How to Obtain Fingerprint Verification

If you already have records, check what type of records are recorded on your NY State TEACH account.

You can check this document (PDF) for information on finding your account information.  Based on what is recorded, follow the steps that match your situation.

A: Currently Without Department of Education Fingerprints

If you have not had your fingerprints processed already by the New York City or New York State Department of Education, and you will be doing any fieldwork, observation, student teaching, or any other college-related work in New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), formerly known as New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) schools, refer to How to Get Your Fingerprints Processed If You Don’t Have Records or Need New Records.

If you will not be doing fieldwork, observation, student teaching, or other college-related work in NYCPS schools, you will need to process your security clearance with MorphoTrust/IdentoGo.

B: Fingerprints Already Processed by the Department of Education

Check your TEACH account and find out what kind of fingerprint records are on file, if any. Make a note of the information in the fingerprint section (Inquiry Links > Account Information > Fingerprinting > Submit). You should see:
•   TEACH Account Has No Records of Your NYCPS Fingerprints, or
•   TEACH Account States That Your DCJS and FBI Records Have Been Received, or
•   TEACH Account States “We Have Received Your Fingerprint Information From NYC.”

You can check this document (PDF) for information on finding your account information.

Then follow the instructions.

Your TEACH account will only indicate if your records were received, not if your records are currently “cleared.” That information is maintained by PETS or OSPRA and will be checked by Brooklyn College after you follow the instructions in paragraphs E–G.

C: Clearance Already Processed by Agency Other Than NYCPS or NY State Education Department

If you will be in education courses for New York State certification, you will need fieldwork and/or student teaching courses. Most college students work in New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), formerly known as New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) schools, while in college for fieldwork and student teaching, and will need fingerprint records to be confirmed by the NYCPS that were processed by Identogo for certification or confirm records previous processed by the NYCPS.

The NYCPS cannot use fingerprint records processed by the DOI, DOH or other agencies.

If you intend to work in public schools in New York, you will need fingerprint clearance processed by Identogo for certification or fingerprint records previously processed by NYCPS. In that case, you will need to refer to How to Get Fingerprints Processed if You Don’t Have Records or Need New Records.

(including a scan of your fingerprints at the NYCPS Office).

D: Unsure About Your Clearance Status

See sections B and C above.

If you had a fingerprint/security clearance letter from Brooklyn College previously and can’t find it, you can fill out this form to get a new letter.

E: TEACH Account Has No Records of Your NYCPS Fingerprints

Check your TEACH account, inquiry links, account information, fingerprinting. If you know that you processed your fingerprint records with the NYCPS and you see a note in the fingerprint section that states “Teach does not have your fingerprint information,” you should not have to pay to have your records processed again, as long as they can be verified.

You will need to send a request to have your records added to the “roster” that Brooklyn College can check. The college does not have access to records for employees or students from other colleges.

The college can verify your records after you follow these steps:

1. Send an e-mail to PETS. We recommend that you use a personal e-mail address instead of a college or work address. Include all of the following:

  • A scanned image of signed social security card
  • College ID with recent validation. You can get a digital ID through the BC Navigator app. New students should send an e-mail to the Enrollment Services Center with a passport style photo, name as it appears in CUNYfirst, and EMPLID, and indicate if you are an in an undergraduate or graduate program. The information will be uploaded to the ID system and the picture will be displayed in the digital ID. You can take a screenshot of the digital ID. If you cannot get a college ID because you have not enrolled in classes yet, you can fill in this form to get an Enrollment Verification letter to use as one of the documents needed for fingerprint clearance verification.
  • A validated government issued ID (driver’s license/state ID/New York City ID and/or U.S. passport).
  • Proof of residence: a recent utility, cable, phone bill and/or lease, received under your name (or your family’s name)
  • Name, phone number, home address, date of birth

If you have questions about documents required, please e-mail PETS.

In your e-mail, ask for your data to be entered into the PETS “roster” for Brooklyn College. Let them know that you are going to be a student teacher or you will be doing fieldwork through Brooklyn College (or indicate any other reason you are registering).

2. You should get a e-mail from PETS that states “Hello, Thank you for submitting the required documentation to be added to your college roster in PETS.” If you don’t have that letter, allow time to receive it. Check all of your e-mail folders. If you have fingerprint records that can be used, you can skip the information about getting records processed with IdentoGo.

3. After about a week or more after Step 2, you should get an e-mail from PETS that states “Congratulations! This e-mail confirms that an organization or agency providing services to the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) or New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) has nominated you for a position.” If you don’t have that letter, allow time to receive it. Check all of your e-mail folders. This is a “nomination” letter.

You are not necessarily being hired yet, you are receiving the same letter that new employees receive. Check the letter for “Next steps.” Be sure to complete the Applicant Gateway forms online if you are instructed to do that. If the “nomination” is marked “withdrawn” or “expired” in the Applicant Gateway, that means it timed out. If it timed out, you will need to e-mail PETS and ask for a new “nomination” letter. When you get that letter, be sure to fill out the forms before the link expires.

4. After you follow Steps 1 to 3, you should receive a verification letter from Helen Spencer (hspencer@brooklyn.cuny.edu) with the subject “Keep this information: Fingerprint /security clearance verification for NYCPS.”

If you followed all the steps above and do not have the verification letter from Helen Spencer:

You will need to check all of your e-mail folders for a “nomination” e-mail from PETS that will state, “Congratulations! This e-mail confirms that an organization … has nominated you for a position…” Check the letter for “Next steps”. Be sure to complete the Applicant Gateway forms online if you are instructed to do that. If the “nomination” is marked “withdrawn” or “expired” in the Applicant Gateway, that means it timed out. If it timed out, you will need to write to e-mail PETS and ask for a new “nomination” letter. When you get that letter, be sure to fill out the forms before the link expires.

5. For New York State certification, you will need to release your records to NYCPS. Upload an OSPRA 104 form (PDF) and follow the instructions at the bottom of the form to create an account with NYCPS HR Connect and upload the form. Select the category “Walk-In Center” OSPRA 14.

If the information in section two of the OSPRA 104 form does not apply to you, you can leave it blank.

Allow about one month for your records to be processed, and then check your TEACH account to be sure your fingerprint records were received. Look for a line that states, “We have received your fingerprint information from NYC”. If you see this note, then your records have been received and you do not need to follow up. Your current clearance status will not be posted there. Records on TEACH cannot be used to confirm your current fingerprint clearance status.

F: TEACH Account States That Your DCJS and FBI Records Have Been Received

Check your TEACH account, inquiry links, account information, fingerprinting. If you see “Your DCJS and FBI records have been received,” follow the instructions below. Fingerprint records marked “received” on TEACH do not alone satisfy NYCPS’s security clearance requirements. Records on TEACH will only indicate if they were received or not, not your current security clearance status.

Note: As of March 31, 2023, NYCPS is no longer able to use most of the DCJS/FBI records noted on TEACH for individuals on student teacher/practicum rosters. They are no longer processing the OSPRA 103 form to transfer records for students. If you have DCJS/FBI records, NYCPS may require new records as described below. The records cost $101.75.

The college can verify your records after you follow these steps:

1. E-mail PETS. We recommend that you use a personal e-mail address instead of a college or work address. In your e-mail, you will need to include all of the following:

  • A scanned image of signed social security card
  • College ID with recent validation. You can get a digital ID through the BC Navigator app. New students should  send an e-mail to the Enrollment Services Center with a passport style photo, name as it appears in CUNYfirst, EMPLID, and indicate if you are an in an undergraduate or graduate program. The information will be uploaded to the ID system and the picture will be displayed in the digital ID. You can take a screenshot of the digital ID. If you cannot get a college ID because you have not enrolled in classes yet, you can fill in this form to get an Enrollment Verification letter to use as one of the documents needed for fingerprint clearance verification.
  • A validated government issued ID (driver’s license/state ID/NYC ID and/or U.S. passport).
  • Proof of residence: a recent utility, cable, phone bill and/or lease, received under your name (or your family’s name)
  • Name, phone number, home address, date of birth

If you have questions about documents required, please e-mail PETS. In your e-mail, ask for your data to be entered into the PETS “roster” for Brooklyn College. Let them know that you are going to be a student teacher or you will be doing fieldwork through Brooklyn College (or indicate any other reason you are registering).

2. You should get a letter from PETS that states “Hello, Thank you for submitting the required documentation to be added to your college roster in PETS.” If you don’t have that letter, allow time to receive it. Check all of your e-mail folders.

3. After about a week or more after Step 2, you should get a “nomination” letter from PETS that states “Congratulations! This e-mail confirms that an organization or agency providing services to the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) or New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) has nominated you for a position.” If you don’t have that letter, allow time to receive it. Check all of your e-mail folders. This is a “nomination” letter.

4. Within the nomination letter, find “Next Steps – Applicant Gateway.”

Open the Applicant Gateway link.

You will have about ten days to open the link and complete the steps before the link expires.

  • Before the link expires, log into the Applicant Gateway system using your e-mail address and password.
  • Once you are logged in, you will be on the home screen.
  • Click on the “Status” link to view your forms. This will bring you to a Nomination Status screen.
  • Click on the “Application Forms” link under “Processing”.
  • A screen will pop up with a display of all Applicant Gateway forms and their current statuses.  Complete any forms needed.

5. Ask Helen Spencer hspencer@brooklyn.cuny.edu if your fingerprint records were previously received in the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE), now known as New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) database or not. When you write to Helen Spencer, include your CUNYfirst EMPLID number in your correspondence please.

5A. If ‘Yes,’ your records were previously received: after you fill out the forms in the Applicant Gateway, your records can be reviewed. Go to step 6.

5B. If ‘No,’ your records were not received previously. In this case, you will need new fingerprint records. Complete the following steps then go to step 6. Open the “Fingerprint Instructions Form” to access the steps and service code required to schedule your fingerprinting appointment with IdentoGO. Important: Be sure to use the service code in that form to save time and money. The cost is $101.75.

Send in the OSPRA 104 form (PDF)

If the information in section two of the OSPRA 104 form does not apply to you, you can leave it blank. Check your TEACH account after you send in the OSPRA 104 form and look for the statement: “We have received your fingerprint information from NYC.” When you see this note, your fingerprint requirement for New York State and New York City is complete. Your TEACH account will only indicate if your records were received, not if your New York City records are currently “cleared.” When you send in the form you can ask how much time is needed.

6. Check if all of the data in the Applicant Gateway is complete. When it is, you should receive a verification letter from Helen Spencer, with the subject Keep this information: Fingerprint /security clearance verification for NYCPS. Letters are usually sent on Mondays.

If all the steps in the Applicant Gateway are complete but your records can’t be confirmed yet by Helen Spencer hspencer@brooklyn.cuny.edu, you can send an e-mail to the NYCPS Office of Personnel Investigation (OPI) to ask what the next steps are for your fingerprint clearance.

Unfortunately, you cannot confirm your security clearance status in the Applicant Gateway or using your TEACH account.

G: TEACH Account States “We Have Received Your Fingerprint Information From NYC”

Check your TEACH account, inquiry links, account information, fingerprinting. If you see “We have received your fingerprint information from NYC,” you should not have to pay to have your records processed again, as long as they can be verified.

You will need to send a request to have your records added to the “roster” that Brooklyn College can check. The college does not have access to records for employees or students from other colleges.

The college can verify your records after you follow these steps:

1. E-mail PETS. We recommend that you use a personal e-mail address instead of a college or work address. In your e-mail, you will need to include all of the following:

  • A scanned image of signed social security card
  • College ID with recent validation. You can get a digital ID through the BC Navigator app. New students should send an e-mail to the Enrollment Services Center with a passport style photo, name as it appears in CUNYfirst, EMPLID, and indicate if you are an in an undergraduate or graduate program. The information will be uploaded to the ID system and the picture will be displayed in the digital ID. You can take a screenshot of the digital ID. If you cannot get a college ID because you have not enrolled in classes yet, you can fill in this form to get an Enrollment Verification letter to use as one of the documents needed for fingerprint clearance verification.
  • A validated government issued ID (driver’s license/state ID/NYC ID and/or U.S. passport).
  • Proof of residence: a recent utility, cable, phone bill and/or lease, received under your name (or your family’s name)
  • Name, phone number, home address, date of birth

If you have questions about documents required, please e-mail PETS. In your e-mail, ask for your data to be entered into the PETS “roster” for Brooklyn College. Let them know that you are going to be a student teacher or you will be doing fieldwork through Brooklyn College (or indicate any other reason you are registering).

2. You should get a letter from PETS that states “Hello, Thank you for submitting the required documentation to be added to your college roster in PETS.” If you don’t have that letter, allow time to receive it. Check all of your e-mail folders. If you have fingerprint records that can be used, you can skip the information about getting records processed with IdentoGo.

3. After about a week or more after step 2, you should get a letter from PETS that states “Congratulations! This e-mail confirms that an organization or agency providing services to the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) or New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) has nominated you for a position.” If you don’t have that letter, allow time to receive it. Check all of your e-mail folders. This is a “nomination” letter.

You are not necessarily being hired yet, you are receiving the same letter that new employees receive. Check the letter for “Next steps”. Be sure to complete the Applicant Gateway forms online if you are instructed to do that. If the “nomination” is marked “withdrawn” or “expired” in the Applicant Gateway, that means it timed out. If it timed out, you will need to write to e-mail PETS and ask for a new “nomination” letter. When you get that letter, be sure to fill out the forms before the link expires.

4. After you follow Steps 1 to 3, you should receive a verification letter from Helen Spencer (hspencer@brooklyn.cuny.edu), with the subject “Keep this information: Fingerprint /security clearance verification for NYCPS.”

If you followed all the steps above and do not have the verification letter from Helen Spencer:

You will need to check all of your e-mail folders for a “nomination” e-mail from PETS that will state, “Congratulations! This e-mail confirms that an organization … has nominated you for a position…” Check the letter for “Next steps”. Be sure to complete the Applicant Gateway forms online if you are instructed to do that. If the “nomination” is marked “withdrawn” or “expired” in the Applicant Gateway, that means it timed out. If it timed out, you will need to write to e-mail PETS and ask for a new “nomination” letter. When you get that letter, be sure to fill out the forms before the link expires.

H. International Students (Students Without an Official Social Security Number)

If you do not have an official Social Security number, you must e-mail Wanda Morales to make an appointment. We recommend that you use a personal e-mail address instead of a college or work address. Indicate to the OPI representative that you are an international student teacher without a Social Security number. You will be directed to the correct person. You must have an appointment, and you must bring in the following four items:

  • Passport
  • Student visa
  • Proof of enrollment in an education program (a letter from your college program office will suffice: Early Childhood/Art Education, Childhood, Bilingual and Special Education, Secondary Education, or School Psychology/Counseling/Educational Leadership)
  • College ID card (required)

After your records are processed, contact the certification officer.

After you receive your Social Security number, you will need to bring your Social Security card to the OPI, 65 Court Street, Room 200, Brooklyn, New York. Indicate that you are an international student teacher who was previously fingerprinted without a Social Security number. Ask to be added to the Brooklyn College PETS roster so that your fingerprint records can be on file with Brooklyn College.

If you use a number obtained from any source other than the Social Security Administration (including numbers generated by CUNY and/or Brooklyn College) to be added to the NYCPS PETS fingerprint roster, you will lose your security clearance and will be required to be fingerprinted a second time at your expense.

If you do not receive a Social Security number (either for employment purposes only or otherwise) before you complete your requirements for New York State certification, you may need to process your fingerprint clearance again with IndentoGo.

More Information

Deadlines, Advisers, and More

Additional information about the deadlines, advisers, and more.

How Fingerprint Records are Confirmed

Once your fingerprint verification is confirmed you will receive an email with the subject line:  “Keep this information: Fingerprint/Security Clearance Verification for the NYCPS.”

Records on TEACH and NYCPS Applicant Gateway

TEACH and NYCPS Applicant Gateway will confirm receipt, not current security clearance status. The current security clearance can only be confirmed after you follow the instructions above. If you had a fingerprint/security clearance letter from Brooklyn College previously and can’t find it, you can fill out this form to get a new letter.

Changes in Status

If there are any changes in your fingerprint clearance status, and you are not cleared to work in NYCPS schools, you will be notified, and then it will be your responsibility to stop working in NYCPS schools and complete the steps needed before returning to work.

Substitute Teaching

If you apply for substitute teaching after your clearance is confirmed, you may need to allow time for a further review, which may cause you to have a few days without clearance.

 

Brooklyn. All in.