Background Checks

Please complete all steps for the background check before scheduling your fingerprinting appointment.

Students in a degree-seeking teacher preparation program — except for the Athletic Training, School Counseling and Speech Pathology programs — must registrater for field experience clearance.

Step 1: Fee Payment and Transaction ID

Pay $38.25 online for the Arkansas Department of Education online background check, using these references:

1. Under Choose a School District/Location, select University of Arkansas - Fayetteville
2. Enter this Verification Code for the University of Arkansas: 8800016
3. Under Reason Fingerprinted, select either “Teacher (Pre-Service)” or "Teacher (Licensure, Lifetime, Renewal)"
4. After payment submission, you will be emailed a transaction number and confirmation receipt. Keep for your records.

Step 2: ADE Fingerprinting Consent Form

Complete and submit Background Check Consent Form to ADE using these references:

1. Under Reason for Background Check, select either “Teacher (Pre-Service)” or "Teacher (Licensure, Lifetime, Renewal)"
2. Under Employer, select “IHE – EPP University of Arkansas Fayetteville”
3. After completing the form, choose the option to print the consent form as a PDF to upload below

Step 3: Child Maltreatment Registry

This form from the Arkansas Department of Human Services has three parts and uses electronic signatures.

Part 1: Form Generation

Complete the Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry Form Generator, using these references:

1. Under Reason for Registry Check, select “You are a teacher, pre-service teacher, work for or attempting to work for a school in Arkansas”
2. Applicant Type: Select “Licensed Teacher”
3. School district: Arkansas Department of Education
4. School district contact: Leave blank
5. 2nd Email Address: Type dese.dcfsresults@ade.arkansas.gov — this may populate automatically
6. District phone number: Leave blank
   School mailing address: Leave blank
7. Complete all remaining fields. List all children (related or non-related) now residing or who have ever resided in the home with you, including siblings, and all biological children even if they have not resided in the home. List full name, date of birth and Social Security number for each child. Once all required fields are completed, submit the form. If you have questions about this, phone DHS at 501-682-0405.

Part 2: Electronic Signature

1. The completed request form will be emailed to the email address you entered on the AR Child Maltreatment Central Registry Request Form web page. You will review and electronically sign the form with instructions in the email.
2. The electronically signed form will be emailed back to you. It will include a document completion certificate to be submitted below.

Part 3: Form Submission to DHS

1. Upload at Request for Child Maltreatment Central Registry.
2. Responses for "Results should be released to:" Company: Arkansas Department of Education, Contact: Clara Toney, Email: clara.toney@ade.arkansas.gov
3. Where it says Choose File, attach the PDF of your completed document from Part 2. Hit submit and electronically pay $11.
4. Attach email confirmation below.

LiveScan fingerprinting is conducted in Peabody 110, with the 15-minute appointments scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays, subject to demand, inclement weather or the university calendar. Walk-ins are not accepted.

Your transaction ID number from step 1, the ADE Fingerprinting consent form and DHS Central Registry form will be required to make an appointment. LiveScan services are for University of Arkansas students completing educator licensure programs or entering a school district for the purposes of completing specific course requirements. If you are not a student or prospective student and need an ADE background check, call the NWA Co-op at 479-267-7450 for fingerprinting appointments.

Frequently Asked Questions