Contact

Kelsey Organ
Associate Director
Ehinger Office Annex 114
610-436-0042

Judith Mullane
Administrative Assistant
Ehinger Office Annex 112
610-436-0065

 

 

Educator Preparation/ Educator Specialists

Pennsylvania state law requires that all persons who interact with children in any setting must have clearances for their field courses. Clearances must be on file with the Office of Candidate Services. At the following link, you will find a list of Courses Requiring Clearances. Students will be notified of clearance deadlines and requirements by email.

FIELD EXPERIENCE Clearance Deadline Information: Background clearances are valid for one year from date of issue for field courses and cannot turn one year old during a semester. For the Fall 2025 semester, the issue date of your clearances and TB test must be on or after December 10, 2024.

Field and Student Teaching Clearance Submission

Due Dates

  • Early Summer Field Experience: 5/1/2025
  • Summer Session I Field Experience: 5/15/2025
  • Summer Session II Field Experience: 6/10/2025
  • Fall 2025 Field Experience: 6/10/2025
  • Spring 2026 Student Teaching: 6/10/2025

 

 

Directions and Checklist

Clearance
Instructions
Submit
Clearances
Important Browser Information for Clearances
Clearance
Checklist

PA Child Abuse History Certification

Online

DO NOT CHOOSE VOLUNTEER  VERSION

Samples

PA State Police Criminal Record Check

Online

DO NOT CHOOSE VOLUNTEER VERSION

Important: Print the certificate and not just the receipt!

Samples

FBI Fingerprinting Background Check

The only approved fingerprint provider for the State of PA is IdentoGO.  The closest fingerprinting site to campus is 1239 W Chester Pike (located inside the Fastest Labs).  If you get fingerprinted out of state, there is an additional $25.00 fee.

To enroll, https://uenroll.identogo.com and enter Service Code 1KG6RT to get started (All teacher ed students use this same code to be fingerprinted for PA Department of Education).

  • Within 24-48 hours of fingerprinting, you will receive an email from status@dev.pasafecheck.identogo.com with a one-time link to access these results from a computer only.
  • PRINT AND SAVE THE 2-PAGE UNOFFICIAL COPY! YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A PAPER COPY IN THE MAIL.

Samples

TB Testing

It is preferred that the TB Test is no older than 3 months when starting the first field class for a program  (not the first field class for the academic year or semester). If you currently have a TB test that is less than a year from the read date, it will be accepted.

Test Administration

  • Your primary care physician
  • Student Health Services (Commonwealth Hall, Ground Floor 610-436-2509)
  • AFC Urgent Care Address: 510 Gay Street, West Chester, PA 19380; Phone number: 484 999 0204
  • Some local Pharmacy/Drug Stores

The WCU TB Testing Form is preferred to report the results of your TB test or a letter from your doctor including the date the test was read and the test results. Entire immunization records are NOT acceptable.

Note: Some school districts hosting field students require a TB test issued within 90 days of beginning their school district assignment. School district requirements take precedence over University policy.

Samples

Release form

 

Additional Resources

International Students

  • International students must complete a one-time International Background Check through American Databank
  • International students reach out to candidateservices@wcupa.edu for information

University Clearance Policies

  • University policy allows for candidates to be removed from educator preparation/educator specialist field courses if they have not provided clearances for examination and submission before the publicized deadline for a semester. 
  • In the event you have arrests or convictions on any clearance document, you are required to make an appointment with the Associate Dean for Curriculum and Accreditation in the College of Education and Social Work to discuss university policy concerning continuation in teacher education and take steps to be cleared for field experiences. You should not report to any field experience site without first meeting with the Associate Dean, College of Education.
  • The Office of Candidate Services handles clearances for Educator Preparation and Education Specialist Programs.

 

Office of Clinical Experiences and Candidate Services
700 South Church Street, Ehinger Office Annex· West Chester University of Pennsylvania · West Chester, PA 19383 · Phone: 610-436-3090 · Fax: 610-436-2874