IdentoGo in Chattanooga: Live-Scan Fingerprinting at a National Vendor
IdentoGo is a fingerprinting service operated by IDEMIA, a multinational biometrics company, that handles live-scan digital fingerprinting for background checks, employment vetting, licensing, and court-ordered submissions across Tennessee. Unlike local police departments or private fingerprinting offices, IdentoGo processes prints through a standardized national system, meaning your digital record is submitted directly to the FBI and state databases without an intermediary step.
What IdentoGo actually is
IdentoGo provides electronic fingerprinting capture using optical scanning technology rather than ink and paper. The service is available at hundreds of locations nationwide, including a Chattanooga site. Because the prints are captured digitally and transmitted in real time, there is no waiting for physical cards to be processed or mailed; results are available to employers, licensing boards, and courts within hours to days depending on the requesting agency's queue. IDEMIA operates under contract with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the FBI, so submissions meet federal standards without question.
The service is purpose-built for individuals who need fingerprints for employment clearance, state licensing (teaching, nursing, cosmetology), court requirements, immigration applications, or volunteer background checks. If you need prints for a single purpose, IdentoGo is straightforward. If you need multiple sets for different agencies, you can request multiple submissions in one visit.
Services and pricing
IdentoGo charges per submission, not per finger or per card. A single live-scan submission costs $20. If you need fingerprints sent to both the FBI and a state agency (common for teaching and healthcare licensing), that is two submissions at $20 each. Some employers or courts specify which agencies they need contacted; IdentoGo will clarify what you require before charging.
Payment is cash or card on-site. The appointment process is streamlined: you book online, arrive at your scheduled time, spend 5 to 10 minutes at the scanner, and leave. No waiting for ink to dry, no smudged prints requiring a retake.
Walk-ins are accepted when capacity allows, but appointments are strongly preferred, particularly during business hours midweek, as the location can experience short queues during lunch and after 4 p.m.
How IdentoGo compares to other Chattanooga options
Chattanooga Police Department fingerprinting is free but operates on a first-come, first-served basis with unpredictable wait times. Their prints are inked and paper-based, meaning submission to state or federal databases can take 1 to 2 weeks if the requesting agency batches submissions. This delay matters if an employer needs clearance quickly.
Local private fingerprinting providers, such as some UPS or FedEx Office locations, also do ink-based printing at similar or slightly lower cost ($15 to $18), but they face the same processing lag. IdentoGo's digital submission eliminates that gap.
If your employer or licensing board demands results within a specific window (common in hiring processes), IdentoGo's real-time submission justifies the $20 cost by cutting days off the turnaround. If cost is the only concern and you have no deadline, the police department is the better choice.
Who IdentoGo suits and who it does not
IdentoGo works best for teachers, nurses, security personnel, and anyone hired conditionally on background clearance. It is also the standard for immigration-related fingerprinting and is often required if you need FBI-level clearance.
It is less necessary for low-stakes background checks where an employer accepts a police department print or allows delayed submission. Parents who need fingerprints for school volunteer roles should confirm with the school whether they will accept a police department print or demand a federal submission; if federal is required, IdentoGo saves time.
Cost-conscious applicants with flexible timelines should use the police department instead.
What the first visit involves
Arrive 10 minutes before your appointment with a valid government ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID). A staff member will verify your identity, confirm which agencies you want contacted, and process payment. You'll place each finger on the optical scanner in sequence; the machine captures the print digitally and shows a live preview to confirm quality. If any print is too faint or unclear, the machine prompts an immediate retake at no additional charge. The whole process takes under 10 minutes. You receive a receipt with a submission confirmation number for your records.
Hours, parking, and logistics
IdentoGo operates at 4200 Hixson Pike, Suite 106, Chattanooga, TN 37415 (inside a retail plaza near Hamilton Place). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with occasional Saturday availability (verify before booking, as Saturday hours vary seasonally). Parking is free and ample in the plaza lot.
Appointments should be booked online at idemia.com/en/identiogo or by calling the location directly. Processing times for submission confirmation are typically same-day to next-business-day, though the FBI's background-check turnaround depends on their queue and can take 1 to 3 weeks.
IdentoGo's role in Chattanooga is niche but critical: it removes uncertainty from a gatekeeping step that delays hiring, licensing, and volunteer placements. For anyone with a deadline, it is worth the $20.
