Fingerprinting

General Information

Students taking courses that involve fieldwork with children or youth are required to undergo a background check, including fingerprinting.

Current education courses that require fingerprinting include:

• EDUC BC 3025 Inclusive Approaches to Teaching Literacy: Theory and Practice
• EDUC BC 3034 Families, Communities & Schools
• EDUC BC 3040 Migration, Globalization and Education
• EDUC BC 3050 Science in the City I
• EDUC BC 3051 Seminar in Urban Education
• EDUC BC 3052 Math and the City
• EDUC BC 3053 Multicultural Elementary Education
• EDUC BC 3054 Multicultural Secondary Education
• EDUC BC 3055 Arts & Humanities in the City
• EDUC BC 3058 Science in the City II: Preparing Future Scientists Now
• EDUC BC 3063 Elementary Student Teaching in Urban Schools
• EDUC BC 3065 Secondary Student Teaching in Urban Schools

Only students who have clearance resulting from a background check - AND who have active status on the roster - are eligible to participate in fieldwork that places them in public schools or in contact with children.

The Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) Roster is used to identify who may enter NYC Department of Education (DOE) schools. The information collected in the PETS Nomination Request Form is needed to add you to or activate you on the Barnard College PETS Roster for the current semester.

For Students with a U.S. Social Security Number

Students who have a U.S. issued Social Security Number should follow these steps to complete the background check process:

PETS Nomination Request Form

1. To initiate the process, you must complete the Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) Nomination Request Form in Slate. [Columbia students enrolled in fieldwork courses will be granted access to Slate.] 
2. Once your form is received, a member of the Education Program will enter your information into the system and send you a brief email confirming this step has been completed.
3. Within 1-3 business days, you should receive an email from the NYC DOE confirming that you have been nominated for a position (fieldwork or student teaching) within the DOE. Follow the instructions in this email to:
   -- Activate your Applicant Gateway account;
   -- Complete all required forms;
   -- ​​​Follow the instructions provided in the Applicant Gateway to schedule your appointment with IdentoGo. Please note that you must make your fingerprinting appointment within 10 days of receiving your NYC DOE confirmation email, or the system will withdraw your nomination.
4. Keep your fingerprinting appointment. There will be a fee for fingerprinting, which in NYS is approximately $101. The fee may vary depending upon location. Please keep your receipt for fingerprinting and submit it to Amy Shire in the Education Program Office (335 Milbank) for reimbursement.
5. You may track the status of your background check in the Applicant Gateway. Due to confidentiality policies, Barnard staff cannot access your account.

NOTE: If you have previously been fingerprinted for the NYC DOE, you must still complete the PETS Nomination Request Form, but in most cases you will not need to be fingerprinted again.

For International Students Without a U.S. Social Security Number

International Students without U.S. Social Security Numbers must follow these steps:

1. To initiate the process, you must complete the Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) Nomination Request Form in Slate. [Columbia students enrolled in fieldwork courses will be granted access to Slate.]
2. Once your form is received, a member of the Education Program will generate a letter for you to serve as proof of enrollment. You will receive an email when it is ready.
3. Gather the following necessary documents:
   -- ​​​​Passport
   -- Unexpired Student visa (F1 Visa must be stamped and stapled to passport
   -- Proof of enrollment in an education program (a letter from your college will suffice)
   -- College ID card
   THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS FOR DOCUMENTS.
4. Make an appointment to get fingerprinted by emailing Office of Personnel Investigations (OPI) at OPIInfo@schools.nyc.gov and copy Ms. Morales on the email WMorale@schools.nyc.gov.
5. Keep your fingerprinting appointment at the NYC Department of Education offices at 65 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. You will go to Room 102. Nearest subway stops: Borough Hall [2, 3, 4, 5], Court St [M, R], and Jay St - Metrotech [A, C, F, R].

Note: The fingerprint vetting portion of the security clearance review for international student teachers and researchers is processed using an alternative method because a Social Security number is not available. There is NO charge for these fingerprints, However, fingerprints taken are only for temporary security purposes until the applicant obtains a valid USA social security number. The international student teacher/researcher security clearance review can only be used to authorize the student teacher/researcher to enter DOE public schools or to have access to confidential DOE information/data. 
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