Volunteer Clearances
In PA, volunteering to help with children means you will need to complete the following clearance checks:
1. Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check - Free
2. Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance - Free
3. Volunteer Affidavit OR FBI Fingerprinting:
Please choose the option which applies to your situation.
(a) PA Act 153 Volunteer Affidavit - Free
Do this option if you HAVE been a resident of PA for the last 10 consecutive years.
Use the link below to sign a Volunteer Affidavit and submit it with your clearances to the church office.
You do not need to get fingerprints done if you fall into this category.
(b) FBI Fingerprinting - $22.60*
Do this option only if you HAVE NOT been a resident of PA for the last 10 consecutive years.
Use the link below to access the website. This will require that you go to a physical location to be fingerprinted.
*Please keep your receipt and submit it to the church office for a reimbursment.
Once you have obtained copies of each clearance, please email them to office@bethelepc.org or print and bring them to the church office.
Once on the IdentoGo Website, choose the ‘Get Fingerprinted’ button in the upper right hand corner.
Under Digital Fingerprinting, select ‘Pennsylvania’ from the dropdown under "The State Which You are Being Fingerprinted For".
Select ‘Go’
On the next page, select the ‘Digital Fingerprinting’ box.
Make sure that you are applying for Digital fingerprinting and NOT the fingerprinting card.
If you are a PA Volunteer and have lived outside of the state in the past 10 years Enter Code: 1KG6ZJ and click ‘Go’
Choose ‘Schedule or Manage Appointment’
On the next pages enter the personal information requested in the blanks.
On the employer information page:
If a student, indicate ‘Student’ and fill in your address
If retired, indicate ‘Retired’ and fill in your address
On the next page you will be prompted to create a security question.
Write down the question and the answer in a safe place so you have it later to retrieve your Eligibility Letter. This question and answer cannot be reset and cannot be given to you.
Continue through the next several pages adding your personal information
Choose which form of documentation you will bring to the fingerprinting location.
Enter your zip code to find a location and appointments near you
Choose a location and time that suits your schedule
Payment is expected at time of appointment.
You should receive an email with the confirmation of this appointment
FBI Fingerprinting Instructions
IMPORTANT!!
You must finish the registration process to be fingerprinted. You will receive an email or confirmation number when registration is complete.
Legal Name must match exactly on all identification documents brought to enrollment.
Remember the phone numbers and/or email address provided below, as they will be used to retrieve your information during your in-person enrollment.
While not required, it is highly recommended to input your email address during the registration process. You will be emailed a link to access your Eligibility Letter allowing quicker access to your results. If a “Criminal History Record” is found as a result of your Federal Criminal Background Check, your results will be mailed to you only. Eligibility Letters will be mailed to all applicants regardless of providing an email address.
IMPORTANT!!
REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR DOCUMENTS TO YOUR APPOINTMENT.
Legal Name must match exactly on all identification documents brought to enrollment.
All ID Documents must be the originals. Copies will not be accepted.
IMPORTANT!!
If you provided your email in the registration process, applicants with “No Criminal History Found” will be emailed from "the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania PASafeCheck System" with a link to access your Eligibility Letter.
We recommend opening the email ONLY on a computer as you must be prepared to download, save or print the Eligibility Letter when accessing it the first time.
YOU WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE LINK ONCE!!
This link is time sensitive and needs to be open within 30 days.
The email link cannot be reset or re-emailed.
After clicking the emailed link, you will have three attempts to correctly answer your Security Question to retrieve your Eligibility Letter.
Check your spam/junk folder frequently
If you are unable to open the email or accidentally used your onetime access and did not save your document, you will need to contact PA department of Human Services at 1-877-371-5422. Follow the prompts to talk to someone about your FBI clearance. It would be very helpful if you had your Identego receipt in front of you to give the appropriate numbers and info.
Additionally: You will only receive Unofficial Results from Identogo and the PA Department of Human Services.
"Official" copies are only able to be obtained by authorized agencies.
Bethel EPC is not one of those agencies.
We will accept your unofficial results.
Wondering why you have to get clearances? CLICK HERE