Fingerprinting

This section provides individuals, school districts, charter schools, and boards of cooperative educational services  (BOCES) with information on the State fingerprinting requirement. New York State law requires that the Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability conduct fingerprint supported criminal history background checks for applicants for certification and all prospective employees of school districts, charter schools and BOCES.  The side links provide information about the law and will guide you through the fingerprint process.

Click to access our new online system, which offers the following features related to fingerprinting.

Individuals may:

• Apply for a fingerprint clearance for certification and/or employment
• View the status of a fingerprint clearance request

School districts, charter schools, and BOCES may:

• Determine whether an individual is in the OSPRA fingerprint database
• Submit an online request for fingerprint clearance for a prospective employee (formally OSPRA 102)
• Search for all individuals who have a fingerprint clearance request on file for your school
• View the status of a fingerprint clearance request
• Report the termination of an employee (formally OSPRA 105)
• Determine whether a  subsequent arrest letter has been issued for your school