Connecticut Teacher Fingerprinting Requirements — CCHRS, Costs, and Where to Go
You got the job offer, and fingerprinting is one of the first onboarding steps. Connecticut requires every new school district hire to complete state and federal criminal history record checks — and the process has more steps than most new teachers expect.
Here's the exact sequence so you don't show up at a fingerprinting center and get turned away.
The Four-Step Process
Step 1: Get your district Service Code. Your hiring school district's HR department issues a unique Service Code tied to your position. You cannot start the process without this — it links your background check to your specific employer.
Step 2: Pre-enroll online through CCHRS. The Connecticut Criminal History Request System (CCHRS) is managed by DESPP (the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection). Log in, enter your Service Code, pay the state and federal background check fees online, and print your confirmation page with your barcode.
Step 3: Schedule a LiveScan appointment at a RESC. Regional Educational Service Centers are the authorized fingerprint capture sites. You'll bring your printed CCHRS barcode confirmation, two forms of valid government-issued photo ID, and the RESC's service fee.
Step 4: Wait for processing. Criminal history report results typically take 2–4 weeks. Results go directly to your hiring district, not to you.
Fees by Location
| RESC | Service Fee | Payment Accepted |
|---|---|---|
| CREC (Hartford) | $36.75 (check/MO) or $38.28 (card) | Cashier's check, money order, Visa, or MasterCard |
| CES (Trumbull) | $41.75 | Certified bank check or money order only |
| ACES (New Haven) | Varies | Debit or credit card only |
| LEARN (Old Lyme) | $40.00 | Debit card, credit card, or money order |
| EdAdvance | Varies | Check website for current payment methods |
On top of the RESC service fee, you'll pay through CCHRS:
- State criminal history check: $75
- FBI background check: $13.25–$15
Total fingerprinting cost runs approximately $118–$135, depending on which RESC and applicable fees you use.
The 30-Day Deadline
State law requires fingerprinting to be completed within 30 days of beginning work. This isn't 30 days from your offer date — it's 30 days from when you start employment. Most districts want it done before your start date to avoid complications.
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Common Reasons You'll Get Turned Away
- No printed CCHRS barcode: The RESC can't process you without the confirmation page from your online pre-enrollment
- Wrong payment method: Each RESC sets its own rules — CES in Trumbull doesn't take credit cards, ACES doesn't take cash or money orders
- Missing ID: You need two forms of valid government-issued photo ID, not just one
- No Service Code: If your district hasn't issued your code yet, you can't pre-enroll, and without pre-enrollment, no appointment
What Fingerprinting Doesn't Cover
RESCs capture your fingerprints, but they don't determine your employment eligibility or process results. If a disqualifying conviction surfaces, the results go to your hiring district, and the district reports it to the CSDE Bureau of Certification for a separate licensing review.
Fingerprinting is entirely separate from the state certification process — you can (and should) have both running in parallel.
For a printable background check tracker that maps every step, deadline, and payment to a single checklist, the Connecticut Teacher Certification Guide includes one alongside the full certification workflow.
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