Criminal Background Check Requirement

Note: If you are seeking to get a background check for your Education courses or for admission to the program, the Department of Teacher Education will cover the cost of your fingerprinting ($20). To pick up a waiver form to submit to the SUU Police Office, please contact your professor, Katie Guest (ED 338A), Caitlin Ravanelli (ED 339A) or Shirley Wilson (ED 338B). 

Before a teacher candidate can work in the public schools in extended practicums and clinical practice, a criminal background check must be completed. The Utah State Board of Education policy requires that teacher candidates be cleared on fingerprints from the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. These agencies will search regional and national files for criminal convictions. In some cases, sealed records may be accessed to determine the teacher candidate's fitness for teaching.

Please be aware that you have to be at least 18 years old in order to request a background check. 

On March 1, 2022 a new process was implemented by the Utah State Board of Education for the Educator Background Checks (EBC). Their new web based application is designed to help facilitate the process of applying for and initiating the required background check process for both new and existing educators.

• Access EBC
• Create an account
• Request a background check and complete the ethics review
  
  • To retrieve your CACTUS ID#, click on "Personal Information" in your USIMS checklist
• On Campus Students: Make an appointment at the SUU Public Safety Office to get your Live Scan fingerprints taken. 
  • Pick up a fee waiver form to submit to the SUU Public Safety Office or Iron County Sheriff's Office from Katie Guest (ED 338A), Caitlin Ravanelli (ED 339A), or Shirley Wilson (ED 338B). 
    • Those who do not need to pay the $20 include AmeriCorps, Upward Bound, and Working with Minors.
  • Please bring a passport or driver's license, and CACTUS ID to the appointment (Student IDs will not be accepted).
  • Have it billed to B1017
• Online Students: You will need to get your fingerprints taken at one of the places listed. SUU will reimburse you for the associated cost (up to $20) if you send your receipt to Katie Guest (katieguest@suu.edu). You will need to send your T# as well. 
• Have your fingerprints scanned electronically (MAKE SURE they are LIVESCAN fingerprints, not cards)
• When you receive your clearance email, forward it to Caitlin Ravanelli at caitlinravanelli@suu.edu so it can be recorded in your file

If you are attending SUU, you should have your fingerprints scanned at the SUU Public Safety Office, 36 N. 300 W.  Currently, the SUU Public Safety office is only accepting appointments for fingerprints on Tuesdays between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm. They will begin appointments again on Wednesdays between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm as we get closer to the start of school or as the need for fingerprints increases.You must call the SUU Police office at (435) 586-7793 to schedule an appointment. If the SUU Police Department is booked up, you can also call the Iron County Sheriff's Office (2132 North Main Street)  to schedule an appointment for live scan fingerprinting at (435) 867-7550. You must call to schedule an appointment at either location.

You will only have a 60-day window to complete the live scan fingerprinting once the authorization letter has been generated. After that time you will be required to begin the process all over again.

Cleared fingerprints are  currently valid indefinitely unless a violation occurs on your record.

If you have any questions please contact Caitlin Ravanelli (435) 865-8320.