Clearances
Necessary Clearances
The following clearances are required in order to participate in most field experiences. Exceptions to these requirements are noted below.
- TB Test ( not required for CI 295 or CI 295 Urban Experience- required for CI 295A and CI 295B)
- FBI Fingerprints - www.pa.cogentid.com/index.htm or Certification of No Offense Form. Note: It is easier and preferable for fingerprinting to be done in PA, but it is possible ( see the information on the Cogent website) to have fingerprints taken outside of PA and then sent to Cogent to be processed..
- PA Child Abuse - www.dpw.state.pa.us/ucmprd/groups/webcontent/documents/form/s_001762.pdf
- PA Criminal Record -www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt
- Professional Liability Insurance is required for all field experiences except early field experiences ( CI 295, CI 295A, CI 295B, CI 295 Urban Experience). This insurance may be purchased from a variety of vendors. One recommended source Is: - www.psea.org
- Act 24 (download and sign form) Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form
- A state health appraisal is required for CI 295A.
- For CI 295A, two letters of reference that can speak to your good character, responsibility, dependability, and interest in working with children are required.
Please note: All required clearances must be valid at the beginning of each field experience. This means that the clearances must be less than one year old at the beginning of the field experience. It is also possible that some school districts will require that the clearances be valid for the entire length of the field experience. Your supervisor will inform you if that is the case.
See below for detailed information about each of these clearances.
CLEARANCES:
Students registered for any field experience (C I 295, CI 295 A/B, C I 495A/B/C, WLED 495 B/C, or C I 495D/E) and/or courses with a field experience component must obtain ALL applicable clearances/verifications noted in the course-specific chart below before they begin working in schools.
Students in C I 295, CI 295 A/B, C I 495 A/B/C, and WL ED 495 B/C must present COPIES of these clearances to their instructor/supervisor during THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASS for the semester during which the field experience occurs. Failure to do so (beyond one-week grace period) may result in being dropped from the class. ALWAYS KEEP THE ORIGINAL CLEARANCES. SUBMIT COPIES ONLY
Students planning to student teach (C I 495 D/E) must present COPIES of their current clearances/verifications to their student teaching supervisor at the time of their student teaching interview. Depending on the expiration date of the clearances that are current at the time of the student teaching interview and the requirements of local school districts, it may be necessary for students to also provide updated clearances before the student teaching experience begins. ALWAYS KEEP THE ORIGINAL CLEARANCES. SUBMIT COPIES ONLY
Specific Field Experience Clearances Required
C I 295, CI 295 A/B, CI 295 Urban Experience
- Valid Act 34 (Criminal Background)
- Valid Act 151 (Child Abuse) – see additional note below
- FBI Clearance
- State Health Appraisal (CI 295A only)
C I 495 A / B / C or
C I 495 D / E or
WLED 495 B / C
- Valid Act 34 (Criminal Background)
- Valid Act 151 (Child Abuse) – see additional note below
- Valid TB Test with results
- Evidence of Professional Liability insurance coverage
- FBI Clearance or Certification of No Offenses Form- see additional note below
SPECIAL NOTES:
- To be valid, clearances must be dated no earlier than one year prior to the actual start date of Penn State classes of the applicable semester of field experience.
- Professional Liability must be current throughout the entire experience. (If being added as a rider on an existing insurance policy, you must submit a copy of the addendum that states coverage is for “Professional Liability”).
- The Act 151 (Child Abuse Clearance) may take up to 10 weeks so allow ample time for mailing (to and from) and for actual form processing.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Only photocopies of all clearances and verifications will be accepted. Keep originals in a safe place!
FBI CLEARANCES:
- It is preferable and easier to have fingerprinting done at a location in Pennsylvania. However, if it is not possible to be fingerprinted in PA, it is possible to be fingerprinted outside of PA and send the fingerprints to Cogent for processing. Follow the specific directions on the Cogent website-www.pa.cogentid.com/index.htm
- The fingerprint-based background check is a multiple-step process. Additional information on this clearance is also available at the website listed below.
- Go to the Cogent Website for information and to register online-www.pa.cogentid.com/index.htm
- Click on the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) link. Read the information and then click on "register online."
- Indicate COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY as “Reason for Request” and complete the rest of the application.
- This clearance takes a great amount of time to process; DO NOT DELAY!!
- Please allow 10-12 weeks for processing and mailing times.
Note: Once an initial FBI clearance has been obtained, it is typically not necessary to obtain additional FBI clearances as long as two conditions are true: 1) You have not committed any offenses in the intervening time period; and 2) You have maintained continuous enrollment at Penn State during all fall and spring semesters in the intervening time period. If these conditions have been met, you will only need to provide a photocopy of the original FBI clearance and a Certification of No Offense form. The Certification of No Offense form needs to be signed by a witness. The witness can be anyone who is over 18 years of age. The form does not need to be notarized.
There may be some rare cases in which a school district decides to require a renewal of the FBI clearance instead of allowing the use of the Certification of No Offense form and a photocopy of a previous clearance. In those instances, you must abide by the district's wishes and obtain a new clearance. If this is the case, you will be informed by your field experience supervisor.
Act 34: “REQUEST FOR CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK”
- Application can be submitted online with a credit card at: https://epatch.state.pa.us/:
- THIS IS THE RECOMMENDED PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING! History record (if clear) comes up on screen immediately; print it out as your evidence.
- OR application forms can be downloaded at: www.psp.state.pa.us
- See Documents, Brochures & Forms, then PSP Forms Available for Public;
- Indicate EMPLOYMENT as the “Reason for Request”
- For mailed form, allow 8-10 weeks for processing and mailing times.
- For mailed form, payment must be made with certified check or money order (keep your receipt as evidence!)
- Personal checks are not accepted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Act 151: “PENNSYLVANIA CHILD ABUSE HISTORY CLEARANCE”
- Application forms can be downloaded at: www.dpw.state.pa.us or http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/Resources/Documents/Pdf/FillInForms/DPWchildabuse.pdf
- See Forms & Publications;
- Indicate SCHOOL as the “Purpose of Clearance”
- OR application forms can be picked up in 170 Chambers
- For mailed form, payment must be made with certified check or money order (keep your receipt!)
- For mailed form, allow 6-10 weeks for processing
- This clearance takes a great amount of time to process; DO NOT DELAY!
Tuberculosis Test:
- Verification of a negative TB Test by either personal physician or University Health Center; students MUST make an appointment at the Health Center, and should be aware that it may NOT be possible to schedule an appointment the first week of the semester!
- Allow 2-3 days for reading test
- Students who prove positive must submit proof of x-ray examination and clearance by physician
- There is no special form required; what the doctor submits is fine.
Professional Liability Insurance:
- Available through private insurance carrier
- Evidence consists of letter or policy statement
- Must include reference to “professional” liability coverage
- Available through professional organizations, such as PSEA --
- More information is available and applications can be submitted online at www.psea.org with use of credit card; THIS IS THE RECOMMENDED PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING!
- Concurrent with school year (September 1 – August 31);
- Please check www.psea.org website for any possible updates!
- Check expiration date to make sure that coverage will be in effect the entire practicum.
