in and retrieve your record. This option is appropriate when a digital result is acceptable to the requesting party.
Certified PID The Certified PID delivers an official printed letter from the Nevada Department of Public Safety, stamped as certified proof of authenticity, mailed to the address you provide during pre-enrollment. Courts, state licensing boards, employers in regulated Nevada industries, and government agencies commonly require a certified result. If you are applying for a Nevada gaming license, a professional license, or responding to a legal requirement, this is most often the correct choice.
Notarized PID The Notarized PID follows the same process as the Certified version, with the addition of notarization before the letter is mailed. This is the highest level of official documentation available through the Nevada PID system and is typically required for international use, specific legal filings, or any situation in which a notarized signature is explicitly called for, including certain immigration applications.
If you are not certain which type your situation requires, confirm with the requesting agency, licensing board, or attorney before you begin. Do not guess. The state will not offer refunds or exchanges.
How to Complete Your Nevada NCCIS Background Check: Step by Step
Step 1: Pre-Enroll Online at the NCCIS Portal
All Nevada PID background checks begin with pre-enrollment at https://fc.nccis.nvdps.gov/NCCISPid/. Select your PID type and complete the online form with your personal identifying information including your full name, date of birth, email address, and mailing address.
For a Standard PID, create a security question and answer during this step. Store that answer somewhere you will find it, because you will need it to access your results. For Certified and Notarized PIDs, verify that your mailing address is exact. The DPS mails results once to the address on file.
Step 2: Determine Who Completes the Form
Self-Submission (No Service Code) If you are submitting your own Nevada fingerprint background check without a representative, complete the entire form yourself and click “Complete Now” to proceed to payment.
Representative Initiation with a Service Code If a legal representative such as a defense attorney or legal aide is initiating the Nevada DPS background check on your behalf, they begin the pre-enrollment and generate a one-time six-digit Service Code. They share that code with you, and you use it to log into the same NCCIS portal, confirm the requester information, complete your portion of the form, and pay. If the emailed code does not reach you, your representative can provide it directly.
Important: when the requestor and the subject are two different people, the requestor is legally required to have a completed and signed NV DPS-006 disclosure form on file. This is a DPS audit requirement and is mandatory for the legal dissemination of criminal records in Nevada.
Step 3: Pay the Processing Fee
Your Nevada NCCIS background check will not process until payment is received. Each PID is an individual transaction with its own fee. There is no batch option for multiple subjects.
NCCIS accepts two forms of payment through their secure external processor.
By credit card, enter your name, billing address, and card information, review the order, and confirm. By e-check, enter your bank routing number, account number, check number, and account type, then review and confirm. Once payment clears you will receive a printable confirmation screen, an email receipt, and a separate email with instructions for getting your fingerprints taken.
Step 4: Get Your Nevada Fingerprints Taken
This is the step that determines how quickly your Nevada criminal history record comes back. After pre-enrollment and payment, your fingerprints must be captured and submitted. There are two methods.
Live Scan (Electronic Fingerprinting) Live Scan is the fastest and most reliable method for completing your Nevada fingerprint background check. Fingerprinting Express is a licensed Live Scan provider approved by NDPS and captures your fingerprints electronically and transmits them directly to the Nevada DPS, eliminating the mail delay entirely. Bring your printed confirmation email or confirmation screen and a valid government-issued photo ID.
Visit any Fingerprinting Express location across Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, or Reno.
Poor quality fingerprint impressions cause rejections and restart delays.
Our trained technicians capture clean, accurate prints the first time, every time.
Hard Card (Ink Fingerprint Card) If you are submitting via a physical fingerprint card, write your PCN or TCN number in the designated area on the card. If you do not yet have a PCN, the NCCIS system will assign one when your submission is processed. Staple your complete packet together and mail it in its own separate envelope to:
Department of Public Safety Records, Communications and Compliance Division 333 West Nye Lane, Suite 100 Carson City, NV 89706
Each individual’s packet must be mailed in a separate envelope. Do not combine multiple submissions.
Step 5: Receive and Review Your Nevada Background Check Results
Standard PID Results When your Nevada DPS background check results are ready, you will receive an email with a secure link. Click the link, answer your security question, and your results letter along with any RAP sheet information will appear on screen. You have 30 days from the results email to access and print your record.
Certified and Notarized PID Results Nevada DPS staff prepare, certify or notarize, and mail your printed results letter to the address you provided during pre-enrollment. No online login is required. Plan for standard mailing time after processing is complete.
Who Needs a Nevada PID Background Check
The Nevada NCCIS PID background check is specifically designed for individuals who want to know their own Nevada criminal history record. This is a personal record request, not an employment screening or third-party check. No employer, licensing board, or agency is pulling this on you. You are pulling it on yourself.
There are many reasons someone might need to see their own Nevada criminal record, and none of them require justification. Common situations include:
Legal Proceedings: If you are working with a defense attorney, a legal aide, or navigating a court matter, your attorney may initiate the PID process on your behalf so you both have a clear picture of what is on your Nevada criminal history record before any hearing or filing.
Personal Awareness: You may simply want to know what is in your own record. Whether it has been years since an arrest, you are unsure whether an old charge was properly resolved, or you want peace of mind before a major life change, requesting your own Nevada criminal history through NCCIS is your right as a Nevada resident.
Immigration and Visa Processes: Individuals navigating immigration filings, visa applications, or residency processes often need to obtain and submit their own Nevada criminal history record as part of the required personal documentation package. A Notarized PID is typically required for these situations.
Expungement and Record Sealing Preparation: Before pursuing a record seal or working with an attorney on expungement eligibility in Nevada, many people request their own PID to understand exactly what their current record reflects.
Personal Legal Planning: Anyone preparing for a significant legal or personal matter, such as a custody proceeding, a civil case, or a name change, may want a current copy of their own Nevada criminal history on hand.
The bottom line is straightforward. The Nevada PID exists so that you can access your own record. Whatever your reason, the process is the same.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nevada Fingerprint Background Checks
How much does a Nevada PID background check cost? The fee is set by the Nevada Department of Public Safety and is paid during the online pre-enrollment process. Payment is accepted by credit card or e-check through the NCCIS secure payment processor. Each PID is a separate transaction and must be paid individually. Check the NCCIS portal for the current fee schedule, as amounts are subject to change.
How long does a Nevada PID background check take? Processing time for a Nevada NCCIS background check depends primarily on how quickly fingerprints are submitted and the current DPS processing volume. Live Scan submissions transmit electronically and are typically processed faster than hard card submissions, which require mail delivery on both ends. Plan accordingly if you are working against a licensing or legal deadline.
What shows up on a Nevada fingerprint background check? A Nevada PID background check returns your state criminal history record, which may include arrests, charges, convictions, and dispositions recorded in Nevada. It reflects information held in the Nevada state fingerprint database and is specific to Nevada criminal history. It does not automatically include records from other states or federal records unless those are specifically requested through a separate process.
Do I need a background check for a Nevada gaming card? Yes. A Nevada gaming work permit requires a background check as part of the application process. The specific requirements vary by county and employer. If you are working in Clark County, Washoe County, or for a specific gaming property, check with the relevant gaming authority or your employer for the exact process required. Fingerprinting Express locations throughout Las Vegas, Henderson, and Reno regularly serve Nevada gaming applicants. [Learn more about gaming background checks at Fingerprinting Express.]
Can I get a Nevada background check the same day? The fingerprinting portion of a Nevada Live Scan background check can be completed the same day you walk into a Fingerprinting Express location. However, the actual processing of your criminal history record by Nevada DPS takes additional time after your fingerprints are submitted. Same-day results are not available through the standard NCCIS PID process.
What is the difference between a Live Scan and a hard card for a Nevada background check? Both methods capture your fingerprints for submission to the Nevada DPS. Live Scan captures your prints electronically at a licensed provider and transmits them directly and immediately. A hard card uses ink on a physical fingerprint card that must be mailed to DPS in Carson City. Live Scan is significantly faster, reduces the risk of rejection due to poor print quality, and is the preferred method for most Nevada fingerprint background check submissions.
How do I check my Nevada criminal record? Visit the NCCIS PID portal at https://fc.nccis.nvdps.gov/NCCISPid/, select the Standard PID option if you want electronic results, complete the pre-enrollment form, pay the processing fee, and get your fingerprints taken at a licensed Nevada Live Scan location. Your results will be emailed to you with a secure access link once processing is complete.
What is the NV DPS-006 form? The NV DPS-006 is a disclosure and authorization form required when a third party such as an attorney or legal representative is requesting a Nevada PID background check on behalf of a subject. The subject must sign the form, and the requestor must keep it on file. It is required for the legal dissemination of criminal records in Nevada and must be available in the event of a DPS audit.
Can a Nevada background check be used for immigration purposes? Yes, with the right result type. Immigration-related Nevada criminal history requests typically require a Notarized PID from the Nevada Department of Public Safety. Confirm the exact documentation requirements with your immigration attorney before beginning the NCCIS pre-enrollment process.
Why Nevada Residents Trust Fingerprinting Express
Fingerprinting Express has been Nevada’s fingerprinting resource since 2003. We opened our first location in Reno and have expanded to serve Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson because Nevada’s demand for accurate, fast, professionally handled fingerprint background checks has only grown. We have worked with Nevada gaming applicants, healthcare professionals, educators, childcare workers, attorneys, and private individuals navigating the NCCIS PID process across every major Nevada industry.
Our technicians are trained specifically in Live Scan capture standards. We know what the Nevada DPS needs to process your background check without rejection or delay, and we make sure every set of prints we capture meets that standard. We also serve nonprofit organizations, military members, teachers, and volunteers at discounted rates as part of our commitment to the Nevada communities we have called home for over two decades.
Whether you need a Standard PID for personal records, a Certified PID for a Nevada licensing board, or a Notarized PID for legal or immigration proceedings, we are ready for you.
