Fingerprint Clearance Requirements

 

New York State law requires fingerprinting as a means to perform criminal history background checks for applicants for certification and all prospective employees of school districts, charter schools, and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) within New York State. All students in teacher preparation programs need to be fingerprinted so that they are cleared to work with children in various settings including New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) public schools, charter networks, and other organizations. Fingerprint clearance is a professional expense related to certification. As such, candidates are responsible for related costs.

  • Students enrolled in programs leading to certification in teacher preparation who do not yet have fingerprint clearance from both the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) must complete all steps of the fingerprinting process.
  • Students in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Development and Learning (ECDL) programs that lead to certification and who may be placed in non-NYCDOE settings that serve children from birth to age 3 years and select Pre-K programs must be fingerprinted by both NYSED or NYCDOE and the Department of Investigations (DOI) as records cannot be shared between the DOI and other entities. Note that this only applies if the students are placed in sites subsidized by the Department of Health not the NYCDOE.

What are my next steps?

First Step:

  • Complete the PETS Registration Google Form. After completion, KCC will enter you into the PETS system within 1-2 business days. If you have already been fingerprinted by the NYCDOE from a prior fieldwork class or through your job as a paraprofessional, you do not need to proceed after completing this form. 

Next Steps for those who need to get fingerprinted:

  • After PETS Entry (a.k.a “nomination”), you will receive a nomination email from PETSAdminSupport@schools.nyc.gov  with instructions to log into NYCDOE’s Applicant Gateway.
  • You MUST activate your NYCDOE’s Applicant Gateway within 10 business days after PETS entry “nomination” or your nomination will become invalid.
  • Use the same email address you used when you completed the PETS Registration Form above.
  • Fill out the required online forms and use the code provided for you in Applicant Gateway to schedule a fingerprinting appointment at an Identogo location.

IF YOU GET FINGERPRINTED PRIOR TO SUBMITTING THE ONLINE FORMS ON THE NYCDOE’s APPLICANT GATEWAY, THE FINGERPRINT RESULTS WILL NOT HAVE A CONFIRMED PROFILE TO BE TRANSMITTED TO.

THEREFORE, YOU WILL NEED TO BE FINGERPRINTED AGAIN AND PAY AGAIN. 

  • Visit IdentoGO and select “Schedule or Manage an Appointment.” 
  • Please note: Fee as of January 1, 2022 is $102.75. 
  • You can request a fingerprinting reimbursement request. To qualify for this option, you must notify Mary Donovan at Mary.Donovan@kbcc.cuny.edu 
  • After completing your fingerprinting, please email the following information to mary.donovan@kbcc.cuny.edu
  • Email Subject: Fingerprint Reimbursement Request
  • Your full name, EMPLID, and name of your Education Professor and fieldwork class for the upcoming semester   
  • A clear copy of your KCC Student ID
  • A clear picture of the physical receipt you received when getting fingerprinted
  • A screenshot of the fingerprint appointment confirmation email
  • Your bank statement that shows the fingerprinting charge. The statement MUST show your name, address, and charge. Please redact/black out all other information. (Its ok if this ends up being two pages, please do not crop anything out).
  • Once these documents are submitted, you will be asked to fill out 2 forms, one for direct deposit and a W9. These forms must be submitted to complete the reimbursement request.

After completing your fingerprints at your chosen location, complete and send in the OSPRA-104 form to have your records sent to the New York State Department of Education for future teaching certification purposes. (Check the middle box on the form.)

Congratulations! You’ve been fingerprinted! Show your Applicant Gateway screen with all requirements listed as “Complete” to your professor during the first week of classes. 

Students who do not have a social security number need to follow a different fingerprinting procedure. Please contact Professor Ivana Espinet at Ivana.Espinet@kbcc.cuny.edu for support.

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Donovan in the Education Program office at Mary.Donovan@kbcc.cuny.edu