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 registering for a Course Requiring Clearances in the upcoming academic year - either in the fall or in the following spring semester - should begin the process for obtaining each of the four clearances in late May (not before) of each year so that all clearances are ready to be uploaded to Edportal by the July 1st deadline established by the College. (Memo from the College of Education regarding clearances).

Transfer Students transferring into Temple for a spring semester should make all attempts to obtain their clearances before attending their Transfer Student Advising Session. Transfer Students transferring into Temple for a fall semester should make every effort to adhere to the policy as stated and secure clearances for a July 1 effective date.

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

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.
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.

IMPORTANT NOTES

Students who fail to maintain valid clearances through the duration of the academic year (fall and spring) will not be permitted to attend field experiences if all clearances aren’t valid.
Students with an offense listed on their record should contact the Student Teaching office immediately. The Student Teaching office is located in the Shimada Resource Center in Ritter Annex 150, 215-204-8011

How to Obtain Required Clearances


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.	https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp If done electronically, this clearance result prints out instantly. Please write down your control number in the event you misplace the clearance, you can go back to the site to obtain a copy. 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.	http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/findaform/childabusehistoryclearanceforms/index.htm Must mail in completed form with a $10.00 Money Order to: Child Line and Abuse Registry Department of Public Welfare PO Box 8170 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8170 Phone: 717-783-6211 Please note: If you send this post office certified you will receive your results much faster.	$10.00
Federal Criminal History Record (Act 114)	Good for one calendar year from the date of issue. Must be renewed every year**.	www.pa.cogentid.com Complete the Registration form, print, pay and take to a cogent fingerprinting site along with a photo ID. A list of fingerprinting locations is located on the Cogent site. 717-783-3750 You can get your prints done at the Main Campus Temple Police station on Tuesdays & Fridays from 2PM to 4PM or at any other Cogent fingerprinting site.	$28.75
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 Student Health Services 215-204-7500 1810 Liacouras Walk, 4th floor If you use a primary care physician we do not have a special form. Physician letterhead or prescription pad with your name, date and results will be approved.	$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 assist 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

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.) Need Help? See detailed Instructions for Uploading Your Clearances

Questions and Assistance

For general questions about clearances, please contact the SRC at 215-204-8011.

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.