Background Checks

Only the following codes will be accepted for students who will be placed in pre-kindergarten-12 settings*:

• Request Code 3319.291 BCI/FBI

*Pre-service candidates placed in preschool sites overseen by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) should request the following codes in addition to the above:

• FBI: CCDBGA Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 employee. Do not select “volunteer.”
• BCI: 5104.013 

Students placed in preschool sites should check with their program manager or course instructor to identify if they should get these checks. For more information, please review the ODJFS Background Check Instructions.

Fully Ohio licensed pupil, administrator, or resident educators are exempt from this placement requirement due to their licensure requirements.  

Have a copy of your background check sent to:
 

Important processing details:

• Bring your state photo ID with you for when you are fingerprinted.
• All fingerprint agencies can select only one recipient from each of the following: the “direct copy” and “mail to”. You should provide the following instructions to the finger printing agency before being fingerprinted:
  • Select the “direct copy” button to send an electronic copy of the results to the State Board of Education.
  • Select the “mail to” option entering the appropriate campus physical address above. 
• Some placement sites may require a copy of your background check. Ohio State is unable to disseminate copies of results to any third party, including but not limited to an outside employer, school district, private entity or placement site. Copies of results can be released only to the individual who was fingerprinted. Students may request a copy of their background check results by sending a written request to the background check team at HR-Backgroundchecks@osu.edu.
• Processing times:
  • First-time processing: allow eight weeks prior to placement.
  • Repeat processing: allow two to four weeks without an arrest record, six to eight weeks with an arrest record (even if expunged or occurred as a juvenile).

It is recommended to complete your background checks through Ohio State’s HR Office. Pre-service candidates who need access to other location options should visit the directory of Ohio approved background Webcheck locations. It is advised to call ahead before traveling to any location to verify if they are still providing fingerprinting, as service availability across the state can change daily. 

Prior to being fingerprinted, students should request that the background check agency do the following:

1. order the appropriate background check codes (see “what background check should I get”)
2. send the results to the appropriate campus address (see “what to know for processing”)

Note that failure to follow this process may result in the requirement to pay to process again.

• Any conviction of an offense found on the screening tool list, according to ODJFS and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce's Standard for Licensure, will result in the student's inability to be placed at field sites.
• Any arrest (without conviction) for an offense on the screening tool list, will be up to the discretion of the field site to determine eligibility.
• The price varies depending on where you get it completed. Prices range from $50-$70 USD, with an average of $63 USD.
• If your placement does not require a pre-service permit and you are employed by the district agency, please send edprep@osu.edu a letter from your placement’s HR on school letterhead with the following: your background check codes, expiration date and a statement that your checks meet their compliance requirements for placement. Accreditation, Placement and Licensure will then verify that this letter will meet the background check compliance requirement. 
• If you are an F-1 Visa international student, you are required to have approved Curricular Practical Training documents on file with the university's Office of International Affairs prior to beginning any placement. 
• For more information, visit the State Board of Education Rapback system.