Volunteer Clearances
This certification must be printed or saved immediately! Once it is viewed, you will no longer have access to this document! You will not receive an email confirmation.
Click Here for FBI Fingerprint Application Instructions (this will take you to the PA Dept. of Education website page with full instructions on how to obtain your FBI clearance).
- Note that FBI clearances are only required if you have resided within the state of Pennsylvania for less than 10 consecutive years.
- You will be required to give a Service Code during the application process. For BCS the Service Code is 1KG6TR.
Why are clearances necessary?
The PA Legislature has amended the Child Protective Services Law numerous times over the past few years with the most recent changes focusing on clearances for volunteers. Please read the information below and complete all necessary clearances in order to comply with the Child Protective Services Law.
Volunteers are defined as an adult individual 18 years of age or older serving in an unpaid position who is responsible for the welfare of one or more children, or has direct contact with children through any program, activity, and service sponsored by Bethlehem Christian School, which includes drivers for sporting events, activities, and chaperones for field trips. Anyone fitting into these definitions must obtain the clearances prior to volunteering. The school requires volunteers to furnish a copy of their clearance paperwork, which are valid for five years from the date issued, which will be kept on file in the school office. All volunteers will be required to provide clearances free of incidences.
Volunteers who have contact with children:
Volunteers are defined as an adult individual 18 years of age or older serving in an unpaid position who is responsible for the welfare of one or more children, or has direct contact with children through any program, activity, and service sponsored by Bethlehem Christian School, which includes drivers for sporting events, activities, and chaperones for field trips. Anyone fitting into these definitions must obtain the clearances prior to volunteering. The school requires volunteers to furnish a copy of their clearance paperwork, which are valid for five years from the date issued, which will be kept on file in the school office. All volunteers will be required to provide clearances free of incidences.
Volunteers who have contact with children:
Who have resided in the Commonwealth continuously for at the least the past 10 years will be required to obtain a Pennsylvania State Police criminal background check clearance (criminal history), as well as a Child Abuse History Clearance from the Department of Human Services.
- Who have resided in the Commonwealth for less than 10 years will be required to obtain a Pennsylvania State Police criminal background check clearance (criminal history), a Child Abuse History Clearance from the Department of Human Services, and an FBI criminal background check clearance, which includes fingerprinting.
Once clearances are obtained, they will need to be renewed every five years.
The process of state clearances is almost immediate in terms of receiving your documentation, so it is not a time-consuming or laborious effort. The FBI check, if necessary, does require a bit more time. Please plan accordingly.
Once all documents are complete, please bring the original to the school’s office. A staff member will make a copy of your documents and return the original to you. (If you already have a copy of your clearances from church or other organization work, you may furnish the same clearance document, as long as it is still valid.)
Thank you for your willingness to volunteer, and your patience and cooperation as we work to comply with these state mandates.