Iowa Teacher Background Check Requirements

Every Applicant Must Clear This Before Teaching

The national criminal history background check is non-negotiable in Iowa. No regular teaching credential — Initial, Standard, Intern, Substitute, or authorization — will be issued until the background check is complete and cleared. A separate 90-day temporary permit may be available while a complete application is pending, as described below. Understanding the exact logistics prevents delays that can cost you a contract start date.

The Dual-Layer Check

Iowa's background screening operates at two levels:

1. State-level registry checks — The BoEE reviews the Iowa Courts Online database, the Child Abuse Registry, the Sex Offender Registry, and the Dependent Adult Abuse Registry
2. Federal fingerprint-based criminal history check — Your fingerprints are submitted to the FBI through either electronic scanning or paper cards

Both must clear before any credential is issued. The BoEE processes the state registries internally; the federal check requires you to submit fingerprints through an approved vendor.

Fieldprint Electronic Fingerprinting (Standard Process)

The standard method uses Fieldprint, a national electronic fingerprinting service:

Step 1: Create your BoEE portal account and pay the $35 state background check fee within the portal.

Step 2: Retrieve your unique BoEE folder number from the portal — you'll need this for the Fieldprint registration.

Step 3: Access the Fieldprint scheduling system and enter the mandatory billing/routing code: FPIABdEdExaminers

Step 4: When prompted for the employer address, enter: Iowa Department of Education, 400 E 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319

Step 5: Pay the $34.35 Fieldprint center fee and complete the digital fingerprint scan at an authorized Fieldprint location.

Timeline: Fieldprint results are transmitted to the BoEE within approximately one to two weeks.

Total cost: $69.35 ($35 BoEE fee + $34.35 Fieldprint fee)

Paper Fingerprint Card Alternative

If no Fieldprint center is accessible in your area, the BoEE still accepts paper fingerprint cards:

• Call 515-281-3245 to request paper cards from the BoEE
• Pay a $75 card evaluation fee through the BoEE portal (replacing the $34.35 Fieldprint fee)
• Complete ink fingerprinting at a local law enforcement office
• Mail the physical cards to the BoEE

Timeline: Four to six weeks for processing — significantly slower than the electronic method.

Total cost: $110 ($35 BoEE fee + $75 card evaluation fee)

Unless you genuinely cannot reach a Fieldprint location, the electronic method is the clear choice. The three-to-four-week time difference can mean the difference between starting on your contract date and missing the beginning of a semester.

What the BoEE Won't Share

Iowa law strictly prohibits the BoEE from sharing DCI or FBI criminal background results with local school districts. This means your licensure background check is entirely separate from any employment background check a school district runs during its hiring process.

Districts conduct their own background investigations for employment purposes. Passing the BoEE check does not exempt you from the district's hiring screen, and vice versa — a background check completed for student teaching, a previous employer, or any other organization does not substitute for the BoEE's licensure check.

The 90-Day Temporary Permit

If you have a district contract with a start date approaching but your background check is still processing, the BoEE Executive Director can issue a 90-day temporary permit. This permit authorizes you to begin teaching while the national criminal history check completes, provided your application is otherwise complete and pending.

The temporary permit is valid for up to 90 days — enough time to cover the standard Fieldprint processing window and then some. It's not automatic; the BoEE reviews the request and determines whether the circumstances warrant it.

Self-Disclosure Requirements

If you have a criminal history that might appear on the background check, follow the portal's self-report instructions during the application process and provide any requested documentation, such as court records or proof that a sentence was completed. The BoEE reviews the information as part of its application process, so do not omit information the application requires.

Timeline Planning

The background check should be one of the first things you initiate, not the last. While it processes, you can be completing other requirements concurrently:

• Submitting transcripts and program recommendations
• Taking required exams (if applicable)
• Completing mandatory reporter training
• Finalizing your district employment contract

Running these tasks in parallel rather than sequentially can shave weeks off your total timeline. The Iowa Teacher Certification Guide includes a visual timeline that maps every step to the optimal sequence, ensuring nothing waits on something else unnecessarily.

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