Clearances

Pennsylvania has laws to help safeguard children.

All volunteers working with children under 18 years old are required to obtain the PA Child Abuse History Clearance, the PA Criminal Record Check, and possibly the FBI Criminal Background Check with fingerprinting.

How to obtain your required clearances:

Log on to the following websites:

  • PA Criminal Background Clearance, https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp. Volunteer applications are free.
  • PA Child Abuse Clearance, http://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home. Volunteer applications are free. You will need to set up an account first and then fill out the applications. Follow directions on line.
  • Volunteer Request for Waiver of FBI Record Check. If you have lived in PA for the last ten years and have no criminal record from any state, you can fill out the attached form in lieu of the FBI Fingerprints: https://www.bpsd.org/Downloads/VOLUNTEER%20REQUEST%20FOR%20WAIVER%20OF8.pdf.

  • Or, if you haven't lived in PA for ten consecutive years, you will need to be fingerprinted.
    General Information
    The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services uses IDEMIA to process fingerprint-based FBI criminal background checks. The fingerprint-based background check is a multi-step process. For general questions about FBI clearances, please contact the FBI Background Check Unit at 717-783-6211 or 1-877-371-5422. For IDEMIA registration, processing, or billing questions, please contact IDEMIA/IdentoGo at 1-844-321-2101.
    Fingerprinting Process
    • Appointments to be fingerprinted are not required, but pre-registration is required either online or by phone. To register online, please go to www.Identogo.com; by telephone please call 1-844-321-2101 and listen to the options menu.
    • When you or your employee or volunteer register, the employer will have to provide a service code. Your code is 1KG6ZJ.
    • Once registered, you may walk in during a location's posted hours of operation, but scheduling an appointment may lead to lesser/no wait times. In order to pre-register for a FBI background check and/or find a fingerprinting location, applicants should access the IDEMIA website. It is strongly encouraged that the employee or volunteer contact the site prior to going there as the information on the IDEMIA website may differ from actual hours of operation.
    • Fee: $22
  • Appendix B from the Zwingli Safe Church Policy

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