How to Get Your Clearances in Pennsylvania

If you want to volunteer with children or vulnerable adults in Pennsylvania, you will need background clearances before you can start. The process is straightforward but takes a little time — plan ahead and you will be ready before your first shift. WHICH CLEARANCES DO YOU NEED For most volunteer roles involving direct contact with minors, Pennsylvania requires three clearances under Act 153: 1. PA State Police Criminal Record Check (PATCH) — checks Pennsylvania criminal history. Free for volunteers. Apply online at epatch.pa.gov. Results typically arrive in 1-3 business days. 2. PA Child Abuse History Clearance — checks the ChildLine abuse registry. Free for approved volunteer organizations. Apply at compass.state.pa.us. Results in 2-5 business days. 3. FBI Criminal Background Check (fingerprinting) — nationwide fingerprint-based check. Required if you have lived in Pennsylvania for fewer than 10 years, or if your role specifically requires it. Cost is approximately $27. You must schedule an appointment at an approved fingerprinting location. DO YOU NEED ALL THREE Not always. Ask the organization you are volunteering with before you apply. Some roles — particularly those where a cleared adult is always present — may only require the PATCH and Child Abuse clearances. The organization will tell you exactly what is needed. HOW TO APPLY AS A VOLUNTEER When applying for the Child Abuse clearance, make sure to select the volunteer option. This makes the clearance free. You will need to provide the organization's name and address. Ask the volunteer coordinator for their official information before you start the application. HOW LONG THEY TAKE PATCH and Child Abuse clearances are usually available within a few business days. FBI fingerprinting can take 2-6 weeks by mail; some locations offer expedited processing. If you need clearances by a specific date, start at least a month early. HOW LONG THEY ARE VALID Clearances are generally valid for 60 months (5 years) for the same position at the same organization. You will need to renew them if you change organizations or if the 5-year period expires. WHAT HAPPENS WITH YOUR CLEARANCES You submit copies to the volunteer coordinator. The organization keeps them on file. You keep the originals — they belong to you and can be used at other organizations during the 5-year validity period. WHERE TO GET HELP Ross Library offers occasional clearance assistance workshops. The ROMP program and Ross Library Reading Buddies both have volunteer coordinators who can walk you through the process. Do not let clearances be the reason you do not volunteer — the process is manageable.