General Information

  • Mandated Reporter Training. Your employer may also require this training.  It is FREE, even for the general public. This link is for Pitt’s Child Welfare Resource Center.

Need for a JOB?

Use links below for PAID WORK.

Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records (Act 34):

You can file online with a credit card for a job:

  1. It is $22.00.
  2. https://www.education.pa.gov/Educators/Clearances/PATCH/Pages/default.aspx
    and select ‘Submit a New Record Check’. (You do NOT need to be a registered user.)
  3. If done online and if clear, this clearance result prints out instantly.
  4. Write your control number so you can go back to the site and obtain a copy if needed.

OR you can mail the SP4-164 form (with money order).

Click for PATCH site.

717-425-5546 or
1-888-783-7972

Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151): You can file online with a credit card for a job (it’s faster):
  1. It is $13.00
  2. https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
  3. You DO need to create an individual account or login.
  4. Reason applying: Choose option that says “Individuals 14 or older…paid position…public or private organization…*enrichment or educational program”
  5. This can take from a few minutes to a few weeks for results.
OR you can mail the CY113 form (with money order). Click for PA Child Welfare portal. 717-783-6211

Federal Criminal History Record with Fingerprinting (Act 114):

Not always required.  If needed, see the section below that applies to you, because the application is totally different if working for a school or not.

  1. Fee was $22.60 (at DHS — for people who don’t work in a school. See below for schools / PDE)
  2. First, must register online.
    1. Company is IDEMIA, also called IdentoGO, and also MorphoTrust.
    2. https://uenroll.identogo.com is enrollment site.
    3. You will need a service code to start the process. https://paproviders.org/digital-fingerprint-services-dhs-service-codes/ These codes are NOT valid for school employees.
    4. If unsure, contact IDEMIA at 1-844-321-2101.
    5. Code for this library: 1KG738
  3. Next, go have fingerprints scanned (click to find a fingerprinting site). Must bring valid ID.
    1. The closest site as of 12/18 is Farmers Insurance at the corner of E. 5th Ave and Rt. 30 in East McKeesport.
    2. You can’t prepay unless your employer has an authorization code. They take money orders or credit cards.
  4. FBI will mail results to applicant after processing, in 7-10 days.
  1. Fee is $22.60 via PA Dept of Education (PDE).
  2. PDE’s Federal Criminal History Record Information page (CHRI) lists PDE service codes on the right side of the page. We suggest calling if unsure, because using the wrong code will invalidate your results.
  3. Pay online and go to a physical location to complete the process.
  4. See the Education FAQ page for details. One thing this FAQ states is that a DHS FBI clearance can be used for volunteer purposes at a school (but not for employment purposes — for a job, you need the PDE clearance).

Minors who wish to work at this library have different requirements – they need to pay for items 1 and 2 above. Then if their parent fills out an affirmation form, they don’t have to complete item 3 above. For staff: It’s in STAFF/(2) PSWD Applications for jobs/Clearances folder.

Minors will also need working papers from their school.

IDEMIA or IdentiGO: 1-844-321-2101 handles payment and imprints. PA Dep’t. of Human Services (DHS) Clearances page FBI/Adam Walsh unit: 1-877-371-5422 or PA Dep’t. of Education (PDE) background check page PDE: 717-783-3750. For questions about FBI clearance: FBI Background Check Unit: 1-877-371-5422. Cogent is no longer handling fingerprinting.

Need for an UNPAID VOLUNTEER position?

Volunteer clearances are NOT valid for any other reason, such as work.  Use links below if NOT paid.

Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records (Act 34):

To file online for volunteering:

  1. Free for volunteers
  2. https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp
    and select yellow ‘New Record Check‘ (Volunteers Only) button
  3. Must provide name of organization where you plan to or already do volunteer. If filed online and if clear, this clearance result prints out instantly.
  4. Write your control number so you can go back to the site and obtain a copy if needed.

OR you can mail the SP4-164A form (with money order). It is available in the Help section of the above website.

Click for PATCH site.

717-425-5546 or
1-888-783-7972

Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151): To file online for volunteering:
  1. Free, once every 57 months for volunteers.
  2. https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
  3. You DO need to create an individual account or login.
  4. Must provide name of organization where you do or plan to volunteer. This method can take from a few minutes to a few weeks for results.
OR you can mail the CY113 form (with money order — see details). Click for PA Child Welfare portal. 717-783-6211
Federal Criminal History Record with Fingerprinting (Act 114): May or may not be required for volunteersCheck with the organization you are helping. For detailed information, see: keepkidssafe.pa.gov by DHS and PA Dep’t. of Education FAQ page A fingerprint based federal criminal history (FBI) submitted through the Pennsylvania State Police or its authorized agent is NOT required as long as: The position the volunteer is applying for is an unpaid position; AND The volunteer has been a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the entirety of the previous 10 years. There is a waiver form you can sign and submit to the volunteer organization to swear that this is true. If the above paragraph is not true for you, follow the instructions to get the FBI clearance as if it is for a job.