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Friday, May 9th, 2008

The Center for Schools and Communities is the capital area’s fingerprinting site in compliance with the FBI Federal Criminal History Records for prospective *school and education-related employees who have direct contact with children.

 

Hours of Operation and Directions

  • Monday, Tuesday and Thursday - 8:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
  • You do not need an appointment.
  • Service is not available on December 24, 25, 31, 2007, January 1, 2008, February 18, 2008, March 24, 2008 or May 26, 2008.
  • There is plenty of free parking at this site. The site is handicap accessible.
  • For directions to our site, please click here.

 

Fingerprinting Process

  • Applicants must provide proof of identity upon arrival at the fingerprint center. Please have your required form of photo identification ready (such as a state issued driver’s license, state I.D. card, passport, etc.).
  • Acceptable forms of photo identification are listed on the Cogent Systems website. Applicants will not be processed if they cannot produce acceptable identification.
  • All persons requesting fingerprinting must register through the Cogent System before being fingerprinted. The Center for Schools and Communities cannot administer the fingerprint service unless you have registered with Cogent in advance. There are no exceptions.
  • Your form of identification will be reviewed and used to confirm your identity.
  • Payment may be made online at the time of registration using a debit or credit card. Payment may also be made with a Money Order or Cashiers Check at the fingerprint site. Money Orders and Cashiers Checks must be made payable to COGENT SYSTEMS.
  • Your fingers will be digitally scanned.
  • The fingerprint information is then electronically and securely sent to the Pennsylvania State Police, who in turn submit the information to the FBI. The FBI sends the Federal Criminal History Record to the Pennsylvania Department of Education who then forwards the record to the applicant.
  • You should receive your Criminal History Record from the Pennsylvania Department of Education within eight weeks after being fingerprinted. After eight weeks, you may call (717) 783-3750 or email PDE at dwolfgang@state.pa.us. Please do not contact the Center for Schools and Communities. We are not able to access or track your records.

 

For more information please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Background Clearance page or the Cogent Systems Fingerprint Services for Pennsylvania page.

 

* Who is required to be fingerprinted?

Act 114 of 2006, Section 111 of the Public School Code was amended effective April 1, 2007. All student teachers (participating in classroom teaching, internships, clinical or field experience) and prospective employees (including but not limited to administrators, teachers, substitutes, janitors, cafeteria workers, office employees) of public and private schools, Intermediate Units and area vocational-technical schools, including independent contractors and their employees and bus drivers, who have direct contact with children, must provide to their employer a copy of their Pennsylvania State Criminal History Background Check and their Federal Criminal History Record that cannot be more than one (1) year old. This only applies to employees hired on or after April 1, 2007. Employees hired prior to April 1, 2007, are only required to provide the Federal Criminal History record if they have lived outside of the state for at least two years immediately preceding their application for employment.