AELS Background Check

The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and Arkansas Tech University require background checks.

Act 455 of 2013 established that all educators must clear FBI and Arkansas State Police background checks and submit a release of information to the Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry.   Background and Child Maltreatment Registry checks must be no less than one (1) year old when a license is issued or renewed.

Prior to any field experience, undergraduate and MAT candidates must have an approved background check. 

When do I need to get an AELS Background check?

• After you register for the Intro class (ELED 2003, MLED 2003, or SEED 2003), and before submitting your Field Placement application, you must have an approved AELS background check.
• If you leave school and return at a later date to resume education classes, you must have an up-to-date AELS background check approval.
• When you are ready to apply for your teaching license, you must have an AELS Background Check with an approval date less than a year old. 

WHAT information does AELS receive to approve a  Background check?

• An electronic set of fingerprints is submitted to the Arkansas Sate Police and FBI for approval.
• Click here for a list of Disqualifying Criminal Offenses that would prevent an approval from AELS.
• A Child Maltreatment Registry Check Form is submitted to the state Department of Human services, and a finding of clear is required for your approval.

How much does an AELS Background Check Cost?

• $37 for your background check, which includes your fingerprinting; and
• $11 for your Child Maltreatment Registry Check request ($10.00 fee + $1.00 electronic processing fee).

For information on how to complete your background check, please follow the step-by-step instructions provided in the next drop-down section.

Click here to complete the Online Background Check Consent Form.

1. SELECT Reason: Teacher (Licensure, Renewal) for students planning to get their full (K-12) teaching license; *Early Childhood Education majors will select "AR ADE Office of Early Childhood" (ECE). Please make sure you have chosen the correct reason for your background check. We are unable to change anything on your Consent Form once you have paid for it, so if you need to make another selection, you will have to pay for it again.
2. CLICK Continue.
3. Employer: IHE with EPP: Arkansas Tech University.
4. Fill out all applicant information. The exact information you need to enter is listed below.
5. You must print the form now or save it as a PDF.  There is no other way to obtain the form.
6. You must bring your paper copy of your Consent form to your fingerprinting appointment.

Click here to complete the Background Check Payment.

You will need to enter the following information to complete the Background Check form:

1. Choose a School District/Location: Arkansas Tech University.
2. Verification Code:  8800004.
3. Reason Fingerprinted: EDC Teacher (Licensure, Renewal) or Early Childhood Education majors will select "AR ADE Office of Early Childhood" (ECE). If you are uncertain about the options, please call our office at (479) 964-0583, ext. 2203.
4. PRINT NOW or save your receipt and bring it to your fingerprinting appointment. On that receipt is a unique Search ID/Transaction Number that we must have to do your fingerprints. PLEASE NOTE: You are not finished until you complete the Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check form AND have PAID for it.
5. Instructions are below.

Submitting an Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry Background Check Request

Complete the Fingerprinting Process

ATU has a LiveScan system for background checks located in Crabaugh 308. Schedule your appointment by clicking HERE. We can submit your fingerprints directly to the Arkansas State Police and FBI.

For a list of other approved LiveScan locations, click HERE.

Note: You MUST bring a copy of your consent form, your payment receipt for your background check, and a valid ID to complete the fingerprinting process. If you do not have access to a printer, please email these documents to Mrs. Kim Tate at ktate4@atu.edu.

Check Employability - Please allow up to 2-4 weeks for the employability status to be determined before contacting the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

To verify that your background check has cleared, use the Arkansas Educator Licensure System (AELS) here.
To access your record, enter the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number and your last name. Leave Case I.D. blank! Click the Search button. Once your name pulls up, click SELECT to the left of your name and look for the Employability Check section. If the status says APPROVED, then your background check has cleared.

If its status still shows PENDING after 4 weeks have passed, you are missing some information -- 90% of the time teachers and other school employees do not submit the Child Maltreatment Registry Check portion of the background check, or if it was submitted, it was not paid for!  You will need to confirm that is the actual problem, so please contact Clara Toney at the Arkansas Department of Education at clara.toney@ade.arkansas.gov or (501) 682-4342.

Questions? Contact Mrs. Kim Tate in the Teacher Licensure Department at ktate4@atu.edu.

You must bring the following items to your fingerprinting appointment: 

• Printed copy of your Background Check Consent form (or the .pdf version on your phone/computer)..
• Printed receipt of your Background Check Payment of $37.00. This is very important! This receipt has a Search ID/ Transaction Number on it that ATU must use to pull up your record in the AELS system before we can fingerprint you!
• Child Maltreatment Registry Check receipt for $11.00 (or at least be prepared to show this receipt as proof of submission).
• Valid Government Issued I.D. (Driver's License of State ID Card)

If you do not have the items listed above, please go through the step-by-step instructions list above and make sure you have completed steps 1 and 2 before coming to your appointment.

Click Here to Schedule an Appointment