Background Check Procedure

All education students who will eventually seek an educator license in Utah are required to complete an FBI/BCI background fingerprint check cleared through the Utah State Board of Education (USBE). Background checks completed for a school, district, or other agencies do not meet the USBE requirement. You will be enrolled in the FBI RapBack network when you complete your background check, so you will not need to complete another background to be recommended for your license.

There is no charge to do a background check through the USBE, but there is a fee for the LiveScan fingerprinting. The fee ranges from $15 to $35 depending on which LiveScan site you go to.

No individual is permitted to work or be in contact with any student if the background check has not cleared.

Utah State Board of Education Background Check Procedures:

STEP ONE: Initiate the Background Check Process (Complete the Online Portion):

Create an account with USIMS.

  1. Go to https://usims.schools.utah.gov/.
  2. Click on "Sign Up Now". Enter your email address. Click the blue Send verification code button. Note that this email address should be one that you check frequently. Do not use a throwaway email address for USIMS. Then go to your email and get the verification code from the email that was sent to you. Enter it into the box.
  3. Create a password and confirm it.
  4. Type in your first and last names.
  5. Then click on the blue Create button.

Checklist

Licensing Issues
1. Click on the Licensing Issues button.
2. Please read through the statement verifying your credential status. Most USU students will not have any sort of credential with the USBE or any other licensing entity and will select the first statement. If you have not had a credential, select the first statement. If the statement is true and you have had a credential revoked, please select the second statement.
3. Click on the blue “I Agree” button.

Educator Privacy Policy Statement
1. Please read through the statement.
2. Check mark the box indicating, “I have acknowledged the above Statement.”
3. Select the blue “Continue” button.

Educator Information Lookup
1. Enter your Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy)
2. Enter your Social Security Number, use dashes.
3. Confirm your Social Security Number, use dashes.
4. Click on the blue “Submit” button.

Personal Information
1. Click on the Personal Information button.
Your CACTUS ID number will be displayed here.
2. Enter or update your first name, maiden name (if applicable), and last name.
3. Please select your gender.
4. Enter or update your address, phone number and email address. Note, this email address should be one that you check frequently. Do not use a throwaway email address for USIMS.
5. Enter or update your race/ethnicity.
6. Under Utah Teacher Education Program:
Select Yes
Select Utah State University
7. Click on the blue “Save” button.

Criminal Background Review Required
1.  Read through the FBI Privacy Act Statement statement and click the blue Continue button. It is very important that you read the statement. Please ensure that you do so before clicking on the “Continue” button.
2. Read through the Utah Consent to Background Checkstatement and click the blue “I Agree” button. Please ensure that you read through the entire statement.
3. Background Check fingerprint Instructions for the Utah State Board of Education-Educator Licensing.
4. Select Fingerprint Instructions.
5. Print the first page of the Fingerprint Instructions.
6. Enter in your CACTUS ID number prior to going to complete the physical fingerprinting.

Proceed to step 2 of the Background Check, the physical fingerprinting portion.

STEP TWO: Complete the Physical Fingerprinting:

All students will need to complete step 2 of the background check process. Please use the information below to complete this process. Students should note that only completing the online portion does not complete the process and you will not have a cleared USBE Background Check.

All students should note that In-state Utah (LiveScan) fingerprinting typically takes 2-6 weeks to receive your clearance after completion of the physical fingerprinting.  Please go to one of the locations listed at the link below to make an appointment to have your LiveScan fingerprinting done at the location most convenient for you.

Utah Educator LiveScan Fingerprint Sites.xlsx

Know before you go:

What to Bring to your appointment:

  • Government-issued photo ID
  • CACTUS ID#

Here is the information that the Live Scan Technician needs:

  • USBE Requests Electronic Background Check Billable to Agency
  • Agency Code: B1017
  • RFP/Statute: UCA 53G-11-403 Teacher Certification
  • Type of Background: NFUF

OCA: (YOUR CACTUS ID#)

Please be sure that you prepare for the fingerprinting step. It is recommended that you are well hydrated up to 24 hours prior, use lotion and possibly soak your fingers if have had a history of low-resolution for completing fingerprints.

For Logan Students, fingerprinting is available from the USU Police Department. Make an appointment with the USU Police at dps.usu.edu. They are located at 1250 North 800 East, Logan, UT. The fingerprinting fee at USU Police is $25.