We're here to support you in meeting two security clearance requirements with two separate agencies:

Most students will be able to address both fingerprinting requirements by following our Standard Fingerprinting Pathway, linked below.  This pathway allows you to get fingerprinted with the NYC DOE, for a student teaching placement, and then request a free transfer of your prints to the New York State Education Department, for certification.  

All New York State certification applicants must be cleared for fingerprints. Fingerprint clearance in other states will NOT be considered by the New York State Education Department.

You must have your fingerprints on file with New York State to obtain certification. In addition, some NYC schools request fingerprints as well. Many students choose to first have their fingerprints on file with the state and transfer them to the city if necessary.

State Level Fingerprinting

Recommended method for student teaching and mandatory for certification.

Clearance time: 3-7 days

Cost: $99

1. Make an appointment via IdentoGo or call (877) 472-6915. Use Service Code: 14ZGQT. Make sure to bring all of the required documentation with you to the appointment.
2. After your appointment, follow the steps below to check the status of your prints (usually takes 3-7 days):
   1) Create an account at: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach/
   2) Click on “Account Information”
   3) Click on “Fingerprinting”
   4) Press “Go”
   5) Under “Fingerprint Information,” it should say “Your DCJS and FBI results have been received” or “Fingerprints received from NYC” (if you have been fingerprinted previously by NYC)

Note: Transferring fingerprints to New York City is optional and only needed if requested by a school (in rare instances) or for NYCDOE employment purposes, 2) Transfer is free, 3) To request a transfer, please bring your social security card (original or copy) to Zankel, Room 411.

New York City Level Fingerprinting

For employment in NYC or if required by a school.

Clearance time: 2-5 days

Cost: $135

Students MUST bring a copy or original Social Security card to the Office of Teacher Education in Zankel, Room 411 before being allowed to be fingerprinted.
Additional instructions will be given once this step has been completed. To transfer fingerprints to the state level, mail an OSPRA 104 form to the address provided on the form. Be sure to check off the middle box and sign the form before mailing.

International Students

International students do not need to be fingerprinted before student teaching. However, they must be fingerprinted if they wish to obtain certification. Please use the steps below for certification only.

1. Visit to http://tinyurl.com/llwj69e to request a NYSED-TEACH Assigned Number (TAN) if you do not have a valid social security number.
2. Open a NYSED account with that number and apply and PAY for a certificate(s).
3. Get fingerprinted by the State using the same number. See instructions above.

Note: You cannot use this number to be fingerprinted by NYC. Please email ote@tc.edu if you need to be fingerprinted by NYC.

Summary: Get your prints on file with the city, for student teaching, and then transfer them to the state, for certification. 

Cost: $101.75 (Fingerprinting at NYC DOE + free OSPRA 104 transfer to the state)

Notes: This pathway can take several weeks from beginning to end.  You should plan to start it at least three weeks prior to your student teaching start date.  

Click here to download Standard Fingerprinting Pathway: Printable Instructions

Fingerprinting Procedures for Students without Social Security Numbers

The New York City Department of Education’s Personnel Eligibility Tracking System does not allow entries for individuals without Social Security numbers, nor does it allow the use of 9-digit proxy numbers.   As a result, students who do not have Social Security numbers must be fingerprinted TWICE: 

• at the New York City Department of Education, in order to begin student teaching
• at an Identogo location, for New York State certification.  

Click here to download Fingerprinting for Students without SSNs: Printable Instructions

Sometimes, students recall that they have been fingerprinted with NYS or NYC in the past, for another job or university.  OTE does not automatically have access to this information.  It is important to determine which agency has your prints and then send proof to ote@tc.edu.   If your prints are on file with the NYC DOE but not the New York State Education Department, OTE can help you with a transfer.  If your fingerprints are on file with the state but not the city, you will need to be fingerprinted at the city level.  

Check to see if your fingerprints are on file at the state level:

• Create or log into your New York State Education Department TEACH account at: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach/
• Click “Teach Online Services”
• Click the “Home” button
• Under “Inquiry Links, click on “Account Information”
• Under “Select Information You Want to View, select “Fingerprinting”
• Press “Go”
• Above “Fingerprint Information,” it should say “Your DCJS and FBI results have been received.”

This means that you have met the fingerprinting requirement for your certification application.  However, to begin student teaching in a NYC DOE school, you need to get your prints on file with the NYC DOE.   Please follow steps 1-6 in our Standard Fingerprinting Pathway.

Check to see if your fingerprints are on file at the city level:

• Activate or log into your New York City Department of Education Applicant Gateway account at: https://www.nycenet.edu/Offices/DHR/agway/Start/Login.aspx
• Check your “Nomination Status”; if all components are marked “Complete,” then you have already met the NYC DOE background check requirement. You can send a screenshot of this page to ote@tc.edu as part of your student teaching clearance process.

This is great news, because it means that you have met the background check requirement for student teaching!  However, to obtain a New York State teaching certification, you will need to have your prints transferred to the state.  Please send a completed OSPRA 104 form to HR Connect in order to request a city-to-state transfer; check the 2nd box, indicating that you are seeking certification.  You may include only the last four digits of your SSN if the email you share is an exact match for the email that is on file with your NYC DOE Applicant Gateway account. 

Summary: Occasionally, we encounter students who will never complete a volunteer placement in a NYC DOE school but do need to get their fingerprints on file with the New York State Education Department, for certification. If they have a Social Security Number, this is the pathway for them.

Cost: $101.75 (State fingerprinting through Identogo)

Click here to download Fingerprinting for NYS Certification ONLY: Printable Instructions