Criminal Background Check Requirement

Note: If you are seeking to get a background check for your Education courses or for admission to the program, the Department of Teacher Education will cover the cost of your fingerprinting ($20). To pick up a waiver form to submit to the SUU Police Office, please contact your professor, Katie Guest (ED 338A), or Shirley Wilson (ED 338B). 

Before a teacher candidate can work in the public schools in extended practicums and clinical practice, a criminal background check must be completed. The Utah State Board of Education policy requires that teacher candidates be cleared on fingerprints from the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. These agencies will search regional and national files for criminal convictions. In some cases, sealed records may be accessed to determine the teacher candidate's fitness for teaching.

Please be aware that you have to be at least 18 years old in order to request a background check. 

On March 1, 2022 a new process was implemented by the Utah State Board of Education for the Educator Background Checks (EBC). Their new web based application is designed to help facilitate the process of applying for and initiating the required background check process for both new and existing educators.

• Access EBC
• Create an account
• Request a background check and complete the ethics review
  
  • To retrieve your CACTUS ID#, click on "Personal Information" in your USIMS checklist
• On Campus Students: Make an appointment at the SUU Public Safety Office to get your Live Scan fingerprints taken. 
  • Pick up a fee waiver form to submit to the SUU Public Safety Office from Katie Guest (ED 338A), Caitlin Carter (ED 338), or Shirley Wilson (ED 338B). 
    • Those who do not need to pay the $20 include AmeriCorps, Upward Bound, and Working with Minors.
  • Please bring a passport or driver's license, and CACTUS ID to the appointment (Student IDs will not be accepted).
  • Have the SUU Police Dept. bill it to B1017
• Online Students: You will need to get your fingerprints taken at one of the places listed. SUU will reimburse you for the associated cost (up to $20) if you send your receipt to Katie Guest (katieguest@suu.edu). You will need to send your T# as well. 
• Have your fingerprints scanned electronically (MAKE SURE they are LIVESCAN fingerprints, not cards)
• When you receive your clearance email, forward it to Shirley Wilson at wilson@suu.edu so it can be recorded in your file

If you are attending SUU, you should have your fingerprints scanned at the SUU Public Safety Office, 36 N. 300 W. Currently, they are only accepting appointments for fingerprints on Tuesdays between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm. They will begin appointments again on Wednesdays between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm as we get closer to the start of school or as the need for fingerprints increases. They are also no longer accepting walk-ins. You must call the SUU Police office at (435) 586-7793 to schedule an appointment. They will schedule on a first call, first serve basis.

You will only have a 60-day window to complete the live scan fingerprinting once the authorization letter has been generated. After that time you will be required to begin the process all over again.

Cleared fingerprints are valid for five years. If you have not completed program requirements to receive a teaching license within those five years, you will be required to submit another set of fingerprints.

If you have any questions please contact Shirley Wilson (435) 586-7802.