Please note: You must be fingerprinted to obtain employment with the New York City Department of Education.

The HR Connect Walk-In Center and the Office of Personnel Investigation (OPI) are responsible for screening all new staff hired by the New York City Department of Education (DOE) to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff. State education laws and DOE policy and practice mandate the taking of fingerprints as a prerequisite for licensure and/or employment. Particular attention is given to fingerprint results that reveal a criminal history. Click for important information regarding arrest and conviction information for both applicants and current employees.

IMPORTANT: Cleared fingerprints do not guarantee employment with DOE.


Click on a link to jump down the page:

Fingerprinting
Alternative Fingerprkinting/Job Fairs
Alternative Fingerprinting/Integrated Service Centers (ISCs)
Previously Fingerprinted by the New York City DOE?
Previously Fingerprinted by the New York State Education Department?
Fingerprinting for New York State Certification Only
Employee Identification (ID) Cards
Replacement Employee ID Cards
Smart Cards



Fingerprinting
Fingerprinting services are available from the HR Connect Walk-In Center at 65 Court Street, Room 102, in Brooklyn between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to report to the Walk-in Center by 4:30 p.m. (See below for alternative sites for fingerprinting.)

1. A referral letter, as described below:

• Teachers: either a commitment letter or principal nomination letter.
• Student teachers: a letter of introduction from the Office of Student Teaching Initiatives.
• Custodial cleaners: a referral letter from the custodial engineer at the school.
• After-school program staff: a referral letter from your program that includes your name, your Social Security number, the signature of your program director, and information about any fee waivers that may apply.
• Consultants and contract employees: a referral letter from your employer that includes your name and Social Security number.
• Occupational therapists, physical therapists, and school nurses: a referral letter from the Office of Related and Contractual Services (ORCS).
• Volunteers: a referral letter from your volunteer organization (if affiliated) or from the school principal (if volunteering independently).
• Lab specialists, substitute paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, school secretaries, principals, or assistant principals: no letter is required.

2. A completed and signed Fingerprint Referral Form

Please note: The moral questions listed on the Fingerprint Referral Form must be answered honestly. You will need to disclose prior convictions for all offenses. This includes felonies, misdemeanors, and violations. Minor traffic infractions do not need to be listed. If you answer no to a question that the New York City DOE discovers should have been answered yes, you will automatically be denied approval for employment based on the nondisclosure.

If you answer yes, you will be given an opportunity to further explain the circumstances surrounding the particular occurrence. If deemed necessary, you will meet with a New York City DOE investigator, at which time you may bring legal representation, additional documents, and/or job/character reference letters to your investigative interview.

The New York City DOE requires that all applicants disclose prior convictions for all offenses, felonies, misdemeanors, and offenses other than traffic tickets. Failure to disclose may result in the applicant being disqualified for employment.

3. Proper identification, including a completed I-9 form (if applicable)

All applicants must provide a government-issued photo ID to be fingerprinted.  Applicants for positions that are payrolled by DOE must also provide additional identification in accordance with federal employment eligibility requirements via the Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9) form. Click to access the I-9 form for a list of acceptable identification.

4. Payment for processing fee

The cost for fingerprinting at the HR-Connect Walk-In Center is $115. Acceptable forms of payment are:

• Money orders (payable to NYCDOE/DHR).
• Personal checks (payable to NYCDOE/DHR).
• Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover) or debit card.
• Paycheck deducation. Payment can be deducted from your paycheck if you are an applicant who has been hired as an educator. Substitutes can not have their payment deferred.

You may not be required to provide the fee if you are on full public assistance, or if your program/employer has contracted with DOE to assume the cost of your fingerprinting.

5. Proof of a recent negative tuberculosis test (Please note: This requirement applies to custodial staff only.)
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Alternative Fingerprinting/Job Fairs
The DOE provides fingerprinting services at each Job Fair site for individuals who still need to meet the fingerprint requirement. If you are being printed offsite through an arrangement with your recruiter or vendor employer, the fee for fingerprint services is $135. If you were previously fingerprinted on behalf of the New York State Education Department (for example, when being certified), you will not need to be refingerprinted. You will be asked to fill out an OSPRA 103 form at the fair and to provide appropriate identification for the I-9 process. Click to access the OSPRA 103 form, and click to access the I-9 form for a list of acceptable identification.  There is no charge for submitting an OSPRA 103.
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Alternative Fingerprinting/Integrated Service Centers (ISCs)
For your convenience, your ISC may request a representative from HR Connect to conduct fingerprinting at the ISC during peak hiring periods, including the summer. These offsite fingerprinting events allow you to report to your local ISC for fingerprinting instead of traveling to HR Connect's Walk-In Center in Brooklyn. Please work with your ISC to determine whether a fingerprinting event has been scheduled. Employees reporting for fingerprinting at an ISC or offsite fingerprinting event are required to provide a completed Fingerprint Referral Form, I-9 form, and appropriate identification (listed on the I-9 form) at the time of fingerprinting.

Please note: If you are an ISC liaison, please call HR Connect at (718) 935-4000 for instructions on scheduling an event at your location.
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Previously Fingerprinted by the New York City DOE?
If you were fingerprinted by the New York City DOE after July 1, 1990, and you are seeking teaching certification from New York State, you do not need to be refingerprinted for later employment with DOE.

If you were previously fingerprinted by DOE and are seeking employment or certification with the New York State Education Department, you can request that your fingerprinting information be forwarded to the New York State Education Department via an OSPRA 104 form.  This service is provided free of charge.  Please complete an OSPRA 104 form and submit the completed form via fax, mail, or in person.

Fax: (718) 935-2726

Mail: HR Connect Walk-In Center
        65 Court Street, Room 102
        Brooklyn, NY 11201

In person: At the HR Connect Walk-in Center at 65 Court Street, Room 102.

Please note: You need to submit the OSPRA 104 form only one time.
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Previously Fingerprinted by the New York State Education Department?
If you have been fingerprinted by the New York State Education Department, you will not need to be refingerprinted by DOE.  You may request that your fingerprint information be forwarded to DOE from New York State Education Department via an OSPRA 103 package.  This package includes an OSPRA 103 form, a Fingerprint Referral Form, and an Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9) form.  Click to access the OSPRA 103 form, and click to access the I-9 form for a list of acceptable identification that must accompany the I-9 form.

Please submit the completed packet, along with legible photocopies of proper identification, via fax, mail, or in person.

Fax: 718-935-2726

Mail: HR Connect Walk-In Center
        65 Court Street, Room 102
        Brooklyn, NY 11201

In person: At the HR Connect Walk-in Center at 65 Court Street, Room 102.
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Fingerprinting for New York State Certification Only
If you are interested in being fingerprinted to meet the New York State Education Requirement for State Certification and are not in the process of obtaining employment at the New York City DOE, you may request a fingerprint packet from the Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability (OSPRA) of the New York State Education Department. Visit the OSPRA Web site for more information.  You may also obtain this packet in person at the HR Connect Walk-In Center.

As part of the State Education Department package, you will need to have your fingerprints ink-rolled either at your local police precinct or at the HR Connect Walk-In Center.  A $10 fee, payable via money order, is charged for DOE fingerprinting services.
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Employee Identification (ID) Cards
All DOE employees, with the exception of student teachers and some contract employees, are required to obtain an official DOE photo ID card.
Employee ID cards can be requested (and photos taken) at the HR Connect Walk-In Center at 65 Court Street, Room 102, in Brooklyn between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Please be advised that your employee ID card will not be released until fingerprinting requirements have been met and a valid photo identification card has been presented with an official letter from your employer.  You will be issued your ID card by your principal or hiring manager on your first day at work.

New York City DOE active employees, please note: To obtain an employee ID card, bring an official letter embossed with the seal or stamp from your employer requesting the issuance of your employee ID. This letter must include your full name, Social Security number, current title, and payroll location. All employee ID cards will be mailed to your work location.

Custodial staff, please note: When fingerprint requirements have been met, your custodial engineer will request your employee ID be released. An official letter must be provided to the HR Connect Walk-In Center indicating the effective date of employment, employee status, and the site where the individual will be employed. All employee ID cards will be mailed to your work location.
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Replacement Employee ID Cards
For replacement of a lost, stolen, or mutilated employee ID card, you must provide the HR Connect Walk-In Center with an official letter from your employer and a $10 fee (check or money order payable to NYCDOE/DHR). This fee is waived if you provide a police report documenting a stolen ID card.
There is no fee for replacement ID cards requested due to a name change, title change, or work location change.
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Smart Cards
Smart Cards are used by substitute teachers and part-time teachers as a way to log attendance and gain access to participating Smart Card-based schools. To obtain a Smart Card, follow the same procedures as employee ID cards (see above). New substitute teachers will automatically be issued a Smart Card at the time of initial employment.
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