Criminal Background Check Policy and Process
For Admission to the Teacher Education Program

To become an educator in the State of Georgia, all individuals must address questions regarding any criminal background they might have acquired prior to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission accepting an application for initial certification. [For more information: www.gapsc.com.]

As a precursor to this process, prospective teacher candidates complete an Area F Education Course Personal Affirmation Form. The form is kept on file by the instructor and students who answer any questions in the affirmative are required to meet with the Associate Vice President for Educator Preparation before participating in any field experiences.

Admission to the teacher education program is an important step of a teacher candidate’s career in education. Once accepted into the program, teacher candidates work extensively in the public schools until graduation. As a result, admission to the teacher education program requires that all candidates complete an official criminal background check through a local law enforcement agency.

For teacher candidates beginning their first semester, Junior year (Fall) in the teacher education program, the following is required as part of the application for admission to the teacher education program:

Life-time residents of Georgia are required to submit a criminal background check request to the Brunswick Police Department ($5 fee) or to the St. Marys Police Department ($15 fee). After processing, the results of the background check will be shared with the Department Chair who will contact any individual needing further consideration.

Residents who have lived outside of Georgia after the age of 16 for any amount of time must submit a criminal background check as well as a finger print check ($32). After processing, the results of the finger print check will be shared with the Department Chair who will contact any individual needing further consideration.

For teacher candidates beginning their third semester, Senior year (Fall) in the teacher education program, the following is required by August 1:

Life-time residents of Georgia and residents who have lived outside of Georgia after the age
of 16 for any amount of time are required to submit a criminal background check request to the Brunswick Police Department ($5 fee) or to the St. Marys Police Department ($15 fee). After processing, the results of the background check will be shared with the Department Chair who will contact any individual needing further consideration.

As with the Area F Education Course Personal Affirmation form, teacher candidates are responsible for self-reporting any felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude throughout completion of their program. Failure to do so may result in discontinuation.

In instances where the school system or agency requires more extensive or a different criminal background check, teacher candidates must adhere to those requirements in addition to the College of Coastal Georgia’s requirements.

[What is Moral Turpitude? Misdemeanors involving moral turpitude include, but are not limited to: larceny, fraud, theft by taking, soliciting for prostitution, writing or cashing bad checks, making a false report of crime, sale of narcotics or illegal drugs, and indecent exposure or other sex-offense crimes.]

Specific Directions for Completing
Criminal Background Checks

Brunswick:

Brunswick Police Department
206 Mansfield Street
Brunswick , Georgia 31520
Phone (912) 267-5559
Fax (912) 267-5526  

* You will take a driver's license, social security card, cash, and the completed “Authority to Release Information” form (page 3) to the Brunswick Police Department. The cost is $5.00.

Camden :

St. Marys Police Department
563 Point Peter Road
St. Marys , Georgia 31558
Phone (912) 882 – 4488
Fax (912) 882 - 6834

  * You will take a driver's license, social security card, cash, and the completed “Criminal History Record Information Consent Form” form (page 4) to the St. Marys Police Department. The cost is $15.00. 6/6/2009