I like this site for price ($125) and speediness: California Real Estate LicenseGet your Live Scan (aka finger printing) done. $49 for processing and $20 for service fee.

I highly recommend checking out Shane Woods post titled "A TX Real Estate License Journey', it has really helpful information about finger printing, submitting broker paperwork, etc....just the whole timeline on when you should do what. 

First you go to school or take a class online, couple hundred bucks, then you have to get fingerprints, then take a test that a one eyed seeing dog could pass.

Getting your license and not affiliating as a realtor with NAR, in most markets will cost about $300-500 for the course (usually 2 weeks), $200 for the exam and background check and fingerprinting, and $100-1200/year with a real estate brokerage in fees to hang your license.

You must be finger printed carrying insurance as well.

That's a unique number that is kind of a fingerprint for them.

in CA Notaries are required to get your finger print in their notary book..

Once you pass the test, you need to get your fingerprint taken.I was told you cannot schedule your fingerprint until after you take the state exam, but I'm not sure if that was accurate.  

Bill Gulley  good point to get a NMLS license these days you must submit to a full FBI background check you must to the the Police department and get fingerprinted...

Thinking they already went through the trouble to get it, so don't want to just let it go in case they end up needing it again one day, they can avoid having to do 63 hr pre licensing course, fingerprints, background, passport photos, and trying to pass the state exam all over again...easier to just leave it inactive for a rainy day I suppose...