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Licensee Criminal History Records Checks & Firearms Background Check Information

This webpage is to assist licensees with submitting Criminal History Records Checks and Firearms Background Checks.

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What types of checks can be requested?

There are two different types of checks that can be requested.

A Criminal History Records Check is requested by a licensee, licensee contractor, applicant, certificate holder, etc., in accordance with Commission Orders and/or requirements to obtain information on an individual's criminal activity to included charges, arrests, prosecutions, criminal cases, court information, and dispositions of cases. The check is conducted by capturing the individual's fingerprints, submitted thru the NRC to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and compared those to individuals who have criminal records. The submitting licensee, applicant, certificate holder, etc. receives the individual's criminal history information to make determinations for those who need unescorted access to a nuclear power reactor, a non-power reactor facility, access to Safeguards Information, and/or unescorted access to Category 1 or Category 2 quantities of radioactive materials in accordance with Commission Orders and/or requirements in Title 10 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.

The Firearms Background Check is requested by a licensee to meet Commission Orders to ensure security officers at a licensee facility are acceptable for carrying specific types of firearms. NRC licensees who have been approved for "combined enhanced weapons authority and preemption authority" or "stand-alone preemption authority" are required to conduct firearms background checks on their security personnel whose official duties require access to covered weapon, including enhanced weapons under Section 161A of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. Firearms Background Checks are submitted to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to determine an individual's eligibility or restrictions for holding a firearm. The firearms background check results are provided to the submitting licensee in one of three ways:

  • Proceed – The individual is allowed to carry or gain access to any type of weapon.
  • Delay – FBI might need more information; however, the individual can still carry/have access to weapons (except enhanced weapons (e.g. automatic weapons)).
  • Deny – The individual is prohibited from carrying or gaining access to any kind of weapon. The individual has a right to appeal with the FBI, if a denial response is received.

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How do I submit a request for a Criminal History Records Check?

These are step by step instructions for requesting a criminal history records check:

  1. Blank fingerprint cards (FD-258) are required in order to start the process. If you need to obtain FD-258 fingerprint cards, contact the NRC by sending an email to CrimHist.Resource@nrc.gov and the NRC will provide you with the cards. Please include in your e-mail the number of cards needed and the address where the fingerprint cards should be sent.

  2. Criminal History Record Checks can either be requested electronically through the Electronic Information Exchange (EIE) or manually by mailing a hardcopy to the NRC. Please use one of the methods listed below:
    • Electronic Submission
      1. Obtain Digital Certificate by following these instructions.
        For help with installing digital credentials, please contact the EIE helpdesk at 866-672-7640.
      2. Install Digital Certificates by following these instructions.
        For further assistance with installing digital credentials, contact the EIE helpdesk at 866-672-7640.
      3. Request a Criminal History Record Check, go to the Criminal History page in EIE and follow these instructions.
     
    • Manual Submission:
      1. When submitting the fingerprint card for processing, please make sure the top of the card has been completely filled out using blue or black ink, or is typed.
      2. The package must contain:
        • the fingerprint card(s) (FD-258)
        • the approved Reviewing Official Memorandum and Trustworthiness and Relability Letter
        • a check or money order made out to "U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission" (payment instructions are below) or proof of payment through Pay.gov. Each person needing a criminal history check requires a payment of $10.00* through February 28 – Fees will increase to $35 on March 1, 2022 (payment instructions are below).
      3. Mail the package to:

        U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
        Director, Division of Physical and Cyber Security Policy
        Attn: Criminal History Program/Mail Stop – T-07D04M
        11545 Rockville Pike
        Rockville, MD 20852

* In July 2017, the NRC lowered the fee for Criminal History Record Checks from $26.00 to $10.00 to draw down on a surplus balance of fee receipts. The NRC’s criminal history program costs have historically been fully covered from fees collected. Over the past several years, the surplus balance of program funding has been exhausted, and the program is now operating at a deficit.  Pursuant to requirements in the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990, the NRC conducts biennial reviews of the charges assessed to applicants and licensees for Criminal History Records Checks to assess the suitability of fees to cover both the cost charged by the FBI and the costs of NRC to administer the program. The biennial review completed in fiscal year (FY) 2019 concluded that the $10.00 fee being charged to applicants and licensees was not sufficient to recover the full cost of administering the program and as a result, NRC should increase its fee. During FY 2020, the NRC decided to defer, temporarily, increasing the fee charged to applicants and licensees for Criminal History Records Checks due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The most recent biennial review, completed at the end of FY 2021, reaffirmed that the current $10.00 fee was not sufficient to recover the full cost of administering the program, and that the NRC should increase its fee to $35.00; this fee is the sum of the user fee charged by the FBI ($11.25 effective January 1, 2019) and NRC’s direct and indirect costs incurred in processing fingerprints.  The increased fee will go into effect March 1, 2022.

Please see the Criminal History User Guide for detailed instructions.

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How do I request a Firearms Background Check?

Firearms Background Checks can only be requested manually. Follow the instructions below to submit a Firearms Background Check:

  1. For each individuals being checked, provide the NRC with identifying information and associated fingerprint cards.
    • Name
    • Date of Birth
    • Citizenship
    • Address
    • Signature
    • Sex
    • Height
    • Weight
    • Eye Color
    • Hair Color
    • Place of Birth
    • Social Security Number
    • Race
  2. Include payment or proof of payment for each individual's background check. Each person checked requires a $70.00 payment. Include a print out of the confirmation page from Pay.gov as proof of payment or check or money order made out to "U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission."

  3. Mail the request to:

    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
    Director, Division of Physical and Cyber Security Policy
    Attn: Criminal History Program/Mail Stop – T-07D04M
    11545 Rockville Pike
    Rockville, MD 20852

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How do I determine how much to pay for the request?

The fees associated with the requests are subject to periodic adjustment.

Criminal History Records Check: $10.00 per individual's record check submitted – Effective March 1, 2022 - $35.00 per individual’s record check submitted.

For example: Five people need to have criminal history records checks. The cost for 5 people today in this example is $50.00. Effective March 1, 2022 - The cost for 5 people in this example is $175.00.

Firearms Background Check: $70.00 per individual's background check submitted

For example: Five people need to have a criminal history records check. The cost for 5 people in this example is $350.00.

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How do I pay for the requests?

The NRC’s preferred method of payment is electronic through pay.gov.  However, payments may be made electronically or manually.

  • Electronic Payments using Pay.gov:

    1. Send an e-mail to paygo.resource@nrc.gov. Include in the body of the email a request for access to Pay.gov and the email address, name, phone number, company name and company physical address of person needing access.
      The NRC will respond informing you that your request has been received and will include instructions for getting your User ID and temporary password.

    2. After receiving your User ID and temporary password, please remember to create a new password.

    3. When you are ready to make a payment electronically, go to Pay.gov, and follow these instructions.

    4. Include the Pay.gov confirmation page in the package as proof of payment.

  • Pay with a check or money order

    1. Make checks and money orders out to "U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission"

    2. Send the check or money order with the associated request to:

      U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
      Director, Division of Physical and Cyber Security Policy
      Attn: Criminal History Program/Mail Stop – T-07D04M
      11545 Rockville Pike
      Rockville, MD 20852

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For further assistance

Criminal History Program:

Phone: (301) 415-7513
CrimHist.Resource@nrc.gov

 

Electronic Submission using EIE:

Phone: 866-672-7640
help_desk_resource@nrc.gov

 

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Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, July 20, 2022