Eastern Michigan University
School of Health Sciences
Master of Occupational Therapy Program
Certified Background Check Policy
Adopted August 22, 2011
Purpose:
To comply with affiliation agreement requirements and to ensure the safety of clients at our
fieldwork sites, all students must complete an annual certified background check using
www.certifiedbackground.com. Any student who has a yellow warning or a red flag on their
results must meet with the fieldwork coordinator to discuss implications of said results for the
NBCOT exam and future fieldwork assignments. If a student has an incident that has the
potential to change the results of their certified background check, they must notify the fieldwork
coordinator immediately and complete a new background check. Any student found knowingly
withholding information regarding a status change is at risk for dismissal from the program.
If a student has a record, it is imperative that that individual schedule a meeting with the
fieldwork coordinator to determine if she will be able to place the student at a fieldwork site.
Steps in handling a warning or red flag:
1.) When necessary, the student will obtain a copy of the court document that specifies the
judgment in the case and provide a copy to the fieldwork coordinator. This is necessary
when there is a discrepancy between the results of the background check and the
student’s understanding of the original judgment.
2.) Student and fieldwork coordinator will meet initially to complete the following:
a. Sign a release of information allowing the fieldwork coordinator to discuss the
results of the background check with relevant fieldwork supervisors to determine
eligibility for placement.
b. Review the NBCOT Character Review questions to explore whether an early
determination must take place:
i. Have you ever been charged with or convicted of a felony?
ii. Have you ever had any professional license, registration, or certification
revoked, suspended or subject to probationary conditions by a regulatory
authority or certification board?
iii. Have you ever been found by any court, administrative, or disciplinary
proceeding to have committed negligence, malpractice, recklessness, or
willful or intentional misconduct which resulted in harm to another?
iv. Have you ever been suspended and/or expelled from a college or
university?
c. Review Michigan’s Licensure requirements to determine if any action must be
taken:
i. Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
ii. Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor punishable by
imprisonment for a maximum term of 2 years?
iii. Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor involving the illegal
delivery, possession, or use of alcohol or a controlled substance (including
motor vehicle violations)?
iv. Have you been treated for substance abuse in the past 2 years?
v. Have you had 3 or more malpractice settlements, awards, or judgments in
any consecutive 5 year period?
vi. Have you had one or more malpractice settlements, awards, or judgments
totaling $200,000 or more in any consecutive 5 year period?
vii. Have you ever had a federal or state health professional license or
registration revoked, suspended, or otherwise disciplined; been denied a
license; or currently have a disciplinary pending hearing pending against
you?
viii. Have you ever been censured, or requested to withdraw from a health care
facility’s staff or had your health care facility staff privileges involuntarily
modified?
d. Contact the fieldwork supervisor to discuss the situation with the student present
e. Document the results of the meeting in the student file
Additional requirements:
Many fieldwork sites have their own policies to ensure the safety of their clients, including a
procedure for conducting background checks. Students must comply with all agency fieldwork
requirements in order to be placed at a given site. This may mean that a student participate in
additional background checks, drug screens or fingerprinting in order to be placed.