Background checks for individuals working with minors are mandated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Act 24 of 2011, Act 34 of 1985, and Act 114 and Act 151 of 2006.   Compliance with the following Temple University College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) Policies and Practices is required for any and all students completing fieldwork as a course requirement. 

Please review the full clearance policy here: CEHD Clearance Policy (PDF)

Clearances Requirement

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD)’s Clearances Policy requires that all students enrolled in CEHD courses with fieldwork submit annual documentation of updated clearances to the College each summer, by July 1st, via its online platform, EdPortal.  For the majority of students taking CEHD courses with fieldwork, this means that all four clearances must be renewed and submitted each year by July 1st.  

Four required clearances

  1. Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Record (Act 34),

  2. Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151),

  3. Federal Criminal History Background Check (FBI/fingerprint check) (Act 114), and

  4. P.P.D. (TB) Test (School Health regulations, 28 PA Code, Section 23.44).

For detailed information about these requirements, refer to the Pennsylvania Department of Education website

Employer Verified Clearances

In limited circumstances, a student’s place of current employment may be approved by their program as their site to complete their fieldwork.   Students who have been approved by their program to complete their fieldwork in their place of employment may submit an  Employer Clearances Verification for On-the-Job Fieldwork form (pdf) in lieu of annually renewed clearances (see On-the-Job Fieldwork for details). Typically, students who receive this approval are enrolled in Career and Technical Education, select post-baccalaureate certification programs, emergency certification programs, and add-on certification programs.  

Who needs clearances?

All undergraduate, graduate, and non-matriculated students  who will be enrolled in any CEHD course requiring fieldwork during the academic year, including students who received approval to complete fieldwork / field projects with minors at a site in which they are currently employed full-time (see On-the-Job Fieldwork below). 

A list of current College of Education and Human Development courses that require fieldwork, and therefore, clearances, can be found online.

On-the-Job Fieldwork

The following only applies to students who have received approval from their program to complete their fieldwork requirements at their employment site.

  • Students who are approved to complete fieldwork in their place of employment must submit copies of the current, valid clearances that they have on file with their school when they register for their first class(es).  School employee clearances are typically valid for 5 years.
    • If the clearances are more than one year old, the student must also submit a signed Employer Clearances Verification for On-the-Job Fieldwork form (pdf) from their school, district, or qualifying organization verifying that the clearances are valid for the next 12 months and that this student is permitted to complete fieldwork in their place of employment. 
  • Each subsequent summer, by July 1st, the student will need to submit a new signed Employer Clearances Verification for On-the-Job Fieldwork form (pdf)from their school, district, or qualifying organization verifying that they are still employed, that their clearances are valid for at least the next 12 months, and that the student is permitted to do fieldwork in their place of employment.  Not having an updated verification form will result in the same consequences as not having updated clearances.
  • On-the-Job students are prohibited from engaging in field-related assignments or other field requirements without updated clearances or a newly signed verification form.    Therefore, if an on-the-job student does not provide a valid verification letter by July 1st for any reason, including delays from their employer, the student must immediately initiate the process for obtaining new clearances and upload these prior to the first day of classes. (See Consequences for Not Having Updated Clearances)
  • If a student chooses, and/or is expected to complete fieldwork for a course in a school building other than the school where they are currently employed, they will be required to submit new clearances before registering for the field course.

Consequences for Not Having Updated Clearances

After students submit their clearance documentation on EdPortal, they will be reviewed by Office of Field Experiences staff and marked as “CLEARED” or “OTJ CLEARED” (on-the-job) when accepted as complete. Students must have the note of “CLEARED” or “OTJ CLEARED” next to all four of their clearances.  Students without “CLEARED”  or “OTJ CLEARED” status are prohibited from engaging in fieldwork until their clearance documentation is approved.

  • Not having required clearance documentation uploaded on EdPortal and approved by either the Office of Field Placement or graduate program faculty by the applicable semester’s deadline (i.e. “CLEARED” status on EdPortal) will prevent a student from beginning any field hours or field-based assignments for a course.  This requirement applies to in-person clinical work and remote fieldwork, synchronous or asynchronous.
  • Any coursework (e.g., field observations of classrooms) that is not completed due to lack of clearance renewal or verification cannot be made up or submitted late. A grade of zero (0) will be given for these assignments.  The instructor will provide the list of field-related assignments that will be impacted by this policy.
  • Students who do not complete 100% of the field component cannot earn a grade higher than a B-in that course.  Students who do not complete a minimum of 75% of the field component will receive an F for the course.
  • Students who engage in fieldwork without approved clearances will not receive credit for that fieldwork in the course, will possibly fail the course, and will be subject to disciplinary action by the College of Education and Human Development for lack of professionalism.
  • If updated clearances or a verification letter are not uploaded to EdPortal prior to registration, students will not be able to enroll in courses that require fieldwork. If clearances are up-to-date at the time of registration, but not renewed by the summer deadline, the student may be dropped from courses with fieldwork. 

Please review the full clearance policy here: CEHD Clearance Policy (PDF)

Obtaining Required Clearances

Identifies each required clearance, how to obtain the clearance, and the associated cost.

Required Clearances

Can be Obtained

Fee/Cost

Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records (Act 34)*

https://epatch.pa.gov/home

Volunteer clearances will not be accepted. Choose "employment" as the reason for obtaining the clearance.
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

$22.00

Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151)*

You can complete a registration process and submit your clearance application online: https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
Volunteer clearances will not be accepted. Choose "School Employee Governed by Public School Code: Applying as a school employee who is required to obtain background checks pursuant to Section 111 of the Public School Code" as the reason for obtaining the clearance.

This report is sometimes emailed to you within a few minutes of submitting your application. New applications to the system can take up to a few weeks to process.

$13.00

Federal Criminal History Record (Act 114)

IdentoGO is PA's fingerprint provider as of November 2017.

Please follow these instructions carefully.

  1. Go to: https://uenroll.identogo.com/
  2. Type in your service code (registering in PA as a student taking a course in a university teacher ed. program): 1KG6RT.
  3. On the next screen, select Schedule or Manage an Appointment. Complete the registration form,  select the photo ID you will bring to your appointment (most select Driver's License), 
  4. Select a location to be fingerprinted- enter Special Location Access Code SP-TEMPLEMONT (see pictured below).  On the last page select the Walk In option.
  5. Log onto this link https://booktemple.timetap.com  to schedule your appointment with Temple University Campus Safety Services. 
  6. Take a print-out of your registration and your selected photo ID with you to your appointment. You must bring with you a state issued ID, for example, a Driver's License or Passport and your Social Security card.
  7. You can only pay for your fingerprinting service at Temple with a Credit or Debit card. VISA, American Express, Master Card and Discover cards are all accepted.

$22.60

P.P.D. Tuberculin Test

Go to your primary care physician or
Student Health Services 215-204-7500
1700 N. Broad Street, 4th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19121
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.

$6.00

Employer Clearances Verification for On-the-Job Fieldwork Form

Only applies to students who have received approval from their program to complete their fieldwork requirements at the site where they are currently employed.

Employer Clearances Verification for On-the-Job Fieldwork form (pdf)

How to Submit Your Clearances to Temple

Students must submit their clearances online at Edportal (login as student and then select "Clearances" from the list.) Clearances must be scanned individually to upload.  Need Help? See detailed Instructions for Uploading Your Clearances.  

A student with an offense/incident listed on his/her clearance(s) must also immediately submit a hard copy of the clearance that lists the offense/incident to the Office of Field Placement.  The Office is located in the Shimada Resource Center -- Ritter Annex 150. Clearances with offenses/incidents require additional review and approval.

Questions and Assistance

  • For general questions about clearances, please contact the Office of Field Placement located in the Shimada Resource Center (SRC) at 215-204-8011.

  • For questions about fieldwork required for  a course, please contact your course instructor.

  • For other questions related to field experiences in the College of Education and Human Development, please contact the Office of Field Placement by email (edfield@temple.edu) or phone: (215) 204-8011.

 

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