Background Checks & Reporting

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.  

If the student's field experience is in a Pre-K setting, 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.

Early Childhood Education majors and minors are required to complete this additional background check prior to participation in their field experience as required by the Iowa Department of Human Services.  No other majors or minors need to complete this special background check which is valid for four years. The College of Education Advising and Teacher Education Success Office (CATS) has implemented a new electronic FBI fingerprinting process through a company called Fieldprint, effective immediately.  This streamlined process allows fingerprint submission electronically with no processing fees. 

Complete the Waiver Agreement and Privacy Act Statement and submit it to the CATS Office by emailing teachereducation@uni.edu.  Upon receipt, you will then be provided the Fieldprint-Iowa Program Schedule Aid and Fieldprint code which will allow you to set up a Fieldprint account and schedule an appointment. 

Click on Fieldprint Locations to find a location closest to you.  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 Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) in Des Moines. Once your fingerprints are processed and cleared through DCI, the CATS Office will receive an official letter with your results.  If you are cleared at that point, your date of clearance will be entered in the Certificate Viewer which you can then access via these instructions.  If you are not cleared through DCI, specific instructions will be sent to you from the CATS Office.

For questions pertaining to the FBI fingerprinting process please contact the UNI College of Education Advising and Teacher Teacher Education Success Office (CATS) in 151 Schindler Education Center by emailing teachereducation@uni.edu or by calling 319-273-2265.