Certificates (Clearances)

In order to be offered employment with the East Penn School District, there are three certificates that must be obtained:

  • Pennsylvania Child Abuse History  Certification
  • Pennsylvania Criminal History
  • FBI Federal Criminal History

****All submitted certificates must be less than one year old for NEW employees.****


The Child Abuse History Certificate  can be completed online.  Requests for clearance statements (now called “certifications”) may be made online at Pennsylvania Child Welfare Portal (external website).  Upon signing on to the Child Welfare Portal, you will be asked to “Create Individual Account” or “Individual Login”.  If this is your first time to the site, you will select “Create Individual Account”.   Here you will be asked to create your Keystone ID# (this is an ID that you will create for yourself and retain for later use).   You will be given the option to have a copy mailed to you. Upon completion and submission of your application you will be notified via email when your certification is ready to view online (anywhere from 1 day to 4 weeks).  You will then log back into your account on the Child Welfare Portal and select “Individual Login” to access and print out the certificate.   If you selected to have a copy mailed to you, it could take 4 – 8 weeks or longer.


The Pennsylvania Criminal History  can be completed online. The online results are available almost immediately.  Complete the process online at Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) (external website) and click on “Submit a New Record Check” and follow the instructions.  Please select “Employment” as the Reason for Request.  At the end of the process, you will be shown a receipt on the screen (which you can print if you require a receipt).  In the middle of the receipt you will see “Certification Form” in blue.  Click on this and it will bring up your Criminal Background Certificate which you will then print. Please note, once you print the “Certification Form”, you will be unable to print it again.


The FBI Federal Criminal History  requires individuals to have fingerprints digitally rolled at a registered fingerprinting site.

Registration – The applicant must register prior to going to the fingerprint site. Walk in service is allowed but all applicants are required to complete pre-enrollment in the new Universal Enrollment system. Pre-enrollment can be completed online or over the phone. The registration website is available online 24 hours/day, seven days per week at https://uenroll.identogo.com (external website).  Telephonic registration is available at 1-844-321-2101 Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm EST. During the pre-enrollment process, all demographic data for the applicant is collected (name, address, etc.) along with notices about identification requirements and other important information.

When registering on-line, an applicant must use the appropriate agency specific Service Code ( 1KG6XN ) to ensure they are processed for the correct agency (PDE) and/or applicant type (School District).  Using the correct service code ensures the background check is submitted for the correct purpose.   Fingerprint requests processed through any other agency or purpose cannot be accepted and are not transferable.  If an applicant enters the wrong code by mistake, the incorrect applicant type will appear at the top of the screen.  The applicant should select the “Back to Home” button and begin the process again, by reentering the correct Service Code. If the applicant proceeds with the process under the incorrect code, the pre-enrollment and/or results cannot be transferred to another state agency and the applicant will have to start the process over and pay for the background check again.

Payment – The applicant will pay a fee for the fingerprint service and to secure an unofficial copy of the Criminal History Record.  Major Credit Cards as well as Money Orders or Cashier’s Checks payable to MorphoTrust will be accepted on site for those applicants who are required to pay individually. No cash transactions or personal checks are allowed.

For detailed information on this process, please use the following link:  Information on Federal Criminal History Background Checks (external website).


In addition to the above certificates, NEW Applicants (who are not currently employed by the East Penn School District) must provide the Act 168 – Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Sexual Misconduct and Abuse Disclosure form.   Please complete Page 2 and top of page 3, then sign and date where indicated on page 3.  You will prepare one form for each of your previous employers that fall within the following categories.  Please include fax number(s) or email address(es) of employer(s):

  1. The applicant’s current employer (regardless of whether the employer is a school entity and/or where the applicant had direct contact with children);
  2. All former employers of the applicant that were school entities; and
  3. All former employers where the applicant was a paid employee in a position where he/she had direct contact with children.

Please print out one form for each of your employers that fall within the guidelines above, complete page 2 and top of page 3, then sign and date where indicated on page 3.  Submit these forms along with your application packet.  Please remember to include the fax number(s) or email address(es) for all employer(s) on each form.  

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