RIGHT COLUMN TITLE
As of April 1, 2007, all prospective employes 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 employes, 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 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.
Undergraduate students should begin the process for obtaining each of the four clearances as soon as you:
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.
| Required Clearances | Valid Period | Can be Obtained | Fee/Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records (Act 34) | Good for the duration of the student teaching program - Must be renewed if not continuously enrolled. | Pennsylvania Access to the Criminal History (PATCH) System | $10.00 |
| The 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) | $10.00 |
| The Federal Criminal History Record (Act 114) | Good for the duration of the student teaching program - Must be renewed if not continuously enrolled. | Pennsylvania Department of Education: Instructions for registering. | $40.00 |
| P.P.D. Tuberculin Test | Must be current with in one year and renewed each year. | Student Health Services: 1810 Liacouras Walk, 4th floor or at your primary car physician. | $4.00 |
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.