Clearances for Field Experiences

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) requires that students entering public schools for observations and practicum experiences (including student teaching) must obtain the following security clearances:

  • Act 34: Pennsylvania Criminal History Clearance
  • Act 114: FBI Fingerprints (Federal Criminal History Record)
  • Act 151: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
  • Tuberculosis Test

Clearances and Registration

EDUC-265, 320, 350, 375, and 443 have field experiences, and students must obtain clearances prior to being enrolled in these courses. NOTE: In the case of EDUC-265, 320, and 375, these courses may appear “grayed out” in the Course Schedule during registration, and you may be automatically waitlisted during registration until you turn in your clearances to the Education Department. Once you have done so, the Registrar will enroll you in the course(s).

Students planning to enroll in student teaching (EDUC-453) must apply for and submit to the department a new (updated) set of clearances by the beginning of the preceding semester; for example, if you plan to student teach in the spring of your senior year, you must have updated clearances in hand by the beginning of the fall semester. Clearances must be valid—that is, not more than one year old—from the beginning of student teaching through the date when it is completed.  (Step-by-step instructions for the clearance process below can be found here.)

Applying for Clearances

Submitting Clearances to the Education Department

Please complete the clearance process and scan/mail clearances to Carol Royce at croyce@ursinus.edu.  

Further questions

If you still have questions after reading the preceding carefully, please contact Carol Royce (croyce@ursinus.edu) in the Education Department.

Education Department

p: 610-409-3581
f: 610-409-3764
 croyce@ursinus.edu