Procedures for Field Experience

Procedures and Policies for Requesting a Field Experience Placement

• To register for a course with a field experience, Teacher Education candidates must have attained the required GPA and have obtained departmental permission.
  
  
• To obtain departmental permission, a Field Experience Placement Form must be completed at the time of pre-registration, be signed by the advisor, and be submitted to the Coordinator of Field Placements.
  
  
• The Coordinator of Field Placements arranges for all placements. Teacher Education candidates may not arrange for or change placements by contacting school officials. Violations of this policy may result in being dropped from the course and/or review of retention in the Teacher Education Program.
  
  
• All clearances must be submitted to the Education Department prior to final assignment. Failure to do so by the deadline may result in the candidate being dropped from the course and forfeiting the placement.
  
  
• Because clearances may take up to two months to be processed, Teacher Education candidates need to apply for all clearances in a timely manner.

Required Clearances

All required clearances must indicate that there are “no offenses” *

Before a Teacher Education candidate may enter the assigned school, all districts require three clearances:

1. Act 34: Police Criminal Record Check

Cost: $10.00 (credit card for online; money order for paper form)

How to apply: Online at https://epatch.state.pa.us The processed form must be printed out. This clearance may also be obtained by completing and submitting the paper form SP 4-164 available at: https://epatch.state.pa.us   (Drop down the Help tab.)

2. Act 151: Child Abuse History

Cost: $10.00 (money order only)

How to apply: Paper form only and it must be mailed to Harrisburg. You may download the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance Form CY-113 at www.dpw.state.pa.us (Click on form at left side of site.) This clearance takes the longest to obtain; send in request at least 4 -6 weeks prior to start of semester.

How to apply: Register for fingerprinting anytime online at www.pa.cogentid.com or by phone 1-888-439-2486 (M-F, 8-6 only). Fingerprinting sites are also listed there. After registration and payment, print the registration form with the confirmation #, SSN, and DOB. This must be presented at the fingerprinting site.

* Clearances are valid for all field experiences and student teaching as long as the Teacher Education candidate is continuously enrolled in the Teacher Education Program at Wilkes University.