Bottom Line for Nevada Nonprofits
- ✓Volunteers at nonprofits with direct access to children
- ✓Volunteers at organizations serving elderly persons or persons with disabilities under NRS 179A.325
- ✓Gaming Control Board and State Gaming Commission volunteers (separate requirement)
- +1 more covered roles below
State Laws That Apply to Volunteer Background Checks
Screening of Volunteers at Qualified Entities
NRS § 179A.325Establishes the framework for screening employees and volunteers of qualified entities (those providing care to children, elderly, or disabled persons). Requires fingerprint-based background checks through the Central Repository. Covers fitness determination, appeals, and nonprofit grant access.
Central Repository for Criminal Records
NRS Chapter 179AGoverns the collection and dissemination of criminal history records in Nevada, administered by the Department of Public Safety Records, Communications and Compliance Division (RCCD). Authorizes name-based and fingerprint-based searches for qualifying entities.
Revolving Account for Volunteer Background Checks
NRS § 179A.310; NAC § 179A.150Creates a revolving grant fund from which nonprofit agencies may apply for reimbursement of fingerprint background check fees for volunteers working with children.
Healthcare Facility Volunteer Exemption
NRS § 449.123Volunteers and individuals hired directly by a resident at a licensed healthcare entity are not subject to mandatory facility background checks under this section, though facilities may elect to screen voluntarily.
Who Must Be Screened in Nevada
!Legally Required to Be Screened
- •Volunteers at nonprofits with direct access to children
- •Volunteers at organizations serving elderly persons or persons with disabilities under NRS 179A.325
- •Gaming Control Board and State Gaming Commission volunteers (separate requirement)
- •School volunteers (per Nevada Department of Education fingerprint requirements for licensed settings)
Types of Background Checks Required in Nevada
How to Get Background Checks in Nevada
$5 per check — includes national criminal database, sex offender registry across all 50 states, SSN trace, and FCRA Certified Compliance Team review.
Start Free Today →Volunteer Screening in Nevada: What You Need to Know
Nevada's large gaming industry creates an unusual volunteer compliance landscape — even unpaid volunteers at gaming properties face state background check requirements. The tourism and hospitality sectors also generate significant nonprofit volunteer activity. Nevada does not have a state FCRA analog; the federal FCRA applies to third-party vendors. Nonprofit organizations can apply for revolving account grants to cover fingerprint check costs, making Nevada relatively accessible for small nonprofits.
Compliance Tips for Nevada Nonprofits
- 1
If your nonprofit serves children and cannot afford fingerprint fees, apply for the NRS 179A.310 revolving account grant through the Central Repository before submitting checks — approvals are not automatic and funding is limited.
- 2
Enter into a formal contract with the RCCD Central Repository before requesting name-based background checks; without this contract, you cannot access the name-search service.
- 3
Do not assume the healthcare facility volunteer exemption (NRS 449.123) applies to your setting — it is narrow and covers only volunteers hired directly by residents, not organization-placed volunteers.
- 4
For school-based volunteering in Nevada, contact the specific school district's HR office; district fingerprint policies vary and may exceed the state statutory minimums.
- 5
Document all background check results and retain them in a confidential file; NRS 179A.110 restricts further dissemination of criminal history records beyond the purpose for which they were obtained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Screening of Volunteers at Qualified Entities apply to my nonprofit?
Nevada law applies to nonprofits with volunteers working in covered roles — typically involving direct, unsupervised contact with children, elderly individuals, or vulnerable adults. Nevada requires fingerprint-based background checks for volunteers at qualified entities serving children, elderly persons, or persons with disabilities under NRS 179A.
What happens if we skip background checks in Nevada?
Failing to screen volunteers in Nevada can expose your organization to negligent supervision liability, loss of insurance coverage, and — in sectors with mandatory requirements — regulatory penalties. Under the federal FCRA, running checks without proper procedures also creates compliance risk.
How long does a Nevada volunteer background check take?
Timing varies by check type. VolunteerBadge's national criminal database and sex offender registry checks return results instantly. Fingerprint-based checks through Nevada Department of Public Safety, Records, Communications and Compliance Division (RCCD) — Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History typically take 3–10 business days.