Live Scan

[fdad]

I get that.

The problem I want to solve is that I want to be able to achieve basically the same thing that a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval or a VeriSign Trust seal achieves for THOSE products or services. That is, they add comfort to the buying decision being considered. I would like something similar that would aid me in the same way... adding increased comfort level to the decision making process occurring when a parent decides whether or not to involve their kid in a new activity.

Can you suggest a way I might achieve that?

You might want to try the BBB.

[MdA]

I get that.

The problem I want to solve is that I want to be able to achieve basically the same thing that a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval or a VeriSign Trust seal achieves for THOSE products or services. .......
Can you suggest a way I might achieve that?

Are you a USFCA member? Are you certified by the USFCA? Are you going to put "USFCA or AAI certified" on your materials?

[prototoast]

Are you a USFCA member? Are you certified by the USFCA? Are you going to put "USFCA or AAI certified" on your materials?

Does the USFCA do anything to filter pedophiles?

[MdA]

Does the USFCA do anything to filter pedophiles?

If it did, would you join?

[foibles]

Are you a USFCA member? Are you certified by the USFCA? Are you going to put "USFCA or AAI certified" on your materials?

Yes. Not yet and Yes.

[TwoPassions]

I appreciate your post!

I'm still a bit confused on a few points.

When I contacted my local Police Department, I was told that I needed a request form like those typically provided by nursing homes, schools and the like. When I said I was doing this on my own accord, I was told that I had to contact the Dept of Justice to see if they had something I could use. Do you have any thoughts on how I might can do this without the request form?

Also, should I choose to submit my fingerprints to the state so that others can verify an absense of any criminal record, how would a parent request that information and what form does that information usually take?

I ask these questions realizing that the processes may be slightly different in my neck of the woods...

Hmm...while I'm still trying to understand why you would think this is all necessary, you could try contacting private background check agencies. See if they could run a check on you, write up a basic report, and give you some sealed copies to keep in the event a parent asks. You could also check and see if there's a regional AFIS department in your area. If so, see if they offer something like an ID letter. My office offers a service free to the public that allows them to be fingerprinted and their prints run through our databases. We then draft a letter that says whether or not they have a criminal record. This service is typically used by those who have been victims of identity theft, but really, it's available to everyone. I'm not sure if this is unique to my unit, or it other AFIS units have something similar.

I honestly don't think too many parents are really going to go to all the effort to check your criminal background. They certainly won't care whether you've been fingerprinted or not. I think if you state you're a member of the USFA and the USFCA, that will be good enough for the majority. I've taught many classes in a variety of settings and I've never had a parent approach me about any such thing. Of course, I could just have that innocent look about me...

[RoninX]

I honestly don't think too many parents are really going to go to all the effort to check your criminal background. They certainly won't care whether you've been fingerprinted or not. I think if you state you're a member of the USFA and the USFCA, that will be good enough for the majority. I've taught many classes in a variety of settings and I've never had a parent approach me about any such thing. Of course, I could just have that innocent look about me...

No, probably not, but the OP is (at least in part) looking at this as a marketing tool. If a kid decides they want to try fencing then a parent will probably start, as we all do these days, with an internet search. If that parent sees one instructor (and his employees) is certified not to be criminals and sex offenders then that might tip the scales for some peopel. Even during the first visit "do you do background checks on your employees" is becoming an increasingly common question, being able to honestly answer "yes" will give you a market efficiency in some locales. In particular if a certification is something that a parent may already recognize from their previous daycare/preschool searches etc.

Maybe the thing to do is to establish an Limited Liability Company, LLC (if you have not done so already). This is usually pretty cheap to do in most locales (less than $100 per year unless you do a large volume of business). Doing this is probably a good ideas if you want to go into coaching as it gives you a legit business and the tax and legal* advantages that go along with it, but would also allow your business to make the Live Scan background check request, even if it is just on yourself.

*As is in, if a kid is injured and their parents decide to sue you they generally have to go after the business's assets rather than your house (I'm not a lawyer, but my wife does operate an LLC. Regardless, don't take legal advice over the interet look into the advantages/disadvantages on your own).

[fdad]

No, probably not, but the OP is (at least in part) looking at this as a marketing tool. If a kid decides they want to try fencing then a parent will probably start, as we all do these days, with an internet search. If that parent sees one instructor (and his employees) is certified not to be criminals and sex offenders then that might tip the scales for some peopel. Even during the first visit "do you do background checks on your employees" is becoming an increasingly common question, being able to honestly answer "yes" will give you a market efficiency in some locales. In particular if a certification is something that a parent may already recognize from their previous daycare/preschool searches etc.

Maybe the thing to do is to establish an Limited Liability Company, LLC (if you have not done so already). This is usually pretty cheap to do in most locales (less than $100 per year unless you do a large volume of business). Doing this is probably a good ideas if you want to go into coaching as it gives you a legit business and the tax and legal* advantages that go along with it, but would also allow your business to make the Live Scan background check request, even if it is just on yourself.

*As is in, if a kid is injured and their parents decide to sue you they generally have to go after the business's assets rather than your house (I'm not a lawyer, but my wife does operate an LLC. Regardless, don't take legal advice over the interet look into the advantages/disadvantages on your own).

The problem with what you and the OP are proposing is... anyone can lie, the type of person you are most concerned about is the type of person that is most likely to lie. Even if you have an official looking paper that says you were not a convicted felon at the time you had the official looking paper printed, you have no way of proving you are the person the paper refers to (even if you can prove you have the same name). Even if you could prove that you are the person referenced and the official looking paper is really official (both non-trivial problems), you'd need a new official looking paper every day to prove you weren't convicted yesterday.

[RoninX]

The problem with what you and the OP are proposing is... anyone can lie, the type of person you are most concerned about is the type of person that is most likely to lie.

Granted. I don't think anyone is claiming that this system is fool proof.

I am looking at this solely in terms of its applicability as a marketing/retension device. I would imagine that if the OP is marketing to beginning and youth fencers than being able to that he is "the only ____ certified fencing instructor in XYZ" would be a business advantage. Obviously, he had better know what he is doing if he wants to hang onto clients long term, but getting people in the door is always 90% of business.

It is probably the rare (or bold) pedophile that would remind parents of the availability of these types of checks in the same breath as "recruiting" their children. I am not a parent yet, but my wife and I are expecting and we have already started looking at day care and care facilities (since some have long wait lists) and having these types of certifications visible is something that catches our eye as (probably overly) concerned parents-to-be.

edit: As a competent consumer, if this is something I am very concerned about then I will obviously do my own leg work to determine the validity of a given certification.

[fdad]

Granted. I don't think anyone is claiming that this system is fool proof.

I am looking at this solely in terms of its applicability as a marketing/retension device. I would imagine that if the OP is marketing to beginning and youth fencers than being able to that he is "the only ____ certified fencing instructor in XYZ" would be a business advantage. Obviously, he had better know what he is doing if he wants to hang onto clients long term, but getting people in the door is always 90% of business.

It is probably the rare (or bold) pedophile that would remind parents of the availability of these types of checks in the same breath as "recruiting" their children. I am not a parent yet, but my wife and I are expecting and we have already started looking at day care and care facilities (since some have long wait lists) and having these types of certifications visible is something that catches our eye as (probably overly) concerned parents-to-be.

edit: As a competent consumer, if this is something I am very concerned about then I will obviously do my own leg work to determine the validity of a given certification.

What is to prevent someone from inventing the "Secure Certified Background Check" service and claiming to be certified by them? It sounds like it could be trustworthy, but is it really? But hey, this is just for marketing anyway...

[RoninX]

What is to prevent someone from inventing the "Secure Certified Background Check" service and claiming to be certified by them? It sounds like it could be trustworthy, but is it really? But hey, this is just for marketing anyway...

That is where the part about being a competent consumer comes in.

Why would I ever give someone on the internet my credit card number? Or send someone a check in the mail. Am I just blindly hoping that they will in turn send me what I ordered? No. I read feedback and reviews, try to be familiar with their processing system (eg. paypal or whatever), and know my options in case something goes awry. Caveat emptor in the end, but if you put out a certification name at least I have something to check up on, right?

Again, no one is saying this kind of thing is foolproof, but it is not meaningless either. Giving a concerned parent a place to start checking you out (if they are so inclined) is a service, so while it may be done primarily for marketing purposes it does provide some potential value to a subset of your clients.