Massachusetts Teacher Background Check

Two Separate Checks, Two Different Agencies

Massachusetts teachers clear two distinct background screenings before entering a classroom. DESE handles character review during the licensing application. But the actual criminal and fingerprint checks are run at the district level — they're a hiring requirement, not a licensing requirement.

Understanding this split matters because the two processes operate on different timelines and answer to different authorities.

The CORI Check

The Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check is a state-level records search processed through the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. Your hiring district submits the request, not you.

Key details:

• Cost: Free to the applicant — the district covers it
• Frequency: Must be renewed at least every three years
• Scope: Massachusetts criminal records only
• Process: The district's HR office handles submission and receives results

You'll need to authorize the check through the district's onboarding paperwork, but you don't schedule it, pay for it, or submit anything to a state agency yourself.

SAFIS Fingerprinting

The Statewide Applicant Fingerprint Identification Services (SAFIS) program is a national fingerprint-based background check, administered by MorphoTrust USA through IdentoGO service centers.

Key details:

• Cost: $55 for licensed educators and pending ELAR applicants; $35 for unlicensed school personnel (paraprofessionals, support staff, coaches)
• Frequency: One-time per district
• Scope: National criminal records (FBI database)
• Process: You schedule and pay for the appointment yourself through the IdentoGO portal

When scheduling your appointment, you'll be asked to enter your employing school district's 8-digit Provider ID. This code routes your results to the correct district. Entering the wrong code sends results to the wrong district — which means paying to reschedule and repeat the fingerprinting process. Get the exact code from your district's HR office before you book.

The Scheduling Timeline

Districts can't place you in a classroom until both checks clear. The CORI check is typically fast — results come back within days. SAFIS fingerprinting has a longer lead time because you need to schedule an appointment at an IdentoGO location, and results take time to process through the FBI database.

Plan to complete fingerprinting as soon as you have a formal job offer and a confirmed Provider ID. During the August hiring rush, IdentoGO appointment availability in the Boston metro area tightens considerably. Locations outside the metro area often have earlier openings.

Character Questions on the ELAR Application

Separately from district background checks, the ELAR application asks professional character questions. If you need to answer "yes" to any of them — disclosing a prior arrest, conviction, or professional disciplinary action — you'll need to provide a written explanation. DESE evaluates each disclosure individually.

An honest disclosure with context doesn't automatically disqualify you. But failing to disclose something that later surfaces in a background check is a much bigger problem than disclosing it upfront. If the situation is complex, an education attorney can help draft the explanation to prevent an application denial.

The Full Process

Background checks are one piece of a longer licensing process. The Massachusetts Teacher Certification Guide covers the entire sequence — from ELAR application through district onboarding — with a document tracker that keeps every requirement organized.

See more Massachusetts guides →