They make up everything. There is no legal requirement for a written application. There is no legal requirement for fingerprints (except a print on the license for town permits).
All what is legally required is $40, one time proof of qualification, and that you aren’t prohibited. Not 1 of the 39 local licensing authorities follows this.
References, dear diary letters, social security number (illegal for them to do this), and employment is all extra.
Even the friendly licensing authorities make this wayyyyyy to complicated.
This entire process, even for Foster, can be done all online and without almost all the nonsense, including in person visits. For example, my entire Maryland carry license application was done entirely on my iPhone and the license showed up in my mailbox.