Apparatus and methods for scanning for access points (APs) for wireless local area network (WLAN) positioning. In one embodiment a wireless device includes a WLAN positioning system. The WLAN positioning system includes an AP scanner. The AP scanner is configured to determine which WLAN channels are being used by APs proximate to the wireless device. The AP scanner is also configured to scan for AP transmissions only the WLAN channels determined to be used by APs proximate to the wireless device. The AP scanner is further configured to extract signal strength and AP identification information for WLAN positioning from the AP transmissions on the scanned channels.