Fingerprinting for Hunter College School of Education Students
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 as well as programs in school counseling 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 and school counseling programs 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.
- If you are in a program in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), you only need fingerprint clearance from NYSED by the dates indicated above.
- 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.
Note that your fingerprint clearance status will be reflected as a milestone in CUNYfirst (as “PETS Clearance Complete”) after all steps below have been completed and processed by NYSED and the NYCDOE.
What Are My Next Steps?
Please select the statement that applies to you.
I Am a Current Student in an Initial Certification Program or in School Counseling and Have Never Been Fingerprinted
You will need to be fingerprinted and have your fingerprint clearance filed by both the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE). The School of Education recommends Option 1 (getting fingerprinted by the State and transferring your fingerprints to the City).
Option 1: Getting Fingerprinted by the NYCDOE (“the City”) and Transferring Fingerprinting Records to NYSED (“the State”)
This option is for candidates who will be placed in the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) and who have never been fingerprinted. Candidates will be fingerprinted by the City and will need to transfer their fingerprinting records to the State, via the OSPRA 104 form. See the directions below.
Nomination
- Complete the PETS Registration Form and upload it to this Google form. This step authorizes the Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE) to enter your personal information into PETS, also known as a “nomination”
- Be sure to include a valid social security number and complete address.
- Accurate completion of the PETS Registration Form ensures a quicker and more efficient process.
- Please wait 2-3 business days to receive confirmation from the OCE that the PETS entry (nomination) is complete.
- After your nomination, you will receive an email from PETSAdminSupport@schools.nyc.gov. Open and read the nomination email which includes important information about the security clearance requirement as well as the process for fingerprinting.
- Please make sure that your social security number is correct, and send an email to PETSAdminSupport@schools.nyc.gov immediately if your number is incorrect.
- Activate Applicant Gateway profile via the link that is provided in the PETS Admin Support email.
- Once logged in to the Applicant Gateway, submit the following on-line forms:
- Fingerprint Referral Form
- Background Questionnaire
Getting Fingerprinted
- All NYCDOE fingerprinting will take place at the Department of Education at 65 Court Street in Brooklyn, NY
- Contact the HRC Service Center (the link will be in the email you received from Pets Admin Support), and the HRC Service Center will send you a link to the reservation system.
- Your Fingerprint Referral Form and Background Questionnaire must be completed before requesting the appointment or your request will be rejected.
- You will have the opportunity to set your appointment time and report in person to the NYCDOE at that time, respecting all COVID-19 safety procedures.
- Print your completed Fingerprint Referral Form from the Applicant Gateway and bring it with you to your appointment. You will be turned away if you do not have this form with you.
If you require assistance, please contact the Office of Clinical Experiences at oce@hunter.cuny.edu.
Transferring Fingerprinting Records from NYCDOE to NYSED
Once you have already been fingerprinted by the NYCDOE, you will need to transfer your fingerprinting clearance record to NYSED via the Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) and by submitting an Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability (OSPRA) form: OSPRA 104
- To begin the process, create or log in to your TEACH Account. Teacher candidates must have a TEACH account with the New York State Education Department of Education (NYSED), a system designed for users to perform various functions regarding teacher certification and fingerprinting.
- Complete and sign the OSPRA 104 form, which grants the NYSED the permission to receive information from NYCDOE. Email the signed form (you can scan or take a digital photo) to the NYCDOE at HRCServiceCenter@schools.nyc.gov. Note that typically this request must be made in person at 65 Court St., but the NYCDOE is temporarily allowing the request to be submitted via email.
- NYCDOE cannot provide any update on the status of your application once the form has been submitted. Please check your TEACH account for updates.
If you require assistance, please contact the Office of Clinical Experiences at oce@hunter.cuny.edu.
Option 2: Getting Fingerprinted by NYSED (“the State”) and Transferring Records to the NYCDOE (“the City”)
This option is for candidates who will be placed in the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) and who have never been fingerprinted. Candidates will be fingerprinted by the State and will need to transfer their fingerprinting records to the City.
Getting Fingerprinted
- To begin the process, create or log in to your TEACH Account. Teacher candidates must have a TEACH account with the New York State Education Department of Education (NYSED), a system designed for users to perform various functions regarding teacher certification and fingerprinting.
- Read through fingerprinting procedures for certification on the NYSED website.
- Visit IdentoGO and select “Schedule or Manage an Appointment.” Note your service code: 14ZGQT. The fee as of July 1, 2020 is $102.00
- Once your fingerprints are processed and are in accordance with the agency policy, they will be sent to your TEACH account within 4 weeks where it will read as “Your DCJS and FBI results have been received.”
Transferring Your Fingerprinting Record from NYSED to the NYCDOE
Once you have confirmed fingerprint clearance on your TEACH account, you can proceed with the steps below to transfer your fingerprinting record to the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) via the Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) and by submitting an Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability (OSPRA) form.
- Confirm your fingerprint clearance by logging into your TEACH Account, selecting “Teach Online Services,” and then “Fingerprinting” under the Account Information menu. When your fingerprint clearance is on file, you will see the message “Your DCJS and FBI results have been received” in the Fingerprint Information section.
- Complete the PETS Registration Form and upload it to this Google form. This step authorizes the Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE) to enter your personal information and nominate you into the PETS system. The Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) is a New York City Department of Education’s database system that provides Hunter College staff with the ability to confirm students’ fingerprint clearance prior to their placement in a New York City school and/or agency.
- After receiving confirmation from the Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE) that your information has been entered into PETS, activate your account in the NYCDOE’s Applicant Gateway. Use the same email address you used when you enrolled in PETS. Verify that your Social Security Number is correct in the Applicant Gateway, and notify PETSADMINSUPPORT@schools.nyc.gov immediately if there is an error. Do not move on to step 4 until you are active on PETS.
- Complete and sign sections 1 and 2 of the OSPRA 103 form, which grants the NYCDOE permission to receive information from NYSED. Email the signed form (you can scan or take a digital photo) to the NYCDOE at HRCServiceCenter@schools.nyc.gov. Note that typically this request must be made in person at 65 Court St., but the NYCDOE is temporarily allowing the request to be submitted via email.
- The NYCDOE will countersign section 3, but will not send a copy back. Please allow up to two weeks for the OSPRA request to be processed. Rarely, an individual might need to undergo further investigation via a background check which will extend the length of time for the process to be completed.
- Complete the PETS Registration Form and upload it to this Google form. This step authorizes the Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE) to enter your personal information into PETS, also known as a “nomination”
I Am Enrolled in a Program in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Have Never Been Fingerprinted
Getting Fingerprinted
- To begin the process, create or log in to your TEACH Account. Teacher candidates must have a TEACH account with the New York State Education Department of Education (NYSED), a system designed for users to perform various functions regarding teacher certification and fingerprinting.
- Read through fingerprinting procedures for certification on the NYSED website.
- Visit IdentoGO and select “Schedule or Manage an Appointment.” Note your service code: 14ZGQT. The fee as of July 1, 2020 is $102.00
- Once your fingerprints are processed and are in accordance with the agency policy, they will be sent to your TEACH account within 4 weeks where it will read as “Your DCJS and FBI results have been received.”
I Am in an Early Childhood Program and Also Need to be Fingerprinted by the DOI (Department of Investigations)
Teacher candidates in programs in Early Childhood who will 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 (see steps above under “I Am a Current Student in an Initial Certification Program or in a School Counseling and Have Never Been Fingerprinted”) and the Department of Investigations (DOI). Visit the Department of Investigations for processes and procedures. Your placement site will provide you with the service code that you will need to process your fingerprints with the DOI.
If you require assistance, please contact the Office of Clinical Experiences at oce@hunter.cuny.edu.
I Have Already Been Fingerprinted by DOI (Department of Investigations)
The Department of Investigations (DOI) does not share fingerprint clearance with NYSED (the State) or the NYCDOE (the City); therefore, you are required to be fingerprinted and have your fingerprint clearance filed by both the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE). The School of Education recommends Option 1 (getting fingerprinted by the State and transferring your fingerprints to the City).
Option 1 (Recommended by Hunter College): Getting Fingerprinted by NYSED (“the State”) and Transferring Records to the NYCDOE (“the City”)
This option is for candidates who will be placed in the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) and who have never been fingerprinted. Candidates will be fingerprinted by the State and will need to transfer their fingerprinting records to the City.
Getting Fingerprinted
- To begin the process, create or log in to your TEACH Account. Teacher candidates must have a TEACH account with the New York State Education Department of Education (NYSED), a system designed for users to perform various functions regarding teacher certification and fingerprinting.
- Read through fingerprinting procedures for certification on the NYSED website.
- Visit IdentoGO and select “Schedule or Manage an Appointment.” Note your service code: 14ZGQT. The fee as of July 1, 2020 is $102.00
- Once your fingerprints are processed and are in accordance with the agency policy, they will be sent to your TEACH account within 4 weeks where it will read as “Your DCJS and FBI results have been received.”
Transferring Your Fingerprinting Record from NYSED to the NYCDOE
Once you have confirmed fingerprint clearance on your TEACH account, you can proceed with the steps below to transfer your fingerprinting record to the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) via the Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) and by submitting an Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability (OSPRA) form.
- Confirm your fingerprint clearance by logging into your TEACH Account, selecting “Teach Online Services,” and then “Fingerprinting” under the Account Information menu. When your fingerprint clearance is on file, you will see the message “Your DCJS and FBI results have been received” in the Fingerprint Information section.
- Complete the PETS Registration Form and upload it to this Google form. This step authorizes the Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE) to enter your personal information and nominate you into the PETS system. The Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) is a New York City Department of Education’s database system that provides Hunter College staff with the ability to confirm students’ fingerprint clearance prior to their placement in a New York City school and/or agency.
- After receiving confirmation from the Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE) that your information has been entered into PETS, activate your account in the NYCDOE’s Applicant Gateway. Use the same email address you used when you enrolled in PETS. Verify that your Social Security Number is correct in the Applicant Gateway, and notify PETSADMINSUPPORT@schools.nyc.gov immediately if there is an error. Do not move on to step 4 until you are active on PETS.
- Complete and sign sections 1 and 2 of the OSPRA 103 form, which grants the NYCDOE permission to receive information from NYSED. Email the signed form (you can scan or take a digital photo) to the NYCDOE at HRCServiceCenter@schools.nyc.gov. Note that typically this request must be made in person at 65 Court St., but the NYCDOE is temporarily allowing the request to be submitted via email.
- The NYCDOE will countersign section 3, but will not send a copy back. Please allow up to two weeks for the OSPRA request to be processed. Rarely, an individual might need to undergo further investigation via a background check which will extend the length of time for the process to be completed.
Option 2: Getting Fingerprinted by the NYCDOE (“the City”) and Transferring Fingerprinting Records to NYSED (“the State”)
This option is for candidates who will be placed in the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) and who have never been fingerprinted. Candidates will be fingerprinted by the City and will need to transfer their fingerprinting records to the State.
Nomination
- Complete the PETS Registration Form and upload it to this Google form. This step authorizes the Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE) to enter your personal information and nominate you into the PETS system. The Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) is a New York City Department of Education’s database system that provides Hunter College staff with the ability to confirm students’ fingerprint clearance prior to their placement in a New York City school and/or agency.
- The PETS Registration Form MUST include the social security number and your complete address.
- Accurate completion of the PETS Registration Form ensures a quicker and more efficient process.
- Please wait 2-3 business days to receive confirmation from the OCE office that your PETS entry is complete.
- After receiving confirmation from the OCE that your information has been entered into PETS, activate your account in the NYCDOE’s Applicant Gateway. Use the same email address you entered in the PETS Registration Form. Verify that your Social Security Number is correct in the Applicant Gateway.
- Complete the Fingerprint Referral Form
- Complete the Background Questionnaire
- Note that your security/fingerprint clearance is not yet complete.
Getting Fingerprinted
- All NYCDOE fingerprinting will take place at the Department of Education at 65 Court Street in Brooklyn, NY
- Contact the HRC Service Center (the link will be in the email from Pets Admin Support).
- The HRC Service center will send you a link to the reservation system. Your Fingerprint Referral Form and Background Questionnaire must be completed before requesting the appointment or your request will be rejected.
- You will have the opportunity to set your appointment time and report in person to the NYCDOE at that time, respecting all COVID-19 safety procedures.
If you require assistance, please contact the Office of Clinical Experiences at oce@hunter.cuny.edu.
Transferring Fingerprinting Records from NYCDOE to NYSED
Once you have already been fingerprinted by the NYCDOE, you will need to transfer your fingerprinting clearance record to NYSED via the Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) and by submitting an Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability (OSPRA) form: OSPRA 104
- To begin the process, create or log in to your TEACH Account. Teacher candidates must have a TEACH account with the New York State Education Department of Education (NYSED), a system designed for users to perform various functions regarding teacher certification and fingerprinting.
- Complete and sign the OSPRA 104 form, which grants the NYSED the permission to receive information from NYCDOE. Email the signed form (you can scan or take a digital photo) to the NYCDOE at HRCServiceCenter@schools.nyc.gov. Note that typically this request must be made in person at 65 Court St., but the NYCDOE is temporarily allowing the request to be submitted via email.
- NYCDOE cannot provide any update on the status of your application once the form has been submitted. Please check your TEACH account for updates.
If you require assistance, please contact the Office of Clinical Experiences at oce@hunter.cuny.edu.
I Am an Employee of the NYCDOE and Have Already Been Fingerprinted
If you are or have been an employee of the NYCDOE and you have already been fingerprinted, your information will need to be entered into the Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS), a New York City Department of Education database system that provides Hunter College staff with the ability to confirm students’ fingerprint clearance prior to their placement in a New York City school and/or agency.
- Complete the PETS Registration Form and upload it to this Google form. This step authorizes the Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE) to enter your personal information and nominate you into the PETS system. The PETS Registration Form MUST include the social security number and your complete address.
- Accurate completion of the PETS Registration Form ensures a quicker and more efficient process.
- Please wait 3-5 business days to receive confirmation from the OCE office that your PETS entry is complete.
I Am an International Student
International Students to contact the OCE who will support you in this process. Email oce@hunter.cuny.edu with the subject line “International Student Seeking Fingerprint Support.”
Verifying Your Fingerprint Clearance Status
Once you have completed the steps above and initiated the transfer of your records to the appropriate agency, you will need to wait for the state and/or city agencies to process your forms. Remember, all students in teacher preparation programs and school counseling must have fingerprints on file at both NYSED and the NYCDOE.
Confirming that Your Fingerprints Are on File in your TEACH Account at the State
To verify that your fingerprints are on file at NYSED, first log into your TEACH Account, select “Teach Online Services,” and then “Fingerprinting” under the Account Information menu. When your fingerprint clearance is on file, you will see the message “Your DCJS and FBI results have been received” or “We have received your fingerprint information from NYC” in the Fingerprint Information section.
Confirming that Fingerprints Are on File with the City (NYCDOE)
Activate or log into your New York City Department of Education Applicant Gateway account using the same email account you provided in the PETS Registration Form, and check your “Nomination Status”; if all components are marked “Complete,” then you have met the NYCDOE background check requirement.
Support
If you have questions regarding fingerprinting, contact the Office of Clinical Experiences at oce@hunter.cuny.edu.