Verify Your Fingerprint Clearance Card Status
By Dennis R. Riccio
President, Central Arizona Association of REALTORS®
By Dennis R. Riccio
President, Central Arizona Association of REALTORS®
CAAR REALTORS®,
Before reading further, please take a moment to log into your ADRE licensee portal and verify whether a valid Fingerprint Clearance Card is on file.
The Arizona Department of Real Estate is actively enforcing Fingerprint Clearance Card compliance as part of the licensing and renewal process. Associations across Arizona are advising members to confirm their status now. I strongly encourage every CAAR member to do the same well in advance of your renewal window.
Arizona Revised Statutes § 32-2108.01 provides that a person must obtain a valid Fingerprint Clearance Card issued pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1758.03 before receiving and holding a real estate license. The statute places responsibility on the license applicant to provide the valid card to ADRE.
The law also authorizes ADRE to suspend a license if a licensee’s Fingerprint Clearance Card is suspended and certain statutory conditions apply, including failure to timely demonstrate pursuit of a required good cause exception.
In plain terms, fingerprint clearance status is not just an initial licensing formality. It is part of maintaining your license in good standing. If a card expires, is suspended, or is not properly on file, it can create compliance issues that affect renewal and, in some cases, the status of the underlying license.
Maintaining compliance protects both your license and the public trust in our profession.
Fingerprint Clearance Cards are issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and are generally valid for six years. Many licensees completed fingerprinting years ago and may not realize their card has expired or is approaching expiration.
If your card is expired, expiring soon, or not reflected in the ADRE system, you could encounter delays or complications at renewal. Waiting until your renewal window opens may not leave sufficient time to resolve expiration or review issues.
Do not assume your status is current. Verify it now.
The Fingerprint Clearance Card is issued by AZDPS after a state and federal background check. AZDPS does not provide fingerprinting services directly for this purpose. Applicants must complete the application process through the DPS portal and use an approved third-party fingerprinting provider or law enforcement agency for fingerprint capture.
Associations across Arizona are hosting fingerprinting events to assist members with compliance. CAAR is proud to offer the same support locally.
To make this process as convenient as possible, CAAR will host an on-site fingerprinting event:
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Arizona Livescan will be on-site to assist CAAR members. You may choose full-service fingerprinting or complete your AZDPS application in advance and use the event for fingerprint capture.
Rather than navigating scheduling and vendor coordination on your own, CAAR is bringing a trusted provider directly to our members. This event is designed to eliminate uncertainty, reduce compliance stress, and help you avoid last-minute renewal complications.
Appointments are required. Please register in advance to secure your preferred time slot.
Register through CAAR’s event calendar:
https://centralarizonaassociationofrealtorscaaraz.growthzoneapp.com/calendar
Designated brokers are encouraged to remind their agents to verify their status and consider participating in this event if needed.
Log into your ADRE portal. Confirm your Fingerprint Clearance Card status. If action is needed, begin the process immediately and consider attending CAAR’s March 31 event.
Staying ahead of this requirement protects your license, your livelihood, and the integrity of our profession.
This information is provided for general guidance only and is not legal advice. For questions about your specific licensing status, consult your designated broker, qualified legal counsel, or ADRE directly.
CAAR remains committed to supporting our members with proactive compliance resources and practical solutions. We look forward to seeing you on March 31.
Dennis R. Riccio
President
Central Arizona Association of REALTORS®
This information is provided for general guidance only and is not legal advice.
Interested in what CAAR does and how you can get involved? Contact us below to talk to our team.