Criminal Background Check for Licensure

Policies and Procedures for Submission of Background Check

Loyola University Chicago (LUC) requires that all candidates placed in a school or community agency for field experience pass an Illinois State Police and FBI fingerprint background check. This is consistent with state law that requires Illinois school districts to conduct criminal background investigations of applicants for certified and non-certified positions. A candidate whose background check results in a status of "no record" may be placed in the schools.

Candidates cannot begin any field experiences without a “passed” background check. Candidates are responsible for all fees connected with this procedure. Loyola University Chicago will not accept criminal background check reports from sources other than Accurate Biometrics.

Candidates may be requested to complete an additional background check prior to student teaching, practicum or internship.

A candidate may not be placed in any school or community agency if the background check determines that he or she has been convicted of criminal behavior that, by law, automatically prohibits him or her from attaining Illinois certification.

The offenses that automatically prohibit certification include first degree murder, any Class X felony, juvenile pimping, soliciting a juvenile prostitute, exploitation of a child, obscenity, child pornography, criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual abuse, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, some offenses set forth in the Cannabis Control Act, and some crimes defined in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act.

In the event that no district will accept a candidate because of his/her criminal history, the School of Education will assist the candidate in choosing an alternative course of study.

Candidates in Teacher Education Programs or a Course Requiring Field Experiences

Candidate in an graduate teacher education credentialing program or enrolled in a single course that requires a field experience component, MUST complete the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) clearance process for Field Experience.

Candidates not complying will be dropped from the course(s).

Follow CPS instructions and use the form under the heading: HOW TO OBTAIN YOUR BACKGROUND RESULTS. Select the option how to get your fingerprints taken.

CPS will notify Loyola that you have completed the process.

Timeline for Completing the Background Check:

Graduate Candidates – Within the first week of the term admitted to a program or the term of a course registered that requires a field experience

Candidates in School Counseling, Community Counseling, School Psychology

Criminal background checks must be completed at the time specified for each program. It generally requires 48 hours to obtain the results of a fingerprint check. The Illinois State Police background check is submitted electronically to a secure email address to the Associate Dean for Student Services. The FBI background check is submitted electronically to Accurate Biometrics. Accurate Biometrics provides access for the candidate to print his/her results within 14 days. The candidate then submits the FBI results as directed by the program.

Timeline for Completing the Background Check:

Candidates are required to complete the background check no later than the first two weeks of the semester. Unless otherwise directed by the program director, all candidates must use Accurate Biometrics to complete the background check.

Where to go for a Background Check

The School of Education contracts with Accurate Biometrics (AB) for a special price of $75.00 for both the Illinois and FBI background checks. Each is a separate transaction and requires a separate form. The candidate must print each form and bring the form and fee to an Accurate Biometrics location.

The candidate must also complete Confidentiality Waiver form to allow Loyola to release/share the results of the Illinois State Police check.

Forms:

Illinois State Police Form (submitted to AB)
FBI Form (submitted to AB)
Confidentiality Waiver (submitted to SOE)