All applicants for certificates, licensees, or permits must undergo a fingerprint-supported criminal history background check. State law requires the State Education Department to conduct these background checks for all school personnel, including applicants for certification, in addition to all prospective employees of school districts, charter schools and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES).
Fingerprinting services are no longer available at DOE facilities. As of May 5, 2022, all fingerprinting for DOE candidates will be handled by a third-party vendor, IdentoGO. Candidates who receive a nomination and require fingerprinting will need to register and be fingerprinted with IdentoGO. For more information on the fingerprinting process, refer to the DOE HR website and the DOE InfoHub (login required).
The Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability (OSPRA) within the Office of Teaching Initiatives is responsible for monitoring this process. Criminal History Background checks require a $91.50 payment, which covers both a NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services search and an FBI review. For more information contact OSPRA at ospra@mail.nysed.gov