To avoid a delay in signing up for classes, please plan to complete the steps to get a fingerprint verification letter from the certification officer early. It can take three months, more or less, and cannot be expedited.
If you already have fingerprint records on file, and if they were processed with Identogo for Certification or the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE), you will need a verification letter from Certification Officer Helen Spencer for your records and so you can sign up for School of Education classes.
The NYCDOE cannot use fingerprint records processed by the Department of Investigation (DOI), Department of Health (DOH), or other agencies.
If you intend to work in public schools in New York while in college or for employment, you will need fingerprint clearance processed by Identogo for certification or fingerprint records previously processed by the NYCDOE.
You can receive the letter only after you request to have your fingerprint data added to the Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) database that is specifically for Brooklyn College. The college does not have access to records in the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) for employees and students who have records with other colleges, such as BMCC.
The NYCDOE is contractually not allowed to share fingerprint results with third parties. The PETS application is the only source for eligibility information. Your data needs to be added to the Brooklyn College "roster" so the records can be verified.
If Follow-Up Is Required With the NYCDOE
If there are any changes in your fingerprint clearance status, and you are not cleared to work in NYCDOE schools, you will be notified, and then it will be your responsibility to stop working in NYCDOE schools and complete the steps needed before returning to work.
If you apply for substitute teaching after your clearance is confirmed, you may need to allow time for a further review, which may cause you to have a few days without clearance.
How to Get Your Verification Letter
First, check your TEACH account. Check what kind of records are on file. You can check this document (pdf) for information on finding your account information.
If you don't have a NY State TEACH account, create an account.
After that, select the relevant instructions in the list below.
Fingerprint records on TEACH will only confirm receipt of the records, not current security clearance status. If you already have fingerprint records, your current security clearance can only be confirmed after you follow the instructions below.
If you had a fingerprint/security clearance letter from Brooklyn College previously and can't find it, you can fill out this form to get a new letter.
If you will not be doing fieldwork, observation, student teaching, or other college-related work in NYCDOE schools, you will need to process your security clearance with MorphoTrust/IdentoGo.
Check if there are fingerprint records recorded in TEACH or not and then follow the instructions below to get your fingerprint verification. Go to Account Information, Fingerprinting, and click "go."
If you see "Teach does not have your fingerprint information," go to section E below if your records were processed by the NYCDOE previously.
If you see "Your DCJS and FBI Records Have Been Received," go to section F below.
If you see "We have received your fingerprint information from NYC," go to section G below.
If you had a fingerprint/security clearance letter from Brooklyn College previously and can't find it, you can fill out this form to get a new letter https://tinyurl.com/SOEreconfirm
Your TEACH account will only indicate if your records were received, not if your records are currently "cleared." That information is maintained by PETS or OSPRA and will be checked by Brooklyn College after you follow the instructions in paragraphs E–G below.
If you will be in education courses for NY State certification, you will need fieldwork and/or student teaching courses. Most college students work in New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) schools while in college for fieldwork and student teaching, and will need fingerprint records to be confirmed by the NYCDOE that were processed by Identogo for certification or confirm records previous processed by the NYCDOE.
The NYCDOE cannot use fingerprint records processed by the DOI, DOH or other agencies.
If you intend to work in public schools in New York, you will need fingerprint clearance processed by Identogo for certification or fingerprint records previously processed by the NYCDOE. In that case, you will need to follow If You Need to Have Your Records Processed for the First Time (including a scan of your fingerprints at the DOE Office).
See section B and C above.
If you had a fingerprint/security clearance letter from Brooklyn College previously and can't find it, you can fill out this form to get a new letter.
Check your TEACH account, inquiry links, account information, fingerprinting. If you know that you processed your fingerprint records with the NYC DOE and you see a note in the fingerprint section that states "Teach does not have your fingerprint information," you should not have to pay to have your records processed again, as long as they can be verified.
You will need to send a request to have your records added to the “roster” that Brooklyn College can check. The college does not have access to records for employees or students from other colleges.
The college can verify your records after you follow these steps:
College ID with recent validation - You can get a digital ID through the BC Navigator app. New students should send an e-mail to the Enrollment Services Center id@brooklyn.cuny.edu with a passport style photo, name as it appears in CUNYfirst, EMPLID, and indicate if you are an in an undergraduate or graduate program. The information will be uploaded to the ID system and the picture will be displayed in the digital ID. You can take a screenshot of the digital ID. If you cannot get a college ID because you have not enrolled in classes yet, you can fill in this form https://forms.office.com/r/aKrL3abYmR to get an Enrollment Verification letter to use as one of the documents needed for fingerprint clearance verification.
A validated government issued ID (driver’s license/state ID/NYC ID and/or U.S. passport).
Proof of residence: a recent utility, cable, phone bill and/or lease, received under your name (or your family's name)
In your e-mail to PETSAdminsupport@schools.nyc.gov, ask for your data to be entered into the PETS “roster” for Brooklyn College. Let them know that you are going to be a student teacher or you will be doing fieldwork through Brooklyn College (or indicate any other reason you are registering).
2. You should get a letter from PetsAdminSupport@schools.nyc.gov that states “Hello, Thank you for submitting the required documentation to be added to your college roster in PETS.” If you don’t have that letter, allow time to receive it. Check all of your e-mail folders.
3. After about a week or more after step 2, you should get a letter from PETS that states “Congratulations! This e-mail confirms that an organization or agency providing services to the NYC Department of Education (NYCDOE) has nominated you for a position.” If you don’t have that letter, allow time to receive it. Check all of your e-mail folders.
You are not necessarily being hired yet, you are receiving the same letter that new employees receive. Check the letter for “Next steps”. Be sure to complete the Applicant Gateway forms online if you are instructed to do that. If the “nomination” is marked “withdrawn” or “expired” in the Applicant Gateway, that means it timed out. If it timed out, you will need to write to PETSAdminsupport@schools.nyc.gov, and ask for a new “nomination” letter. When you get that letter, be sure to fill out the forms before the link expires.
4. After you follow steps 1-3, you should receive a verification letter from Helen Spencer, hspencer@brooklyn.cuny.edu, with the subject “Keep this information: Fingerprint /security clearance verification for NYC DOE.”
If you followed all the steps above and do not have the verification letter from Helen Spencer:
You will need to check all of your e-mail folders for a "nomination" e-mail from PETS that will state, "Congratulations! This e-mail confirms that an organization ... has nominated you for a position..." Check the letter for “Next steps”. Be sure to complete the Applicant Gateway forms online if you are instructed to do that. If the “nomination” is marked “withdrawn” or “expired” in the Applicant Gateway, that means it timed out. If it timed out, you will need to write to PETSAdminsupport@schools.nyc.gov, and ask for a new “nomination” letter. When you get that letter, be sure to fill out the forms before the link expires.
5. For NY State certification: you will need to release your records to New York State Education Department. Send in this form OSPRA 104 form (pdf) by e-mail to the address at the bottom of the form.
If the information in section two of the OSPRA 104 form does not apply to you, you can leave it blank.
Allow about one month for your records to be processed, and then check your TEACH account to be sure your fingerprint records were received. Look for a line that states, "We have received your fingerprint information from NYC". If you see this note, then your records have been received and you do not need to follow up. Your current clearance status will not be posted there. Records on TEACH cannot be used to confirm your current fingerprint clearance status.
If you processed your records with IdentoGO for certification, check your TEACH account, inquiry links, account information, fingerprinting. If you see "YourDCJS and FBI records have been received," you should not have to have your records processed again, as long as they can be verified. Fingerprint records marked "received" on TEACH do not alone satisfy the NYC DOE's security clearance requirements. Records on TEACH will only indicate if they were received or not, not your current security clearance status.
The college can verify your records after you follow these steps:
College ID with recent validation - You can get a digital ID through the BC Navigator app. New students should send an e-mail to the Enrollment Services Center id@brooklyn.cuny.edu with a passport style photo, name as it appears in CUNYfirst, EMPLID, and indicate if you are an in an undergraduate or graduate program. The information will be uploaded to the ID system and the picture will be displayed in the digital ID. You can take a screenshot of the digital ID. If you cannot get a college ID because you have not enrolled in classes yet, you can fill in this form https://forms.office.com/r/aKrL3abYmR to get an Enrollment Verification letter to use as one of the documents needed for fingerprint clearance verification.
A validated government issued ID (driver’s license/state ID/NYC ID and/or U.S. passport).
Proof of residence: a recent utility, cable, phone bill and/or lease, received under your name (or your family's name)
In your e-mail to PETSAdminsupport@schools.nyc.gov, ask for your data to be entered into the PETS “roster” for Brooklyn College. Let them know that you are going to be a student teacher or you will be doing fieldwork through Brooklyn College (or indicate any other reason you are registering).
2. You should get a letter from PETSAdminSupport PetsAdminSupport@schools.nyc.gov that states “Hello, Thank you for submitting the required documentation to be added to your college roster in PETS.” If you don’t have that letter, allow time to receive it. Check all of your e-mail folders.
3. After about a week or more after step 2, you should get a letter from PETS that states “Congratulations! This e-mail confirms that an organization or agency providing services to the NYC Department of Education (NYCDOE) has nominated you for a position.” If you don’t have that letter, allow time to receive it. Check all of your e-mail folders.
You are not necessarily being hired yet, you are receiving the same letter that new employees receive.
Log into the Applicant Gateway system using your email address and password.
Once you are logged in, you will be on the home screen.
Click on the "Status" link to view your forms. This will bring you to a Nomination Status screen.
Click on the "Application Forms" link under "Processing".
A screen will pop up with a display of all Applicant Gateway forms and their current statuses.
You do not need to follow the instructions in the "Fingerprint Instructions Form" to access the steps and service code required to schedule a fingerprinting appointment with IdentoGO.
Send it by e-mail to the address at the bottom of the form.
When you send in the form, indicate that you are a Brooklyn College student and your data is on the Brooklyn College roster.
You may get instructions that state that "All individuals who complete the OSPRA 103 form will still be required to be fingerprinted." This this rule does not apply to student teachers.
If additional information or identification is required, HR Connect will let you know.
5. After you follow steps 1-4, you should receive a verification letter from Helen Spencer, hspencer@brooklyn.cuny.edu, with the subject “Keep this information: Fingerprint /security clearance verification for NYC DOE.”
If you followed all the steps above and do not have the verification letter from Helen Spencer:
You will need to check all of your e-mail folders for a "nomination" e-mail from PETS that will state, "Congratulations! This e-mail confirms that an organization ... has nominated you for a position..." Check the letter for “Next steps”. Be sure to complete the Applicant Gateway forms online if you are instructed to do that. If the “nomination” is marked “withdrawn” or “expired” in the Applicant Gateway, that means it timed out. If it timed out, you will need to write to PETSAdminsupport@schools.nyc.gov, and ask for a new “nomination” letter. When you get that letter, be sure to fill out the forms before the link expires.
Check your TEACH account, inquiry links, account information, fingerprinting. If you see "We have received your fingerprint information from NYC," you should not have to pay to have your records processed again, as long as they can be verified.
You will need to send a request to have your records added to the “roster” that Brooklyn College can check. The college does not have access to records for employees or students from other colleges.
The college can verify your records after you follow these steps:
College ID with recent validation - You can get a digital ID through the BC Navigator app. New students should send an e-mail to the Enrollment Services Center id@brooklyn.cuny.edu with a passport style photo, name as it appears in CUNYfirst, EMPLID, and indicate if you are an in an undergraduate or graduate program. The information will be uploaded to the ID system and the picture will be displayed in the digital ID. You can take a screenshot of the digital ID. If you cannot get a college ID because you have not enrolled in classes yet, you can fill in this form https://forms.office.com/r/aKrL3abYmR to get an Enrollment Verification letter to use as one of the documents needed for fingerprint clearance verification.
A validated government issued ID (driver’s license/state ID/NYC ID and/or U.S. passport).
Proof of residence: a recent utility, cable, phone bill and/or lease, received under your name (or your family's name)
Name, phone number, home address, date of birth
If you have questions about documents required, please write to PETSAdminsupport@schools.nyc.gov. In your e-mail to PETSAdminsupport@schools.nyc.gov, ask for your data to be entered into the PETS “roster” for Brooklyn College. Let them know that you are going to be a student teacher or you will be doing fieldwork through Brooklyn College (or indicate any other reason you are registering).
2. You should get a letter from PetsAdminSupport@schools.nyc.gov, that states “Hello, Thank you for submitting the required documentation to be added to your college roster in PETS.” If you don’t have that letter, allow time to receive it. Check all of your e-mail folders.
3. After about a week or more after step 2, you should get a letter from PETS that states “Congratulations! This e-mail confirms that an organization or agency providing services to the NYC Department of Education (NYCDOE) has nominated you for a position.” If you don’t have that letter, allow time to receive it. Check all of your e-mail folders.
You are not necessarily being hired yet, you are receiving the same letter that new employees receive. Check the letter for “Next steps”. Be sure to complete the Applicant Gateway forms online if you are instructed to do that. If the “nomination” is marked “withdrawn” or “expired” in the Applicant Gateway, that means it timed out. If it timed out, you will need to write to PETSAdminsupport@schools.nyc.gov, and ask for a new “nomination” letter. When you get that letter, be sure to fill out the forms before the link expires.
4. After you follow steps 1-3, you should receive a verification letter from Helen Spencer, hspencer@brooklyn.cuny.edu, with the subject “Keep this information: Fingerprint /security clearance verification for NYC DOE.”
If you followed all the steps above and do not have the verification letter from Helen Spencer:
You will need to check all of your e-mail folders for a "nomination" e-mail from PETS that will state, "Congratulations! This e-mail confirms that an organization ... has nominated you for a position..." Check the letter for “Next steps”. Be sure to complete the Applicant Gateway forms online if you are instructed to do that. If the “nomination” is marked “withdrawn” or “expired” in the Applicant Gateway, that means it timed out. If it timed out, you will need to write to PETSAdminsupport@schools.nyc.gov, and ask for a new “nomination” letter. When you get that letter, be sure to fill out the forms before the link expires.
If you do not have an official Social Security number, you must e-mail the Office of Personnel Investigations (OPI) OPIInfo@schools.nyc.gov to make an appointment. Indicate to the OPI representative that you are an international student teacher without a Social Security number. You will be directed to the correct person. You must have an appointment, and you must bring in the following four items:
Passport
Student visa
Proof of enrollment in an education program (a letter from your college program office will suffice: Early Childhood/Art Education, Childhood, Bilingual and Special Education, Secondary Education, or School Psychology/Counseling/Educational Leadership)
After you receive your Social Security number, you will need to bring your Social Security card to the OPI, 65 Court Street, Room 200, Brooklyn, New York. Indicate that you are an international student teacher who was previously fingerprinted without a Social Security number. Ask to be added to the Brooklyn College PETS roster so that your fingerprint records can be on file with Brooklyn College.
If you use a number obtained from any source other than the Social Security Administration (including numbers generated by CUNY and/or Brooklyn College) to be added to the NYCDOE PETS fingerprint roster, you will lose your security clearance and will be required to be fingerprinted a second time at your expense.
If you do not receive a Social Security number (either for employment purposes only or otherwise) before you complete your requirements for New York State certification, you may need to process your fingerprint clearance again with IndentoGo.
