Clearances

Required Clearances

All student teachers and fieldwork students must provide the public school building administrators copies of the following:

Federal Criminal History - Act 114 (fingerprinting)
Pennsylvania State Criminal History Background Check: PATCH - Act 34
Child Abuse History Clearance - Act 151
Tuberculin Test

Federal Criminal History

Effective April 1, 2007, all student teaching candidates and fieldwork students must have an FBI fingerprint clearance completed before entering the public schools.

Please read the following directions carefully.

Fee: $22.60.  All applicants will now receive an unofficial copy of their report in the mail.

If you can provide your own transportation to the fingerprinting site, use the following instructions:

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 day per week at https://uenroll.identogo.com.

   When registering online, an applicant must use the appropriate agency specific Service Code to ensure they are processed for the correct agency and/or applicant type.  Use the Service Code 1KG6RT. 

   Telephonic registration is available at 1-844-321-2101 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST.  During the pre-enrollment process all demographic data for the applicant is collected along with notices about identification requirements and other important information. 

2. On-line Registration Process - After logging into the site and entering the Service Code provided above, complete the registration process. Select Schedule Appointment.  Proceed with the on-line registration appointment scheduling process as instructed on the website.
   
   
3. Fingerprint Locations - After registration, the applicant proceeds to the fingerprint site for payment and fingerprinting. The locations of the fingerprint sites and hours of operation are posted on the IDEMIA’s website at the above link.  The Education Department will provide directions and hours for the site closest to Muhlenberg College.
   
   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 types is attached.
   
   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.

The Education Department is able to look up your fingerprint results after you have visited the fingerprinting site.  Please bring the receipt you received after your fingerprinting was completed listing your UEID number to Cecile in Moyer 327 during regular office hours.

If you will be using the Education Department Fingerprint Shuttle as transportation to the fingerprinting site, please attend the scheduling meeting on the announced date and time for registration and appointment scheduling.  Please do not schedule an appointment outside this meeting.  If you do so we cannot assure your appointment time will be compatible with our shuttle time.

The Education Department is able to look up your fingerprint results after you have visited the fingerprinting site.  Please bring the receipt you received after your fingerprinting was completed listing your UEID number to Cecile in Moyer 327 during regular office hours.

Fingerprint Services Customer Service Call Center - 1-844-321-2101

Act 34 Criminal Record Check

1. Go to the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History website and apply for your criminal record check online with the Pennsylvania State Police at: https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp
   
   
2. On the PA Home page select Submit a New Record Check (gray box)
3. On this page, please review the Terms and Conditions for the use of PATCH.  Scroll to the bottom of the page.  Here, by clicking the Accept button you will move into the page to begin the process.  If you click Decline, you cannot go further and get your clearances online.
   
   
4. Select Individual Request and click CONTINUE
   
   
5. On the Requestor Information page beside Reason for Request, click on the down arrow, then click on Other.

From this point on you will need to move through the remaining pages as directed to pay for and receive your clearance printout.  You will receive the clearance printout after the application has been completed online unless there is a need for extensive research by the PSP.  A debit/credit card is required for payment for each clearance request and the cost is currently $22.00.  Please do not forget to print out your clearance.

Please be sure to print out the actual certification form before exiting the website.  (See attached example of what your certification form should look like.)

If you have questions about the Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Record Checks form (SP4 164), please call: (717) 783-9973 or toll free 1-888-783-7972.

Child Abuse History Clearance

Effective July 1, 2018:

The Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance application can be submitted online.  Once you enter the link below you will be directed to the Child Welfare Portal where you must create an account or log in if you already have an account.  Note: you will need an email address to create an account.

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION

Creating an account and submitting your clearance application online will give you immediate access to your results or the status of your results if your results cannot be processed immediately.

Child Abuse History Clearance Online:  https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS/public/home

The first time you enter the website, you will need to create a username and password as follows:

1. Click on Create Individual Account
   
   
2. Create your Keystone ID using the guidelines on the site – make sure you record your Keystone ID for future use.
   
   
3. Check your e-mail for your temporary password.
   
   
4. Sign back into website using your Keystone ID and temporary password.
   
   
5. Create your permanent password using the guidelines on the site – make sure you record your permanent password for future use.
   
   
6. Sign into site using your permanent password.
   
   
7. Review Terms & Conditions page and click Next.
   
   
8. Create Clearance Application – fill in all fields and click next.
   
   
9. Application Purpose – select SCHOOL EMPLOYEE GOVERNED BY PUBLIC SCHOOL – fill in all info and click next.
   
   
10. Home Address – fill in all info and click next.
    
    
11. Previous Address – fill in all info and click next.
    
    
12. Household Members – fill in all info using the guidelines on the site and click next.
    
    
13. Application Summary and e-Signature – complete as directed and click next.
    
    
14. Make a Payment – using a credit or debit card complete all information to pay the $13.00 fee and click Finalize and Submit.
    
    
15. Go to PA Child Abuse History Account and click on To View Your Results Click Here. Your Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance form will appear on the screen.  Be sure to print out the form.  It would also be a good idea to save the clearance on your computer.  (See attached example of what your certification form should look like.)
    

For questions related to the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, please contact the ChildLine Verification Unit at 717-783-6211 or toll free at 1-877-371-5422.