School of Education

Clinical Experience Office

Fingerprinting for Student Teaching

All candidates in teacher preparation programs must be fingerprinted by NYC Public Schools (formally the NYC DOE). Candidates already fingerprinted by NYC Public Schools must connect their clearance to Queens College.

Candidates wishing to complete this requirement on their own, with no assistance from the Clinical Experience Office, click here.

Teacher candidates must start the fingerprinting process with the New York City Public Schools (NYC PS) as soon as they are accepted into any of the Teacher Preparation Programs. Once you begin the process it must be completed within 60 days. Teacher candidates must have received NYC PS fingerprinting clearance before they register for student teaching, internship, or practicum.

The process of obtaining NYC PS fingerprinting clearance could take up to two months and it involves a cost that is the financial responsibility of candidates. Candidates enrolled in online programs need to check with their programs about fingerprinting requirements. Candidates who are cleared for fingerprinting by New York State will be asked to get re-fingerprinted by the NYC PS at their own expense.

Fingerprinting Procedures for All Teacher Education Programs

Please click here for Queens College Fingerprinting Requirement information.

All teacher candidates, including undocumented students, are required to follow the fingerprinting requirements listed below:

1. Complete the Fingerprinting Form

2. You have 60 days to complete the fingerprinting instructions emailed to your Qmail address.

3. Login to your Anthology Portfolio account, click on “Fingerprinting Requirement for All Education Programs” and upload a screenshot (sample) of your completed Applicant Gateway nomination status.

Fingerprinting Deadlines

Teacher candidates must have received NYC PS fingerprinting clearance by:

May 1st for new candidates in the Spring semester.
December 1st for new candidates in the Fall semester.

Teacher candidates who have NOT received fingerprinting by the above-stated deadlines will have this documented on QC Navigate.

Fingerprinting FAQs

For questions on fingerprinting policies or procedures, please review the FAQs below. If you cannot find the answer to your question there, contact the Clinical Experience Liaison for your program/major.

I have been fingerprinted by the NY State Education Department. Does this fulfill the requirement?

No, candidates fingerprinted by NY State must be re-fingerprinted by NYC Public Schools to fulfill the fingerprinting requirement.

I have been previously fingerprinted by NYC Public Schools. Do I need to be re-fingerprinted?

No, you do not need to be re-fingerprinted. However, there are steps that need to be completed in order for your clearance to be accessible by Queens College.

Candidates who have been previously fingerprinted by the NYC PS and have not connected their clearance record to the QC roster in PETS need to follow the steps outlined below:
1. Self-register with the NYC PS PETS Office
a) Send an e-mail to the Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) at PETS@schools.nyc.gov and
indicate that you are a Queens College student needing fingerprinting clearance for clinical work.
Include your name, phone number, complete home address, date of birth, and email address.
b) When you receive a reply from the NYC PS PETS fingerprint office, follow all instructions provided in their email. Provide all documents requested, including proof that you are a QC student. Candidates can verify they are an active student via an enrollment verification certificate. Further information on obtaining this certificate can be found here: https://apps.qc.cuny.edu/studentclearing/
2. Applicant Gateway
Once your nomination has been processed in PETS, you will receive an e-mail from PETSAdminSupport@schools.nyc.gov.
a) Read all the information provided in this email carefully.
b) Follow the instructions on creating your Applicant Gateway account.
c) Complete the forms available to you on Applicant Gateway, including the background questionnaire.

Verification of NYC PS Clearance
You can monitor your progress via your Applicant Gateway account, by clicking “status” on the QC nomination (the nomination listed as “vendor”). When all sections read “complete” your clearance should be in the NYC Public Schools system.

If this is your first semester in your education program, you will then be required to complete an assignment on Anthology Portfolio. Log in to your Anthology Portfolio account, click on “NYC Public Schools Fingerprinting Requirement for All Education Programs” and complete the assignment.

For new Candidates who do not currently have an Anthology Portfolio account, please wait until you are requested to procure the account by the Anthology Office or your course instructor and then submit the assignment at that time.

Can I transfer my NYC Public Schools fingerprinting clearance to NY State for observations/student teaching on Long Island?

Yes, candidates fingerprinted by NYC PS can transfer their fingerprinting clearance to NY State by completing an OSPRA 104 form. For instructions on how to submit the OSPRA 104 form click here.

More information: https://www.nysed.gov/educator-integrity/new-york-city-fingerprinting-school-employment

I have been fingerprinted by the NY State Education Department. Can I use the OSPRA 103 form to transfer my clearance to NYC Public Schools?

No. NYC Public Schools does not allow candidates to submit OSPRA 103 form. They are only available to employees of NYC Public Schools. Candidates fingerprinted by NY State must be re-fingerprinted by NYC Public Schools.

What steps must I take to be fingerprinted by NYC Public Schools (NYC PS) on my own?

Students who have not been previously fingerprinted by an education agency and are looking to get fingerprinted by NYC PS need to follow the steps outlined below:

1. Self-register with the NYC PS PETS Office
a) Send an e-mail to the Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) at PETS@schools.nyc.gov and indicate that you are a Queens College student needing fingerprinting clearance for clinical work. Include your name, phone number, complete home address, date of birth, and email address.
b) When you receive a reply from the NYC PS PETS fingerprint office, follow all instructions provided in their email. Provide all documents requested, including proof that you are a QC student. Students can verify they are an active student via an enrollment verification certificate. Further information on obtaining this certificate can be found here: https:/apps.qc.cuny.edu/studentclearing/

2. Applicant Gateway
Once your nomination has been processed in PETS, you will receive an e-mail from
PETSAdminSupport@schools.nyc.gov.
a) Read all the information provided in this email carefully.
b) Follow the instructions on creating your Applicant Gateway account.
c) Complete the forms available to you on Applicant Gateway, including the background questionnaire.

3. Fingerprinting
On your Applicant Gateway account, you will find instructions on making a fingerprinting appointment. Follow these instructions and get fingerprinted.

At that time, you will be required to submit proof of clearance on Anthology Portfolio. Log in to your Anthology Portfolio account, click on “NYC Public Schools Fingerprinting Requirement for All Education Programs” and upload a screenshot of your completed Applicant Gateway nomination status.

For new students who do not currently have an Anthology Portfolio account, please wait until you are requested to procure the account and then submit proof at that time.

What steps must I take if I did not complete the fingerprinting process in the designated 60 days and my nomination is now expired?

Students who did not complete all steps required for fingerprinting clearance in the designated 60 days must work with NYC Public Schools directly to reactivate their nomination.

In order to reactivate your nomination, you must email PETSAdminSupport@schools.nyc.gov and request your nomination be re-triggered. Please provide them your:
• full name
• full birthdate
• the last four digits of your social security number
• the email that used to create your nomination (this is your qmail.cuny.edu email)

Once the nomination has been reactivated, you must complete any outstanding steps to complete the fingerprinting process.

I do not have a social security number (SSN) and am not studying under an F1 International Student Visa. Will I be able to obtain fingerprinting clearance to complete field work or student teach in NYC Public Schools (NYC PS)?

Students who do not have an SSN and are not studying under an F1 International Student Visa will not be able to apply to get fingerprinted by the NYC PS. As such, they will not be allowed to enter NYC PS schools to complete fieldwork or to student teach. If this applies to you, please contact Dr. Ann Ebe, Director of Professional Practice and Community Partnerships, at Ann.Ebe@qc.cuny.edu.

For questions or more information related to undocumented students, please contact Ethan Jenkins at ethan.jenkins@qc.cuny.edu at the Immigrant Student Support Initiative, The Office of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management.

What steps must I take if I am currently an international student studying under an F1 visa and need to be fingerprinted by the NYC Public Schools (NYC PS)?

International students must contact the NYC PS for further instructions on the process of fingerprinting. Please follow the steps outlined below:
1. Email OPIINFO@schools.nyc.gov and explain you are an international student who requires NYC PS clearance for clinical work.
2. Work with the NYC PS to get fingerprinted.

I do not have a social security number (SSN) and am not studying under an F1 International Student Visa. Will I be able to obtain fingerprinting clearance to complete fieldwork or student teaching in a NY State Education Department (NYSED) school?

Yes. Students who do not have an SSN can apply to get fingerprinted by NY State. When fingerprinting clearance is received, they will be allowed to complete fieldwork or student teach in an NYSED school.

To be cleared for fingerprinting in New York State, students who do not have a SSN can request a “TEACH Access Number” by contacting the NYSED directly: https://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/evalforeigncred.html
Send an email to otiadmin@nysed.gov with “TEACH Access Number” in the subject line, requesting the nine digit identifier, and include first and last name, date of birth, and email address.

Fingerprint Clearance for NYS Certification

AFTER COMPLETING THE FINGERPRINTING PROCESS FOR STUDENTS TEACHING

Students who have been fingerprinted by NYC Public Schools for student teaching and require the fingerprinting clearance to be transferred to New York State for certification should submit an OSPRA 104 Form. For instructions on how to submit the OSPRA 104 form click here.

Please check your NYSED TEACH Account to verify that your NYC clearance was transferred (go to TEACH Home > Account Information > Fingerprinting).
If your clearance was transferred, you will see the following statement:
We have received your fingerprint information from NYC

*Please note it may take several weeks for the OSPRA 104 form to be processed and fingerprint clearance to be posted on your TEACH account.

For more information contact the Teacher Certification Office.

Fingerprinting Assistance

EECE & SEYS Programs

Evelyn Lee
Clinical Experience Liaison
EECE Email: eeceplacement@qc.cuny.edu
SEYS Email: seysplacement@qc.cuny.edu
Powdermaker Hall 135B
718-997-5546

ECP & EPP Programs

School Counseling, School Psychology, Family & Consumer Sciences, Physical Education, Library Media Specialist, Music, TESOL.

Victoria Dell’Era
Clinical Experience Liaison
Email: Victoria.dellera@qc.cuny.edu
Powdermaker Hall 135A
718-997-5237

All emails need to be sent from your Qmail address.

Hours:
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
The office is closed weekends and holidays.