Background Checks/Fingerprints
When enrolled in Education courses, ALL students are required to have
a current background check – valid for 12 months from the date issued.
Category 1: Early Level Experiences (less than 40 hours)
In category 1, all students will be responsible for obtaining:
1. Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR) background check prior to observations and field
work experience, including Foundations (EDF 201-204) course. Effective July, 2009,
FCSR background checks are valid for one year; you must request your background
check every 12 months. The process can take up to three weeks. Please retain your
copy as verification.
A person needs to register only one time for the FCSR. http://www.dhss.mo.gov/FCSR/
To determine if you have registered: Click on the link, Is A Person Already Registered? and
type in your Social Security number to verify that you are registered with the Family Care
Safety Registry.
To initially register for a Family Care Safety Registry background check:


By submitting a completed Worker Registration Form, a photocopy of their Social
Security card, and a $9.00 registration fee (if applicable), paid by check or money
order, to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Fee Receipts Unit,
P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO, 65102.
By online registration at www.dhss.mo.gov/fcsr and clicking on the Register Online
link. When registering online, payment is made by credit card. You will be charged a
nonrefundable $9.00 registration fee and an additional $1.00 processing fee.
How to request your background check each school year (if you’ve previously registered):
Requests for background screenings may be made by phone using the toll-free access
line, 1-866-422-6872, between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The FCSR operates a toll-free call center for persons to request background screenings on
registered caregivers for employment purposes. The call center is available Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., excluding state holidays.
 The student must provide their name and address as well as their social security
number.
 The student will receive written confirmation of the results by mail.
Registration does not provide a background screening automatically to Saint Louis
University. The student must provide a copy of their background screening results to:
Joy Voss, Ph.D.
Saint Louis University
3500 Lindell Blvd.
Fitzgerald Hall, Rm 212
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314)977-1977
2. A TB Test should be provided annually to Dr. Joy Voss in the Field Office. The report
should include the date, a clear result of “negative,” as well as the name of the clinic
with an official stamp or signature. Test results more than 12 months old will not be
accepted.
3. Protecting God’s Children training is required for all volunteers in Catholic Schools.
This is a one-time training. Training sessions are available every semester through the
Department of Education. You may also visit the St. Louis Archdiocese to find
workshops.
Category 2: Mid-Level Experiences (Methods/Practicum)
In category 2, all students will be responsible for obtaining:
1. MO and FBI background check prior to methods courses, practicum, and/ or student
teaching experience over 100 hours. Effective July 2013, all MO and FBI background
checks are valid for one academic year (July-July); you must renew your background
check each year. The process can take up to four weeks. Please retain your
confirmation receipt as verification. To obtain a MO and FBI Fingerprint Check:
1. Go to http://www.slu.edu/x25225.xml
2. Fill in the form at on the website. Your student account will be billed $52.20
3. Select: “Education Fieldwork” from the drop-down menu and choose MO and FBI
Fingerprint Check. The background check reports are sent directly to the Field Office.
OR
For Substitute Certification, select “2301 Substitute Certification DESE – Education.” The
background check is sent directly to DESE.
4. The form will allow you to set an appointment time to be fingerprinted. You will
receive an email confirmation of your appointment
5. Any questions, concerns, or needing to complete a fingerprint check in a different
state, please contact:
Saint Louis University Clinical Education Compliance Office
Felicia Echols,314.977.6636
fechols@slu.edu
2. A TB Test should be provided annually to Dr. Joy Voss in the Field Office. The report
should include the date, a clear result of “negative,” as well as the name of the clinic
with an official stamp or signature. Test results more than 12 months old will not be
accepted.
4. Protecting God’s Children training is required for all volunteers in Catholic Schools.
This is a one-time training. Training sessions are available every semester through the
Department of Education. You may also visit the St. Louis Archdiocese to find
workshops.
Category 3: International Students (any number of Observation/Field Work hours)
All international students without a social security number will be responsible for obtaining:
1. MO and FBI background check prior to any field work. Effective July 2013, all MO
and FBI background checks are valid for one academic year (July-July); you must
renew your background check each year. The process can take up to four weeks. Please
retain your confirmation receipt as verification.
To obtain a MO and FBI Fingerprint Check: International Students
1. Go to http://www.slu.edu/x25225.xml
2. Fill in the form at on the website. Your student account will be billed $52.20
3. Select: “Education Fieldwork” from the drop-down menu and choose MO and FBI
Fingerprint Check. The background check reports are sent directly to the Field Office.
4. The form will allow you to set an appointment time to be fingerprinted. You will
receive an email confirmation of your appointment.
5. Any questions, concerns, or needing to complete a fingerprint check in a different
state, please contact:
Saint Louis University Clinical Education Compliance Office
Felicia Echols, 314.977.6636
fechols@slu.edu
2. A TB Test should be provided annually to Dr. Joy Voss in the Field Office. The report
should include the date, a clear result of “negative,” as well as the name of the clinic
with an official stamp or signature. Test results more than 12 months old will not be
accepted.
5. Protecting God’s Children training is required for all volunteers in Catholic Schools.
This is a one-time training. Training sessions are available every semester through the
Department of Education. You may also visit the St. Louis Archdiocese to find
workshops.
Category 4: Culminating Level Experience (Student Teachers)
In category 4, all students will be responsible for obtaining:
1. MO and FBI background check prior to student teaching experience. Effective July
2013, all MO and FBI background checks are valid for one academic year (July-July);
you must renew your background check each year. The process can take up to four
weeks. Please retain your confirmation receipt as verification. To obtain a MO and FBI
Fingerprint Check:
1. Go to http://www.slu.edu/x25225.xml
2. Fill in the form at on the website. Your student account will be billed $52.20
3. Select: “Education Fieldwork” from the drop-down menu and choose MO and FBI
Fingerprint Check. The background check reports are sent directly to the Field Office.
OR
For Substitute Certification, select “2301 Substitute Certification DESE – Education.” The
background check is sent directly to DESE.
*If you have obtained substitute certification within the past 6 months, you may provide
the screenshot from your DESE profile showing that you cleared the background
check. If it has been more than 6 months, you will need to obtain another FBI
background check before student teaching.
4. The form will allow you to set an appointment time to be fingerprinted. You will
receive an email confirmation of your appointment
5. Any questions, concerns, or needing to complete a fingerprint check in a different
state, please contact:
Saint Louis University Clinical Education Compliance Office
Felicia Echols,314.977.6636
fechols@slu.edu
2. A TB Test should be provided annually to Dr. Joy Voss in the Field Office. The report
should include the date, a clear result of “negative,” as well as the name of the clinic
with an official stamp or signature. Test results more than 12 months old will not be
accepted.
6. Protecting God’s Children training is required for all volunteers in Catholic Schools.
This is a one-time training. Training sessions are available every semester through the
Department of Education. You may also visit the St. Louis Archdiocese to find
workshops.
3. Another FBI background check is required at the end of the student teaching
semester in order to obtain certification from DESE.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Go to http://www.slu.edu/x25225.xml
Fill in the form at on the website. Your student account will be billed $52.20
Select “2301 Substitute Certification DESE – Education” for background check.
The report will be sent directly to DESE.
The form will allow you to set an appointment time to be fingerprinted. You will
receive an email confirmation of your appointment
Any questions, concerns, or needing to complete a fingerprint check in a
different state, please contact:
Saint Louis University Clinical Education Compliance Office
Felicia Echols,314.977.6636
fechols@slu.edu
(Link for Substitute teaching instructions)
SUBSTITUTE CERTIFICATE APPLICATION PROCEDURE
In order to apply for a Missouri Substitute Certificate, you must submit all of the
following items:
1. ONLINE SUBSTITUTE CERTIFICATE APPLICATION

You will first need to create a profile in our certification system. Please follow the
instructions outlined in the Help Guide for the Certification System.
http://dese.mo.gov/eq/cert/CertHelpGuide.html

After you have created a profile in our certification system, click on “New
Applications” in the menu on the left hand side of the screen to bring up a list of
application types.

Choose “Substitute” from the list to create an online application. Complete and
submit the application.
2. ORIGINAL COPIES OF ALL TRANSCRIPTS

Original transcripts from ALL institutions you have attended must be mailed
to: Educator Certification, PO Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 651020480. Please be sure to include your Social Security number or Educator ID number
on all of the transcripts. Faxed, scanned, emailed, or photocopied transcripts will not
be accepted. Transcripts become the property of the department and cannot be
returned.
3. FINGERPRINT/BACKGROUND CHECK

A criminal fingerprint/background clearance must be obtained before a certificate can
be issued.