How do I obtain Pennsylvania clearances for use in another state?
- Obtain a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History clearance to provide to another state
- Obtain a Pennsylvania Criminal History clearance to provide to another state
- Obtain Clearances for emergency placements
- Contact ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313
Note: Only children and youth agencies from other states can make an emergency request for placement clearances.
- Contact ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313
How do I obtain clearances from another state for use in Pennsylvania?
- Obtain a Child Abuse History clearance or Criminal History clearance from another state
Who needs Out-of-State Clearances?
The Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) requires some prospective foster/adoptive parents and their adult household members, some certified childcare employees and volunteers, and some non-PA resident volunteers to submit out-of-state clearances if the individual has resided outside of Pennsylvania in the last five (5) years.
Certified Child Care Only: OCDEL guidance states that if an individual moves out of state and continues to work for a certified child care facility in Pennsylvania, the required out of state clearances must be obtained prior to the first expiration date of the individual’s current Pennsylvania clearances.
Out-of-State Child Abuse History Clearance
As per the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL):
- Any employee or volunteer of a child day-care center, group day-care home or family child-care home who has resided outside of Pennsylvania in the last five (5) years is required to obtain a child abuse clearance, or its equivalent, from each state in which the person has resided.
- Any prospective foster or adoptive parent, and any individual over the age of 18 years residing in the home, who has resided outside of Pennsylvania in the last five (5) years is required to obtain a child abuse clearance, or its equivalent, from each state in which the person has resided.
Prospective adoptive/foster parents:
Effective March 2022, prospective foster and adoptive parents required to obtain an Out-of-State Child Abuse clearance are no longer required to submit the clearance to the Clearance Verification Unit for interpretation, if the clearance shows no result (or no record). Out-of-State Child Abuse clearances with ANY result or record are required to be submitted to ChildLine for interpretation. If you have questions regarding this update, please contact 1-877-371-5422.
If the state requires a request to come directly from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, please complete the appropriate application, including a check or money order to pay the fee, and send it by mail to:
ChildLine Verification Unit
ATTN: Out of State Background Checks
P.O. Box 8053
Harrisburg, PA 17105
If the state requires the request to come directly from the person themselves, please complete the appropriate application, including a check or money order to pay the fee, and send it directly to the address provided by that state.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact the ChildLine Clearance Verification Unit at: ra-pwchildlineoos@pa.gov.
Certified childcare employees and volunteers:
If the state requires a request directly from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, please contact the appropriate OCDEL regional office.
Out-of-State Criminal History Clearance
As per the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL):
Any employee or volunteer of a child day-care center, group day-care home or family child-care home who has resided outside of Pennsylvania in the last five (5) years is required to obtain a criminal history clearance, or its equivalent, from each state in which the person has resided.
Clearances for Non Pennsylvania Residents Serving as Volunteers in Pennsylvania
Individuals who reside outside of Pennsylvania and will be volunteering in Pennsylvania for fewer than 30 days in a calendar year must submit clearances required by the state in which they reside.
Note: These clearances are not considered Out of State Clearances as described in the previous section above; therefore, volunteers should follow the clearance procedures and contact information provided by their home state.
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), which is in part comprised of the Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF) complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.