Background Checks & Reporting

Required background checks, training and self-reporting required as part of your progression:

Upon completion of your teacher education admission application:

SING Background Check (now available for completion and payment online)
FBI Background Check
Criminal Misconduct Policy

You should carry your background check certificates with you during field experiences.

As you progress:

High Risk Behaviors and Substance Abuse Training
Self-Reporting of Alleged Criminal Misconduct
Universal Precautions (OSHA) training course and Mandatory Reporter of Child Abuse and Dependent Adult Abuse (optional, no longer required for graduation and will no longer be posted to the certificate viewer screen)

Please contact the CATS Office with any questions related to these trainings at 319-273-2265 or email teachereducation@uni.edu.

Background Checks

SING Background Check

All teacher candidates must complete the SING background check (now available for completion and payment online) before beginning their first field experience at UNI. The background check is valid during the duration of most teacher education candidates’ program of study.

Students who already have a coaching, substitute or para-educator authorization from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners may not need to complete a SING background check. It might still be required, however, if the student's field experience is in a Pre-K setting. In these settings the SING background check must be less than two years old. UNI students in Pre-K settings also need to complete an FBI criminal history check based on their fingerprints. Please refer to the FBI Fingerprinting section for instructions on this new electronic process.

For this background check the Iowa Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (IDCI) will review the Child Abuse Registry, Dependent Abuse Registry, Iowa Criminal History Record and Sex Offender Registry to ensure the safety of children in the PK-12th grade schools.

If you are unable to pay through our new system, you may complete the form online but bring payment to the College of Education Advising & Teacher Education Success Office (CATS), 151 SEC. Make checks payable to UNI Teacher Education. If you pay in cash you must have exactly $15. We cannot add this expense to your u-bill.

You should carry a copy of your background check certificate with you when you are at a field experience.

FBI Background Check

This additional background check is required by the Iowa Department of Human Services only for Early Childhood Education majors and minors. This background check is valid for four years. No other major needs to complete this special background check. The College of Education Advising & Teacher Education Success Office (CATS) is implementing a new electronic FBI fingerprinting process through a company called Fieldprint, effective May 13, 2024. This streamlined process allows fingerprint submission electronically with no processing fee.

Please click on Fieldprint - Iowa Program Scheduling Aid to set up a Fieldprint account and schedule an appointment to have your fingerprints taken. You must follow these specific instructions in order for your results to be sent to our office through the Fieldprint reporting system. For number 9 on the instructions, please contact our office and we will provide the appropriate code for you to enter. When you search for an available Fieldprint location, you will find the Black Hawk County Abstract Company in Waterloo as your closest destination to UNI. Please make sure to bring two forms of identification with you. There is no cost to complete this process.

Once your fingerprints are captured electronically, your prints will be sent to the Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) in Des Moines. Our office will be notified that your fingerprints were captured through the Fieldprint reporting system and we will have access to your signed waiver form which will be kept on file in our office.

Once your fingerprints are processed and cleared through DCI, our office will receive an official letter with your results. If you are cleared at that point, your date of clearance will be entered into the Certificate Viewer which you can then access.

Please contact the UNI College of Education Advising & Teacher Education Success Office (CATS) in 151 Schindler Education Center with any questions pertaining to your SING Background Check or FBI Fingerprints by emailing teachereducation@uni.edu or by calling 319-273-2265.

Reporting & Trainings

Self-Reporting of Alleged Criminal Misconduct Policy

When applying to the UNI Teacher Education Program students must read and acknowledge the UNI Teacher Education Program’s policy for self-reporting of alleged criminal misconduct. Click here to access this policy.

High Risk Behaviors & Substance Abuse Training

The High Risk Behaviors and Substance Abuse training is an initial licensure requirement. You need to complete this training before you student teach; we recommend you complete it during your Level 2 semester. The training is good for five years.

All students with a declared a teacher education major can access this training on eLearning, under "Teacher Education Trainings.” It includes handouts, a 2.5 hour video and an assessment that you must successfully complete before being issued a certificate of completion. Click on High Risk Behaviors and Substance Abuse Training for instructions on how to access and complete this course.

Any questions pertaining to this training should be directed to Bibiana Julin at bibiana.julin@uni.edu or 319-273-2202.

Trainings No Longer Required

As of February 4, 2022, the Universal Precautions (OSHA) training course and Mandatory Reporter of Child Abuse and Dependent Adult Abuse training courses are no longer UNI graduation requirements. You may still complete these training sessions, but will need to keep copies of certificates for your records only. OHSA/Universal Precautions Mandatory Reporting

Certificates of completion will no longer be posted to your MyUniverse account. Please contact the CATS Office with any questions related to training completed at another location other than UNI by calling 319-273-2265 or email teachereducation@uni.edu.