California law requires that all new school district and county office employees obtain fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice.
California public school employees must be fingerprinted and a criminal background clearance must be received by the employing school district and county office prior to new employees rendering paid service.
Individuals who have been convicted of serious and/or violent crimes are precluded from being hired by California public school districts. Individuals who are awaiting trial for serious and/or violent crimes are also precluded from rendering service in California public schools until the matter has been legally concluded. Please contact the Division of Professional Practice, dppinfo@ctc.ca.gov with any questions.
Credential applicants who have not previously been fingerprinted for the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) through a college or university, other County Office of Education in California, or by means of fingerprint cards sent directly to the CTC, must submit fingerprints using the CTC Fingerprint Form.
Substitute teachers with valid California teaching credentials or substitute teacher permits who have only been fingerprinted for the CTC and are working in more than one district in Orange County should be fingerprinted using the OCDE Clearing House Consortium Form. This allows the substitute to seek employment in all 28 districts in Orange County without being fingerprinted again for each district. These fingerprints do not cover district contract employees.
OCDE Fingerprint Form, Fingerprint Clearance Notice and the Clearing House Consortium Live Scan forms are available in PDF format. These three forms are available online for ease of downloading at the time a fingerprint appointment is made.
The CTC Fingerprint Form is for first time credential, emergency substitute permit or child development permit applicants seeking a fingerprint clearance for the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
The Clearing House Consortium Live Scan Form is for applicants seeking part-time, temporary, or substitute employment in any public school district in Orange County only. It does not include Commission on Teacher Credentialing clearance.
The Fingerprint Clearing House Consortium was established to maintain fingerprint clearance for all substitutes, part-time employees, and temporary positions at any Orange County school district. This service is not available for private agencies or non-public schools at this time.
For additional information from the CTC regarding fingerprinting, please click here
OCDE Fingerprinting services are by appointment only and are available between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm. Monday through Friday.
Please call us at (714) 966-4306 if you have any questions.
Our offices are located at: 3001 Redhill Ave. Building 4, Suite 109, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
You will need to bring the following documents with you to the appointment plus the fingerprinting forms listed below:
- Request for Live Scan Form
- Valid form of government issued ID:
- Driver License
- State ID Card
- VISA/Passport
- Fingerprinting Fees: Fees range from $25 to $137 per transaction. Fees are determined based on the purpose of use; public school use or general purpose.
Cash or credit cards are acceptable forms of payment.
