• NYCDOE Fingerprint Verification and Security Clearance Requirement

  • All Education and TESOL students at LaGuardia Community College must be registered in the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) database specifically for LaGuardia Community College students and Fingerprinted by the NYCDOE before registering for an education course.


  • Field Experience & Fingerprint Requirements

    (Please note that in order to access all forms on this page, students must use their CUNYFirst login credentials, e.g. username@login.cuny.edu)

    All Education and TESOL students must complete and submit the following three requirements at least one month before the semester you start the first course in which classroom observation or fieldwork hours are required:


    1. 1. Complete this mandatory online field experience training
    2. 2. Complete this fingerprint and background verification agreement form
    3. 3. Submit a Letter of Employment or Proof of completing a fingerprint and background check by the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) as described below

    Failure to complete these requirements may result in an academic withdrawal from the class requiring classroom observation or fieldwork hours. See Fingerprint Clearance Requirement below for specific information for providing proof of completing a fingerprint and background check by the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE). Please follow all steps exactly to avoid delays in your processing your information.

    For more information or assistance, email the Fieldwork Coordinator or Program Directors at educationprogram@lagcc.cuny.edu. The Education Program is located in the Education and Language Acquisition Department in B-234.

    Paula Zimmermann, Fieldwork Coordinator
    Michele de Goeas-Malone, Program Co-Director
    Caterina Almendral, Program Co-Director


    Fingerprint Clearance Requirement

    The NYC DOE requires that all education students completing classroom observation or fieldwork hours in a NYC public school must have a background check and fingerprints on file with the NYC DOE. As part of the clearance process, you must self-register with the NYCDOE Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) office so that your clearance can be confirmed by LaGuardia Community College before the semester begins. The NYC DOE no longer offers fingerprinting services. This process can take up to two months depending on your individual case. The current cost of obtaining fingerprints from IdentoGO is $101.75. Fingerprinting is no longer done at NYC DOE Court Street.

    If you are currently employed in a school setting, stop here and complete this employment verification form. If you are NOT currently employed in a school setting, go to the relevant instructions below to obtain fingerprint clearance.


  •  Students who have not been previously fingerprinted by an education department (e.g., NYSED, NYCDOE)
    1. Self-register with the NYCDOE PETS Office
      1. Send an e-mail to the Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) at PETS@schools.nyc.gov. Indicate that you are a LaGuardia Community College student needing fingerprinting clearance for fieldwork. Include your name, phone number, complete home address, date of birth, and email address.
      2. When you receive a reply from the NYCDOE PETS fingerprint office, follow all instructions provided in their email. Provide all documents requested including proof you are a LaGuardia community College student. If you need a letter requiring an enrollment verification certificate, email educationprogram@lagcc.cuny.edu.
    2. Applicant Gateway
      Once your nomination has been processed in PETS, you will receive an e-mail from PETSAdminSupport@schools.nyc.gov.
      1. Read all the information provided in the email carefully.
      2. Follow the instructions on creating your Applicant Gateway account.
      3. Complete the forms available to you on Applicant Gateway, including the background questionnaire.
    3. Fingerprinting
      1. On your Applicant Gateway account, you will find instructions on making a fingerprinting appointment. Follow these instructions and get fingerprinted.
    4. Verification and Submission of NYC DOE Clearance
      1. Monitor your progress via your Applicant Gateway account. When all sections read “complete” your clearance should be in the NYC DOE system.
      2. Take a screenshot of all sections marked “complete”
      3. Submit screenshot to this Fingerprint and Verification Confirmation Form. Once the program has received your submission, you will receive an email confirming receipt.
     Students previously fingerprinted by the NYC DOE who need to be added to the LaGuardia College roster
    1. Self-register with the NYCDOE PETS Office
      1. Send an e-mail to the Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) at PETS@schools.nyc.gov. Indicate that you are a LaGuardia Community College student needing fingerprinting clearance for fieldwork. Include your name, phone number, complete home address, date of birth, and email address.
      2. When you receive a reply from the NYCDOE PETS fingerprint office, follow all instructions provided in their email. Provide all documents requested including proof you are a LaGuardia community College student. If you need a letter requiring an enrollment verification certificate, email educationprogram@lagcc.cuny.edu.
    2. Applicant Gateway
      Once your nomination has been processed in PETS, you will receive an e-mail from PETSAdminSupport@schools.nyc.gov.
      1. Read all the information provided in the email carefully.
      2. Follow the instructions on creating your Applicant Gateway account.
      3. Complete the forms available to you on Applicant Gateway, including the background questionnaire.
    3. Verification and Submission of NYC DOE Clearance
      1. Monitor your progress via your Applicant Gateway account. When all sections read “complete” your clearance should be in the NYC DOE system.
      2. Take a screenshot of all sections marked “complete”
      3. Submit screenshot to this Fingerprint and Verification Confirmation Form. Once the program has received your submission, you will receive an email confirming receipt.
     Students fingerprinted by NY State Education Department who require their fingerprints be transferred to the NYC DOE
    1. Self-register with the NYCDOE PETS Office
      1. Send an e-mail to the Personnel Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) at PETS@schools.nyc.gov. Indicate that you are a LaGuardia Community College student needing fingerprinting clearance for fieldwork. Include your name, phone number, complete home address, date of birth, and email address.
      2. When you receive a reply from the NYCDOE PETS fingerprint office, follow all instructions provided in their email. Provide all documents requested including proof you are a LaGuardia community College student. If you need a letter requiring an enrollment verification certificate, email educationprogram@lagcc.cuny.edu.
    2. Applicant Gateway
      Once your nomination has been processed in PETS, you will receive an e-mail from PETSAdminSupport@schools.nyc.gov.
      1. Read all the information provided in the email carefully.
      2. Follow the instructions on creating your Applicant Gateway account.
      3. Complete the forms available to you on Applicant Gateway, including the background questionnaire.
    3. Submitting an OSPRA 103 form
      For your NYS DOE fingerprints to transfer to the NYC DOE, you are required to submit an OSPRA 103 form. This can take up to 6 weeks.
      1. Click on the following link to download the OSPRA 103 form: http://www.nysed.gov/common/nysed/files/ospra103.pdf
      2. Complete sections I and II on the OSPRA 103 form
      3. Once complete, email the form to the email provided at the bottom of the form.
    4. Verification and Submission of NYC DOE Clearance
      1. Monitor your progress via your Applicant Gateway account. When all sections read “complete” your clearance should be in the NYC DOE system.
      2. Take a screenshot of all sections marked “complete”
      3. Submit screenshot to this Fingerprint and Verification Confirmation Form. Once the program has received your submission, you will receive an email confirming receipt.
     International Students (F1 visa holder)

    International students must contact the NYC DOE for further instructions on the process of fingerprinting.

    1. Email OPIINFO@schools.nyc.gov and explain you are an international student who requires NYC DOE clearance for fieldwork. If you need a letter requiring an enrollment verification certificate, email educationprogram@lagcc.cuny.edu
    2. Work with the NYC DOE to get fingerprinted.
    3. Verification and Submission of NYC DOE Clearance
      1. Once you are fingerprinted, it can take up to 3 business days for the NYC DOE to complete a background check.
      2. Submit your proof of verification to this Proof of NYCDOE Clearance Link. Once the program has received your proof, you will receive an email confirming receipt.