Clearances

All students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate-level Elementary and Secondary education programs are required to maintain their clearances according to the provided schedule below for the duration of their program.

Failure to complete clearances on-time can negatively impact grades and result in exclusion from field experience.

**Please note that the OTEC will transition to CastleBranch to process student clearances. Please check back soon for more updates related to CastleBranch.**

Fingerprints, Background Check, PA Child Abuse

You can complete your PA Child Abuse clearance, Pennsylvania Background Check (Criminal History), and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Criminal History Clearance through the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) website by following the instructions below. You should keep a record of any username and passwords for future reference.

All clearances should be saved and submitted to the OTEC via email to CFED@widener.edu. 

As of Spring 2022, the PA Child Abuse clearance and Pennsylvania Background Check (Criminal History) are free for volunteers. There is a fee for completing the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Criminal History Clearance.

• PA Child Abuse Clearance (Volunteer)
  • To complete the application process, visit the Child Welfare Information Solution at https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
  •  You will need to select the Create Individual Account button to create a Keystone ID which should be between 6 and 64 characters. This will serve as your username when you revisit the site in the future.
  •  If you attempt to create a Keystone ID and already have one, follow the prompts to retrieve your user ID via the link at the top of the page.
  • Complete the form and follow the prompts to complete the application process.
    • Select individual login here
    •  Select access my clearances
    • Select continue at the bottom of the page
    • Select the To view the result, click here button
    • Download and save to your device
    • Send your final results to cfed@widener.edu
• Pennsylvania Background Check (Criminal History)
  • To complete the application process, visit the Pennsylvania State Police site here.
  • You will need to select the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) button under the section titled, Request a Background Check.
  • Click on the New Record Check (Volunteers Only) button.
  • Complete the form and follow the prompts to complete the application process.
    • Once completed, you will be brought to the Record Check Details Page (confirmation page).
      • Click here to view an example
    • You will need to select Certification Form at the bottom of the page to view your clearance
      • Click here to view an example
    • Download and save the certification form in the following format
      • Save as: Last Name, First Name_Background Check, ddmmyyy
      • Make sure the document is saved prior to exiting the website
      • You should send a copy of the document to the OTEC Administrative Support Specialist via email upon completion
• Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Criminal History Clearance
• Schedule an appointment with IdentoGo online service. Visit https://www.identogo.com/ to schedule. If you prefer to register by phone, you can call 1-844-321-2101 and follow the prompts.
• To register online, follow the steps below.
  • Select the blue Get Fingerprinted button at the top of the page
  • Select Pennsylvania in the drop down and click the Go button
  • Under Enrollment Services, select Digital Fingerprinting
  • Enter the Service Code: 1KG6RT and select G0
    Select the Schedule or Manage Appointment option
  • Follow the prompts to complete the application
    • You will be able to choose a fingerprinting location after filling in your personal information and selecting your preference for identification
  • Once you select a location, date, and time, you will be brought to a registration page with additional appointment information.
  • Complete your appointment
    • You will need a credit or debit card in your name to process payment in the amount of $22.60 at your appointment.
  • Email a copy of your results to cfed@widener.edu

Mandated Reporter Training (Act 31)
Students will need to complete Act 31 training prior to their first semester at Widener University. It is free and takes four hours to complete. You do not need to complete it in one sitting, you can save and go back into it at your leisure. You will need to save the certificate that you receive at the end of the training.  A copy of the certificate should also be sent to the OTEC Administrative Support Specialist for your student file.

Tuberculosis (TB) Test Results
Students are required to complete TB testing done once every three years until their program is completed. Upon entry to the program, students will be required to provide a copy of their test results to the OTEC Administrative Support Specialist via email. These results will be stored in the student’s file as a requirement for field experience. More information related to TB testing can be found using the link towards the bottom of this page.

National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR)
Students are required to complete the NSOR Verification process prior to their first semester at Widener University. There is no cost associated with this clearance. A copy of the application can be found in the NSOR link provided towards the bottom of this page. Students should complete the form and submit it to the agency using one of the options in the second box (mail, email, hand delivery). Students will receive a response from the agency within 14 days. Upon receipt, a copy of the agency verification correspondence should be submitted to the OTEC Administrative Support Specialist via email.

For more information about the importance of completing your clearances, please visit the Keep Kids Safe website.

Updated 03/07/2024