Background Checks
In order to be approved for a Pre-Service permit, students must submit a background check. View the Background Check Quick Guide.
The guidelines for educator preparation field placements are based on the State Board of Education screening system. Failure to submit the appropriate background checks may result in a pre-service candidate being dropped from a course. If you have a conviction that falls onto this list, you will not be placed in a pre-kindergarten-12 setting. Your program will immediately alert you to your academic options.
Frequently Asked Questions
For questions about background checks, please first contact your program representative. All other questions can be directed to edprep@osu.edu.
Only the following codes will be accepted for students who will be placed in pre-kindergarten-12 settings*:
- Request Code 3319.291 BCI/FBI
*Pre-service candidates placed in preschool sites overseen by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) should request the following codes in addition to the above:
- FBI: CCDBGA “Child Care and Development Block Grant Act” of 2014 employee. Do not select “volunteer”.
- BCI: 5104.013
Students placed in preschool sites should check with their program representative or course instructor to identify if they should get these checks. For more information, please review the ODJFS Background Check Instructions.
Fully Ohio licensed pupil, administrator, or resident educators are exempt from this placement requirement due to their licensure requirements.
Have a copy of your background check sent to:
The Ohio State University
Background Checks-EHE (insert your campus ex. Lima)
1590 N. High St., Suite 300
Columbus, OH 43201
Important processing details:
- Bring your state photo ID with you to be fingerprinted.
- All fingerprint agencies can select only one recipient form each of the following: the “direct copy” and “mail to”. You should provide the following instructions to the finger printing agency before being fingerprinted:
- Select the “direct copy” radio button to send an electronic copy of the results to the State Board of Education.
- Select the “mail to” option entering the appropriate campus physical address above.
- Some placement sites may require a copy of your background check. OSU is unable to disseminate copies of results to any third party, including but not limited to an outside employer, school district, private entity, placement site, etc. Copies of results can only be released to the individual who was fingerprinted. Students may request a copy of their background check results by sending a written request to the background check team at HR-Backgroundchecks@osu.edu.
- Processing times:
- First-time processing: allow 8 weeks prior to placement.
- Repeat processing: allow 2-4 weeks without an arrest record, 6-8 weeks with an arrest record (even if expunged or occurred as a juvenile).
It is recommended to complete your background checks through Ohio State’s HR Office. Pre-service candidates who need access to other location options should visit the directory of Ohio approved background Webcheck locations. It is advised to call ahead before traveling to any location to verify if they are still providing fingerprinting, as service availability across the state can change daily.
Prior to getting fingerprinted, students should request that the background check agency do the following:
1- order the appropriate background check codes (see “what background check should I get”).
2- send the results to the appropriate campus address (see “what to know for processing”).
* Failure to follow this process may result in paying to process again.
- Any conviction of an offense found on the screening tool list, according to ODJFS and ODE's Standard for Licensure, will result in the student's inability to be placed in field sites.
- Any arrest (without conviction) of an offense on the screening tool list, will be up to the discretion of the field site to determine eligibility.
- The price varies depending on where you get your background checks completed. Prices range $50-$70 USD, with an average of $63 USD.
- If your placement does not require a pre-service permit and you are employed by the district agency, please send edprep@osu.edu a letter from your placement’s HR on school letterhead with: your background check codes, expiration date, and a statement that your checks meet their compliance requirements for placement. APL will then verify that this letter will meet the background check compliance requirement.
- If you are an F-1 visa international student, you are required to have approved Curricular Practical Training documents on file with the Office of International Affairs prior to beginning any placement.
- For more information visit the State Board of Education Rapback system.