DCPS Fingerprinting (Background Check) and ID Badge Processes and Requirements

All current and prospective DCPS employees, program partners, contractors, student teachers, interns, and volunteers must complete a criminal background check before providing services to any DCPS student, school, or office.

Please review the guidance below to complete this mandatory process. Please note, there is no cost associated with obtaining a background check. One-pager guidance documents for each service category may also be found at the end of this page for your reference.

Once you have completed all clearance requirements, you will be issued with a clearance letter from our team (from [email protected] – this inbox does not accept incoming emails). Your clearance expires two years from the date listed on your letter. Please note, clearance letters are often caught in spam filters. As such, please periodically check your spam filter/folder for your DCPS Clearance Letter once you have completed all requirements, as well as add [email protected], [email protected] & [email protected] to your email provider’s safe senders list.

Current DCPS Clearance Process

The first step for all individuals seeking DCPS Clearance is to complete the DCPS Clearance Application. Failure to submit this application will prevent the DCPS Clearance team from processing fingerprinting results or issuing clearance compliance. Please ensure that you complete the application via a laptop/desktop device, and not via a mobile phone.

Athletic Coach Clearance

An Athletic Coach is someone who provides coaching services to DCPS, either paid or unpaid. Applicants interested in providing coaching services via DCIAA may review the Coach’s Corner webpage for further details.

Complete the DCPS Clearance Application. Your next steps will be outlined in your application confirmation email once you have submitted your application. You may also review the DCPS Clearance Process for Athletic Coaches one pager for additional guidance.
Complete the TB Risk Assessment Screening, embedded in the DCPS Clearance Application. Based on responses to these questions, the assessment will either satisfy the TB screening requirement or you will be directed to complete a TB test via your application confirmation email. If your risk assessment indicates that you must complete a TB test, you must provide TB test results to move forward in the clearance process. DCPS accepts skin tests within the last one (1) year, blood tests taken within the last three (3) years, or chest x-ray analysis completed within the last five (5) years. If a TB test is required, please send your results to the DCPS Clearance team ([email protected]).
DCPS coaches are generally required to complete drug testing for final clearance. As a coach, you will initiate the drug testing process by completing the MDAT Drug Testing Link which is embedded in the Clearance Application. Within 2-4 business days of submitting the requested information, you will receive an email from [email protected] with a link to schedule your appointment. You must sign up for drug testing within fifteen (15) days of receiving the email containing the link to schedule your appointment.

Contractor Clearance

A Contractor/Program provider is someone who is receiving pay for services provided to DCPS, either independently or through a partner organization, but is not an employee of DCPS. Organizations interested in establishing partnerships with DCPS may review the DCPS Partners webpage for further details.

Complete the DCPS Clearance Application. Your next steps will be outlined in your application confirmation email once you have submitted your application. You may also review the DCPS Clearance Process for Contractors one pager for additional guidance.
Complete the TB Risk Assessment Screening, embedded in the DCPS Clearance Application. Based on responses to these questions, the assessment will either satisfy the TB screening requirement or you will be directed to complete a TB test via your application confirmation email. If your risk assessment indicates that you must complete a TB test, you must provide TB test results to move forward in the clearance process. DCPS accepts skin tests within the last one (1) year, blood tests taken within the last three (3) years, or chest x-ray analysis completed within the last five (5) years. If a TB test is required, please send your results to the DCPS Clearance team ([email protected]).
DCPS contractors are generally required to complete drug testing for final clearance. As a contractor, you will initiate the drug testing process by completing the MDAT Drug Testing Link which is embedded in the Clearance Application. Within 2-4 business days of submitting the requested information, you will receive an email from [email protected] with a link to schedule your appointment. You must sign up for drug testing within fifteen (15) days of receiving the email containing the link to schedule your appointment.

Volunteer Clearance

A Volunteer (Unsupervised and Supervised) is someone who is offering services to DCPS schools or offices with no compensation and may be with students alone at times and/or supervised during programming.

Confirm a placement. If you do not have a placement, please use the school profiles to reach out to a local school to discuss your interest in volunteering. You may also find further details on volunteering with DCPS (including our federal security & under 18 volunteer clearance process) via the highlighted link.
All volunteers seeking clearance who are 18 years or older must complete the DCPS Clearance Application. Your next steps will be outlined in your application confirmation email once you have submitted your application. You may also review the DCPS Clearance Process for Unsupervised and Supervised Volunteers one pager for additional guidance.
Complete the TB Risk Assessment Screening, embedded in the DCPS Clearance Application. Based on responses to these questions, the assessment will either satisfy the TB screening requirement or you will be directed to complete a TB test via your application confirmation email. If your risk assessment indicates that you must complete a TB test, you must provide TB test results to move forward in the clearance process. DCPS accepts skin tests within the last one (1) year, blood tests taken within the last three (3) years, or chest x-ray analysis completed within the last five (5) years. If a TB test is required, please send your results to the DCPS Clearance team ([email protected]).

Student Teacher Clearance

A Student Teacher or Intern is someone who is providing services through an educational or vocational program.

Confirm a placement. The student teacher placement process is managed between your university program and the school directly, as Employee Services does not have a placement process or mandate for student teachers. We encourage you to use the school directory, available on our main website, to reach out to particular schools that you would like to host you as student teacher. You can view the school directory here.
Complete the DCPS Clearance Application. Your next steps will be outlined in your application confirmation email once you have submitted your application. You may also review the DCPS Clearance Process for Student Teachers and Interns one pager for additional guidance.
Complete the TB Risk Assessment Screening, embedded in the DCPS Clearance Application. Based on responses to these questions, the assessment will either satisfy the TB screening requirement or you will be directed to complete a TB test via your application confirmation email. If your risk assessment indicates that you must complete a TB test, you must provide TB test results to move forward in the clearance process. DCPS accepts skin tests within the last one (1) year, blood tests taken within the last three (3) years, or chest x-ray analysis completed within the last five (5) years. If a TB test is required, please send your results to the DCPS Clearance team ([email protected]).

ID Badges

If you are an employee, program partner, contractor, student teacher, or intern, you are required to have an ID badge. The ID badge office (DCPS Central Office, 1200 First Street, NE) is currently open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Once you have met all clearance requirements, please stop by the ID badge office during business hours.

Volunteers are not issued a DCPS ID badge.