Required Clearances for Working in Pennsylvania Schools

 

All prospective employees of public and private schools, intermediate units and area vocational-technical schools, including, but not limited to, teachers, substitutes, janitors, cafeteria workers, independent contractors and their employees, except those employees and independent contractors and their employees who have no direct contact with children, are required to provide: 1) a Pennsylvania Criminal History, 2) a Child Abuse History Clearance, 3) a Federal Criminal History Record, and 4) a P.P.D. Tuberculin Test. In addition, any student or student teacher candidate participating in any classroom teaching, internship, clinical or field experience shall provide all information required of an employee or prospective employee.

For detailed information about these requirements, refer to the Act 34 and Act 151 Background Checks from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

When Should You Request Clearances?

Undergraduate students should begin the process for obtaining each of the four clearances BEFORE you::

  1. Register for a course that requires in-field work (a sample list provided below). Check comments on the Schedule of Classes to determine if clearances are needed for a specific course. You will not be allowed to register unless your clearances have been submitted and approved.

    • Early Childhood Education 2105: Cognition and Learning in the Classroom
    • Early Childhood Education 2106: Language and Literacy Development in Early Childhood: Birth through Kindergarten
    • Early Childhood Education 2108: Engaging Children in the Learning Process through Classroom Management
    • Early Childhood Education 2187
    • Early Childhood Education 3187
    • ALL methods (teacher certification) courses
  2. Submit your application for Candidacy
  3. Submit your application for practicum or student teaching.
  4. Transfer Students should make all attempts to obtain their clearances BEFORE attending their Transfer Student Advising Session.

Graduate Students should begin the process for obtaining each of the four clearances as soon as you:

  1. Register for a course that requires in-field work. Check comments on the Schedule of Classes to determine if clearances are needed for a specific course.
  2. Due to the variety of research requirements and opportunities that may involve working directly with schools or students, it is recommended that Graduate Students complete clearances as soon as they begin their program in the College of Education and keep them current through graduation.

How to Obtain Required Clearances

 

Clearances Summary (links open in new window)
Required Clearances Valid Period Can be Obtained Fee/Cost
Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records
(Act 34) 		Good for one calendar year from the date of issue. Must be renewed every year. Pennsylvania Access to the Criminal History (PATCH) System

 

If done electronically, this clearance result prints out instantly.
717-425-5546 or 1-888-783-7972

$10.00
Child Abuse History Clearance
(Act 151) 		Good for one calendar year from the date of issue. Must be renewed every year. Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare PDF form (online)

 

Must mail in completed form with a $10.00 Money Order. 717-783-6211

 $10.00
Federal Criminal History Record
(Act 114) 		Good for one calendar year from the date of issue. Must be renewed every year**.

Pennsylvania Department of Education: Instructions for registering.

Complete the Registration form, print, pay and take to a cogent fingerprinting site along with a photo ID. Lists of fingerprinting sites are located on the Cogent site.  717-783-3750

 

 $28.75
* When you have your fingerprints completed for the Federal Criminal History Record (above) electronically, please request that you receive a hard copy of your fingerprints! You will need to pay an additional fee at the time you are fingerprinted.
 $2.50
P.P.D.
Tuberculin Test 		Must be current with in one year and renewed each year.

Student Health Services:

Go to your primary care physician or during the months of June, July and early August Student Health Services located at 1810 Liacouras Walk, 4th floor 215-204-7500

 $4.00

**The Federal Criminal History Record (Act 114)

On January 17th, 2013, the School District of Philadelphia, along with various suburban schools have changed their policy regarding the clearances required for all Temple students engaging in field experience, practicums, internships or student teaching in their schools.  Effective immediately, all FBI Background Checks should be current within one year and renewed annually. 

To assit our students with this process, the College of Education will collaborate with Temple Police to have readily available the FBI Fingerprinting Mobile Unit on specific dates. Students will be notified via Blackboard when the Mobile Unit will be available at the Shimada Resource Center; however, students can contact Temple Police to schedule an appointment with them to obtain fingerprints.  In addition, we have provided alternative locations in which students can obtain their Act 114:

 

The UPS Store 1735 Market Street, JFK Entrance

Monday through Friday: 10am to 4pm
Saturday and Sunday: Unavailable

 
The UPS Store 3720 Spruce Street

Monday through Friday: 10am to 4pm
Saturday and Sunday:  Unavailable

 
South Street Business Center

774 South Street

215-592-8000

Monday through Friday: 9am to 7pm
Saturday:  11am to 4pm
Sunday: Unavailable

 

 

Finally, students are encouraged to refer to the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s website about fingerprinting which lists alternative locations: https://www.pa.cogentid.com

TB TESTS

We understand physicians will not administer the TB test twice in one year. This can lead to a false positive as well as insurance providers won’t cover the costs. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure this clearance is renewed prior to the expiration date.

 

How to Submit Your Clearances

Students must submit your clearances online at http://edportal.temple.edu (login as student and then select "Clearances" from the list.) You will not be permitted to enroll in a course that requires in-field experience, apply for Candidacy, or begin your practicum or student teaching assignment without submitting clearances information.

Students must ensure their clearances are valid for the entire semester!

  • For fall, students must have valid clearances through December
  • For spring, students must have valid clearances through May

NOTE: Failure to maintain valid clearances through the duration of the semester can lead to de-enrollment in the field experience course at any time by the instructor and/or Academic advisor. Be advised, students de-enrolled in the middle of the semester will be financially responsible for the course and a grade of a “W” will be issued. Please see withdrawal

Questions and Assistance

For questions about clearances related to a course, please contact your instructor. For questions related to student teaching, please contact the Student Teaching Office: email: student.teach@temple.edu or phone: (215) 204-6070.