Month: January 2025

BACKGROUND CLEARANCES

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BACKGROUND CLEARANCE INFO

PIAA is not able accept clearances for volunteers.

Officials must supply PIAA with copies of their background clearances. The Pennsylvania State Police, PA Department of Human Services, and Identogo/PA Department of Education DO NOT supply PIAA with copies of your background clearances. 

For instructions on how to upload your Background Clearances, click here.

Because PIAA-registered officials are independent contractors to schools whose Contests they officiate, the officials are required to comply with the requirements for background certifications as set forth in the Public School Code and the recent revisions to the Child Protective Services Law (adopted July 1, 2015), as follows:

There are three clearances that are required by PA State Law.  Each can be accessed at the links below:

1. FBI clearance (ACT 114) – The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has changed the provider for this clearance. PIAA is not able accept clearances for volunteers. Also, the Affidavit-Exemption from FBI Clearance form is not acceptable for PIAA registered officials.

Follow these instructions to register for fingerprints:

  1. Visit https://uenroll.identogo.com/
  2. When prompted for a Service Code, enter 1KG6XN
  3. On the next screen, click “Schedule or Manage Appointment”
  4. Fill out all the required information. As you fill out the required information, you will be asked to search for a place to have your fingerprints captured. The locations are not the same as the old Cogent sites. You will choose a day and time, or just walk-in, to have your fingerprints captured. 
  5. You will pay the fee of $26.20 when you arrive at the fingerprinting site. 
  6. You will receive additional instructions on how to receive your results after completing the fingerprinting.
  7. To locate locations and hours of service centers visit: https://uenroll.identogo.com/workflows/1KG6XN/locator/location
  • Click here for an example of what needs to be uploaded to our website (Identogo/Morpho Turst).

PLEASE NOTE: YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A HARD COPY OF YOUR RESULTS! You will receive an EMAIL from PASafeCheck (Identogo) with your “Unofficial Results”. If you did not receive the email, check your spam and/or junk folders. It is also recommended you only open this email from a computer. You will then have ONE TIME ONLY access to your results. Please make sure you do not open this on a device where you are not able to save the document. You will need to save the document and then upload said document to the PIAA website. Do not delay in opening this document, you only have a short window of time to access the unofficial copy (usually 30 days from receipt). If you are unable to save the document or accidentally used the one time access, please contact the Pennsylvania Department of Education at 717-783-3750 (you will hear music. Leave a message. A representative will return your call) or email them at [email protected] (include your full name, UE ID#, and your full mailing address) and ask them for your Civil Applicant Response. PIAA is unable to access your results. 

ADDITIONALLY, You will only receive “Unofficial Results” from Identogo and the PA Department of Education. “Official” copies are only able to be obtained by authorized agencies. PIAA is not one of those agencies. Therefore, we need the “Unofficial Results” uploaded to our website. Links above will show you what is needed to upload.

2. PA State Police clearance  (ACT 34) – https://epatch.pa.gov/home

  • In completing the PA State Police clearance, the “reason” is employment.  Click here for the example of the form that needs to be uploaded to our website.    
  • Fee is $22.
  • PIAA is not able to accept clearances for volunteers.

INSTRUCTIONS ON OBTAINING THE ACT 34 CLEARANCE

  1. Go to the PA State Police Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) website at https://epatch.pa.gov/home
  2. Click the SILVER button with navy blue letters titled SUBMIT A NEW RECORD CHECK.
  3. Read the Terms and Conditions for the use of PATCH and hit accept.
  4. Click INDIVIDUAL REQUEST.
  5. Fill in the information requested. Click NEXT. NOTE: Reason for Request is EMPLOYMENT.
  6. Confirm your information and click PROCEED.
  7. Fill in the requested information and click ENTER THIS REQUEST.
  8. After clicking ENTER THIS REQUEST, VIEW QUEUED RECORD CHECK REQUESTS (1) will pop up on the bottom of the screen in navy blue letters. Click FINISHED.
  9. On the RECORD CHECK REQUEST REVIEW page, confirm your information and click SUBMIT.
  10. This will take you to the REQUEST CHECKOUT page. Read the details and click CHECKOUT.
  11. Fill in your payment information and click PAY WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD.
  12. Once payment is processed, you will be taken to the RECORD CHECK REQUEST RESULTS page. 
  13. Click on the CONTROL #.
  14. On the next page, click CERTIFICATION FORM. This will be found right above the BACK button.
  15. Once you click CERTIFICATION FORM, you will need to save or print the form that appears. This is your record check and the form which needs uploaded to the PIAA website.

3. Department of Human Services clearance (PA Child Abuse)  (ACT 151) – https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home

  • In completing the Child Abuse History clearance, under the application purpose, check the box titled, “School Employee Governed by Public School Code”.  Click here for the example of the form that needs to be uploaded to our website.       
  • Fee is $13.
  • PIAA is not able to accept clearances for volunteers.

INSTRUCTIONS ON OBTAINING THE ACT 151 CLEARANCE

To complete the online PA Child Abuse History Clearance you will need to have internet access, printer, credit/debit card, email account, knowledge of previous addresses since 1975 and names of everyone you have lived with at any time since 1975.

  1. Go to the Child Welfare secure website at https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis
  2. Click on Create a new account.
  3. Read the general information and click Next to create a Keystone ID. Chose a username that you will remember.
  4. Enter the requested information including your email address and create security questions. Then click Finish. (You will need to immediately access your email for the temporary password).
  5. You will receive this message on the screen: You have successfully created a Keystone ID and a temporary password has been emailed to you. You will receive two emails. The first email contains your Keystone ID and the second email contains your temporary password. Click Close Window.
  6. If you are not immediately taken to the login page, return to the website and click Login. Then click Access My Clearances. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Continue. On the Keystone Login page, enter your username (Keystone ID) and temporary password you retrieved via email.
  7. You will be taken to the login screen to reset your password. Create a New password and click Submit.
  8. Click Close Window. You will be taken back to the login screen. Enter your username (Keystone ID) and New password.
  9. Read My Child Welfare Account Terms and Conditions. Then click the statement acknowledging I have read, fully understand and agree to the My Child Welfare Account Terms and Conditions. Then click Next.
  10. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Continue.
  11. Click Create Clearance Application. Scroll to the bottom of the next page and click Begin.
  12. Under the Application Purpose select School Employee Governed by Public School Code. Then click Next.
  13. Continue through the online application pages and provide the requested information. Click the blue plus sign [+] to add additional fields.
  14. Under the section Certificate Delivery Method, you can elect to have a paper copy of clearance mailed to you. It will also be available online.
  15. Once you have completed the online application, review the Applicant Summary. If your information is not correct or needs to be updated, click the Edit button in the heading of the section and modify it as necessary.
  16. Click Next for your eSignature.
  17. To complete your application, eSign by checking the acknowledgement and entering your first and last name as it appears on the Application Information screen.
  18. Proceed to the “Applicant Payment” screen.
  19. Select No to the question, “Did an organization provide a payment code for your application”.
  20. You will then be asked for a payment of $13.00 (credit/debit card).
  21. Once payment has been submitted print your receipt and then Click Submit Application.
  22. You should see the message Success. Your application (e….Clearance Id: XXXXX) has been successfully submitted.

NOTES: Save your Keystone ID and Password!! You will be notified via email that your application has been processed and you are directed to open your Child Welfare Account to retrieve and print your clearance. This process may be immediate or may take a few days.

**The PA State Police clearance and the Department of Human Services clearance can be printed and mailed to those depts.