Employers

Currently, there are two separate registries to check for child abuse/neglect and adult abuse, neglect and exploitation. 

Child

The Central Registry maintained by Arizona's Department of Child Safety is a confidential document that lists people with proven reports of child abuse or neglect.

Adult

The Arizona Adult Protective Services has a public registry that employers can review when deciding whether to employ a person to provide care for vulnerable populations. The purpose of the Adult Protective Services (APS) registry is to prevent vulnerable adults and children from being victimized by individuals who have been found through an APS investigation and due process, to have abused, neglected or exploited a vulnerable adult.

Beginning January 1, 2025, owners of residential care institutions, nursing care institutions, and home health agencies, will be required to check for prospective and current employees on the APS Registry and prohibits the hiring of employees who appear on the Registry (A.R.S. § 36-411).

Visit the APS Registry or the Department of Public Safety Fingerprints Clearance Cards to learn more.

Arizona Revised Statutes require many professions to have an active fingerprint clearance card prior to or as a condition of licensure, certification, or employment.  The Applicant Clearance Card Team (ACCT) at the Arizona Department of Public Safety, receives applications and reviews the criminal history records of applicants to determine their suitability to receive a fingerprint clearance card, and periodically updates the status of current fingerprint clearance cards.

If an individual’s allegation of abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult is substantiated by APS, it is not a criminal conviction, so it will not show up on someone’s fingerprint clearance card.

Employer Responsibility

According to A.R.S. § 46-459, before being employed in a position that provides direct services to vulnerable adults or children, prospective employees must certify under penalty of perjury on a form prescribed by their employer whether an allegation of vulnerable adult abuse, neglect or exploitation has been made against the person and was substantiated. For a sample form for prospective employees to sign, see  AAA-1355A - APS Registry Employer Certification Form.