FBI fingerprinting services are available at these two locations in Berks County:

  • By appointment only:
    Berks County Intermediate Unit
    1111 Commons Boulevard, Reading, PA 19605
    610-987-8433
    (Click here for directions to BCIU)
  • Walk-ins welcome/no appointment necessary:
    Mail N Ship 4 U
    1812 State Hill Road, Wyomissing, PA 19610
    610-376-3805


Please follow the instructions below.
If you want to have your fingerprints taken at BCIU, please follow instructions 1-4; if you want to have your fingerprints taken at Mail N Ship 4 U, please follow instructions 1, 2, and 4.

Prior to having your fingerprints taken, please complete the following steps:

  1. Register with Cogent Systems online or over the phone.
    • The online registration is available 24 hours a day; log on to www.pa.cogentid.com and select the “Register Online” link.
    • Phone registration is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.; call 1-888-439-2486.
    • Write down or print your confirmation number given over the phone or after registering online.
  2. Pay $40
    • Payment must be made before your fingerprinting appointment, unless you are paying with a money order.
    • Money orders should be made payable to “Cogent Systems.”
    • Payment online can be made with a credit/debit card by logging on to www.pa.cogentid.com and selecting the “Pay Online” link.
    • Call 1-888-439-2486 to pay by phone with a credit/debit card.
    • You will be given a separate confirmation number for payment; write down/print the confirmation number given over the phone or online.
  3. If you want to have your fingerprints taken at the BCIU, schedule your appointment by clicking the "Schedule an appointment" link at the bottom of this page.
    • The fingerprinting process takes an average of 5 minutes to complete. Since the fingerprinting appointments run every 10 minutes, plan to arrive early or on time.
    • If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, please cancel/reschedule so someone else can fill your time slot.
  4. Bring the following to your fingerprinting session:
    • State-issued driver's license
    • In the absence of a current, valid driver's license, applicants may provide one of the following photograph identification cards:

      • US Active Duty/Retiree/Reservist Military ID Card (000 10-2)
      US Passport
      College-issued Student ID
      INS I-551 Resident Alien Card Issued since 1997
      INS I-688 Temporary Resident Identification Card
      INS I-688B, I-766 Employment Authorization Card

    • Social Security Number – You do not need your Social Security Card; you just need to know your number, so we can access your file.
    • Confirmation Numbers – A confirmation number is given to you when you have completed registration and another is given when you pay by credit/debit card.

You should receive your FBI clearance in the mail in 6-8 weeks. We will be happy to provide you with a receipt after you are fingerprinted so you can include it with any applications you send out for employment.

Schedule an appointment at BCIU
    (You must complete Steps 1 & 2 before scheduling your appointment.)

Reschedule or delete an appointment at BCIU

Search scheduled appointments at BCIU


If you have any questions or concerns, please call our fingerprinting information line at 610-987-8264 and leave a message.
 

Berks County Intermediate Unit
Copyright © 2006 Berks County Intermediate Unit. All rights reserved.