Employee Clearances

Act 34

Section 1-111 of the Pennsylvania School Code requires that all applicants for school employment, including those of independent contractors but excluding employees who do not have direct contact with students, must obtain a criminal background check. All applicants are required to submit a Request for Criminal Record Check to the Pennsylvania State Police. The results will be returned directly to you and must be submitted to the school entity with which you are seeking employment.

Criminal reports may be obtained electronically from the Pennsylvania State Police. The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) Invoice for Criminal Record Check with a copy of the State seal embedded on the paper is an official record check.

The Criminal History Request Form (SP4-164) is also available from schools, Pennsylvania State Police Barracks and from the Pennsylvania State Police web site. This background check requires an eight dollar ($8) payment in the form of a certified check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. To check on the status of a request for a Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Record Check call (717) 783-9973.

Applicants who ARE NON-RESIDENTS or have not been a resident of Pennsylvania for at least two years immediately preceding the date of application for employment must also obtain a criminal background check from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI check requires applicant fingerprints be placed on a special card available from the school in which you are seeking employment or from the School Services Unit in the Department of Education. It is important that you use the card that identifies the Pennsylvania State Board of Education as the requesting agency, otherwise the results may not be returned through proper channels. The FBI check requires a payment of twenty-four ($24) in the form of a certified check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Call, write or send an email requesting the FBI fingerprint card to:

School Services Unit
PA Department of Education
333 Market Street 5th floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Voice: 717.783.3750
TTY: 717.783.8445
email: [email protected]

The department of education will not accept requests from applicants. School administrators shall forward the set of fingerprints for the federal criminal history record to the department of education.

Act 114

Act 114 – FBI Fingerprint Information New Agency - IdentoGO

APPLICANT PROCEDURES

Fee: $22.60; All applicants will now receive an unofficial copy of their report. Fee is payable to IDEMIA.

The fingerprint-based background check is a multiple-step process, as follows:

1. Registration - The applicant must register prior to going to the fingerprint site. Walk in service is allowed but all applicants are required to complete pre-enrollment in the new Universal Enrollment system. Pre-enrollment can be completed online or over the phone. The registration website is available online 24 hours/day, seven days per week at https://uenroll.identogo.com. Telephonic registration is available at 1-844-321-2101 Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm EST. During the pre-enrollment process, all demographic data for the applicant is collected (name, address, etc.) along with notices about identification requirements and other important information.

When registering on-line, an applicant must use the appropriate agency specific Service Code to ensure they are processed for the correct agency and/or applicant type.

1KG6XN is the code for school districts

Using the correct service code ensures the background check is submitted for the correct purpose. Fingerprint requests processed through any other agency or purpose cannot be accepted and are not transferrable. If an applicant enters the wrong code by mistake, the incorrect applicant type will appear at the top of the screen. The applicant should select the “Back to Home” button and begin the process again, by reentering the correct Service Code. If the applicant proceeds with the process under the incorrect code, the pre-enrollment and/or results cannot be transferred to another state agency and the applicant will have to start the process over and pay for the background check again.

2. Payment - The applicant will pay a fee of $22.60 for the fingerprint service and to secure an unofficial copy of the Criminal History Record. Major Credit Cards as well as Money orders or cashier’s checks payable to MorphoTrust will be accepted on site for those applicants who are required to pay individually. No cash transactions or personal checks are allowed.

3. Fingerprint Locations – After registration, the applicant proceeds to the fingerprint site of their choice for fingerprinting. The location of the fingerprint sites and days and hours of operation for each site are posted on IDEMIA's website at https://uenroll.identogo.com. The location of fingerprint sites may change over time; applicants are encouraged to confirm the site location nearest to their location.

4. Fingerprinting - At the fingerprint site the Enrollment Agents (EA) manages the fingerprint collection process. The fingerprint transaction begins when the EA reviews the applicant’s qualified State or Federal photo ID before processing the applicant’s transaction. A list of approved ID type may be found on the IDEMIA website at https://uenroll.identogo.com . Applicants will not be processed if they cannot produce an acceptable photo ID. After the identity of the applicant has been established, all ten fingers are scanned to complete the process. The entire fingerprint capture process should take no more than three to five minutes.

5. Report Access – For the public or private school or higher education institution to access the official report via the electronic system, applicants must present their UEID to the hiring entity (as shown on the receipt provided after fingerprint capture). This process allows an applicant to provide multiple potential employers with their UEID, as the report is linked to the UEID number and not assigned to a specific school. If an applicant has lost their receipt or needs to confirm UEID, the applicant may visit the UEP website (https://uenroll.identogo.com/ ) and simply check status of their file by providing alternate personal information. Applicants will enter their personal information after clicking in the lower portion of that screen to obtain their receipt with the UEID.

Applicants will receive an unofficial copy of their report.

Act 151

In addition to the criminal background check, Sections 6354-6358 (Act 151) of the Public Welfare Code requires that all applicants for school employment, both Pennsylvania residents and non-residents, also obtain a Child Abuse History Clearance. This request is submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Child Line. The Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance Form (CY 113) may be obtained from the school to which you are applying for employment, the Department of Public Welfare website or from the School Services Unit in the Department of Education. The Child Abuse History Clearance requires payment of thirteen dollars ($13) payable to the Department of Public Welfare in the form of a certified check or money order. To check on the status of a request for the Child Abuse Clearance call (717) 783-6211.

The criminal background check and child abuse clearance results are valid for one year. Applicants should make and retain a copy of the reports since the Department of Education, Pennsylvania State Police and Department of Public Welfare do not maintain copies of the criminal record check or child abuse history clearances.

Deer Lakes

School District

Employee Clearances