Be Mindful of Fingerprint and Background Check Timing

As a result of the state-wide effort to incorporate criminal background checks on all occupational licenses in the state and following the 2013 Sunset Commission review of TDHCA, any person seeking a license or renewing a license with the Manufactured Housing Division of TDHCA must undergo a criminal background check. 

To satisfy this requirement a person must submit their fingerprints through the Department of Public Safety’s vendor for an FBI background check.

While the background check is a TDHCA requirement it is not administered through TDHCA.  TDHCA reminds license holders not to send any fingerprint cards or anything else related to fingerprints directly to the MH Division. 

All fingerprints must be submitted through the state's fingerprint vendor, MorphoTrust (formally L-1 Enrollment Services).

It is important to be mindful for those with licensing expirations in the future that the background check process is not instantaneous.  It has come to TMHA’s attention that some license holders have found themselves unable to be renewed because they waited until the day or day before their TDHCA license was set to expire to apply for the background check. 

For all in-state background checks the average turnaround time after submitting one’s prints is seven days. 

For any out or state submissions the turnaround time is four weeks.

TMHA recommends all members review when their TDHCA licenses are set to expire, and plan your fingerprint and background check submission in advance.  License holders can satisfy the background check requirement for renewal in advance, and are encouraged to do so. You can lookup the date of expiration for your license on TDHCA's website.