In accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and school districts with whom we partner in hosting field experiences, the Office of Educator Preparation requires that all candidates maintain current clearances. Below is the list of clearances required in Pennsylvania.
These clearances should be placed in your Castle Branch account. See “Forms and Documents” for forms and other additional guidance.
All clearances are valid for one year and must be updated annually, with the exception of the Act 114 PA DOE FBI Fingerprint Clearance, which is valid for five years with continuous enrollment at 亚色影库.
| Clearance | Description | Processing Time | Period of Validity | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Act 24 | Arrest or Conviction Report | Immediate - complete and sign form | 1 year | No |
| Act 34 | PA Criminal Record Background Check | 3–4 days - request submitted in Castle Branch, takes three to four days for clearance to come back, and is automatically uploaded into CB | 1 year | Yes – paid through Castle Branch |
| Act 114 | PA Department of Education FBI Fingerprint Clearance | 1–2 weeks - make fingerprint appointment, get fingerprints taken, wait for clearance to be returned via email | 5 years with continuous enrollment at 亚色影库 | Yes – paid through IdentoGo |
| Act 126 | Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse | 3 hours - complete training course and get certificate | 1 year | No |
| Act 151 | Child Abuse History Clearance | 1–2 weeks - submit request through Child Welfare Portal and wait for clearance to be returned via email | 1 year | Yes – paid through Child Welfare Portal for clearance AND Castle Branch if you need a “spot” to upload it |
| TB Skin Test | TB skin test and test read 48–72 hours later | 2 days - get TB skin test, then two days later go back and get test read | 1 year | No, if doing at 亚色影库 during free clinic – plan ahead! |
| Proof of Liability Insurance | Through Student PSEA Membership or Private Insurance | Immediate - purchase liability insurance | 1 year unless multiple-year membership is purchased | Yes – paid through student PSEA |
| NSOR - ECED and ECSP only! | National Sex Offender Registry Verification Letter | 14 days from time of application receipt - verification letter will be received via email | 5 years | No |