Act 151: “PENNSYLVANIA CHILD ABUSE HISTORY CLEARANCE”

Fall 2012 Entrance to Major BME in Music Education

Application Packet Clearances Instruction Sheet ? page 1 Teacher Education Program in Music Education

Pennsylvania laws require all employees of public and private schools to acquire child abuse history clearance (Act 151), criminal history clearance (Act 34), and FBI clearance prior to employment. Many school districts require volunteers and others working directly with children to have these clearances. Accordingly, the School of Music requires all music education students enrolled in a field experience course (course work that requires you to either observe or teach in a public school classroom) to have the Act 151 , Act 34, and FBI clearances/record checks. These clearances/record checks are valid for one year from date of issuance to applicant.

Only photocopies of all clearances and record checks will be accepted for the BME Entrance to Major Application Packet. KEEP ALL ORIGINALS IN A SAFE PLACE! After each clearance/record check is processed and returned to you, submit a COPY of each form with your Application Packet.

Act 151: "PENNSYLVANIA CHILD ABUSE HISTORY CLEARANCE"

Application forms can be downloaded at: dpw.state.pa.us or $10.00 fee (money order only ? no personal checks or credit cards accepted) Indicate SCHOOL as the "Purpose of Clearance" OR application forms can be picked up from Lisa Stamm in 233 Music Building I *** Important - you cannot submit online, you must download application and submit form and payment by US mail.

Process takes about 6-10 weeks. Payment must be made with a money order (keep your receipt!) Payment must be made with a money order (keep your receipt!) Allow 6-10 weeks for processing This clearance takes a great amount of time to process; DO NOT DELAY!

Act 34: "REQUEST FOR CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK"

Application can be submitted online with a credit card at: and select "Submit a New Record Check" under credit card users.

$10.00 fee 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: psp.state.pa.us

o See Documents, Brochures & Forms, then PSP Forms Available for Public; o Indicate EMPLOYMENT as the "Reason for Request" For mailed form, allow 6-8 weeks for processing For mailed form, payment must be made with a money order (keep your receipt as evidence!) Personal checks are not accepted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

FBI (Federal Criminal History Record) CLEARANCE

Information available at pa. Students must be fingerprinted at one of the specified locations in the state of Pennsylvania (see

). The fingerprint-based background check is a multiple-step process. Additional information on this clearance is also available

at the website listed above. Indicate COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY as "Reason for Request" This clearance takes a great amount of time to process; DO NOT DELAY!! You must request a paper copy of your clearance results (at a cost of $2.50) upon registering on the Cogent System

website. This will be your only opportunity to obtain a paper copy. Please allow 10-12 weeks for processing and mailing times.

Fall 2012 Entrance to Major BME in Music Education

Application Packet Clearances Instruction Sheet ? page 2 Teacher Education Program in Music Education

FBI Federal Criminal History Record Clearance process:

Information available at pa. The fingerprint-based background check is a multiple-step process:

1. The applicant must register prior to going to the fingerprint site. Walk in service without prior registration will not be provided at any fingerprinting location. Registration is completed online or over the phone. Online registration is available 24 hours/day, seven days per week at pa.. Telephone registration is available at 1-888-439-2486, Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm EST. During the registration process, all demographic data for the applicant is collected (name, address, SSN, etc.), so there is no data entry required at the fingerprint collection site.

[PDE recommends online registration to avoid data collection errors and ensure a successful registration.]

2. The applicant will pay a fee of $33.00 for the fingerprint service and to secure the Criminal History Record. The applicant may request a paper copy of the report for an additional charge of $2.50. This will be the applicant's only opportunity to request a copy of the report. Payment may be made online at the time of registration using a debit or credit card. Payment may also be made with a Money Order or Cashier's Check at the fingerprint location. Money Orders and Cashier's Checks must be made out to COGENT SYSTEMS. NO CASH, PERSONAL CHECKS and NO ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS for background checks will be accepted at the fingerprint sites.

3. The applicant proceeds to the fingerprint site of their choice for fingerprinting, however, only fingerprints done in Pennsylvania will be considered for the clearance. The location of the fingerprint sites and days and hours of operation for each site will be posted on Cogent Systems' website at pa.. The location of fingerprint sites may change over time, so applicants are encouraged to confirm the site location nearest to them.

4. At the fingerprint site, Applicant Livescan Operators (ALO) manage the fingerprint collection process.

5. The fingerprint transaction begins when the ALO reviews the applicant's qualified State or Federal photo ID before processing the applicant's transaction. A list of approved ID types may be found on the Cogent Systems' website at pa.. Applicants will not be processed if they cannot produce an acceptable photo ID.

6. After the identity of the applicant has been established, all ten fingers are scanned to complete the process. The entire fingerprint capture process should take no more than three to five minutes.

7. The applicant's scanned fingerprints will be electronically transmitted to the Pennsylvania State Police, who in turn submit the fingerprints and demographic information to the FBI as required by federal statute.

8. A Receipt confirming that the background check was completed is available at the Cogent website. An applicant's social security number and birth date are required to access a printable receipt.

9. PDE will receive the Federal Criminal History Record from the FBI. PDE's School Services Unit will return the Federal Criminal History Record to the applicant. The Record will be printed on standard 8.5 x 11 paper with the Commonwealth Seal imbedded on the paper This document constitutes an official Record. If an applicant presents their Federal Criminal History Record and the Commonwealth Seal is not embedded on the paper, it should be considered as invalid and not an official Record. If the applicant does not receive the Criminal History Record from PDE within eight weeks after being fingerprinted, they should call (717) 783-3750 or email PDE at dwolfgang@state.pa.us.

10. Music education students must provide a COPY of the FBI Clearance with their fall 2012 BME Entrance to Major Application Packet. Be sure to keep the original for your own records!

Information revised by MU ED Office ? November 2011

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