OAR 584-050-0012: Fingerprinting and Criminal Background Checks

(1) An applicant for, student teaching, practicum or internship, initial Oregon licensure or reinstatement of an Oregon license that has been lapsed for three years or more must submit fingerprints for a criminal background check in accordance with ORS 342.223. (2)(a) An applicant will be denied licensure pursuant to OAR 584-050-0009 if the applicant has been convicted of: (A) Any of the crimes listed in ORS 342.143; (B) An attempt of any of the crimes listed in ORS 342.143 in accordance with ORS 161.405; or (C) Any substantially equivalent crime in another jurisdiction. (b) A crime is deemed to be substantially equivalent when the Commission determines the underlying conduct is substantially similar to conduct that would have resulted in conviction of any crime listed in ORS 342.143. (3) An applicant may be denied licensure if the applicant has been convicted of any crime involving the illegal use, sale or possession of controlled substances as defined in ORS 475.005(6). (4) The Commission may take action against an applicant as a result of the criminal background check disclosing criminal conduct not listed in ORS 342.143 in accordance with ORS 342.175. (5) If the applicant fails to provide fingerprints following application for licensure where fingerprints are required, the application will be found to be incomplete. (6) Only original fingerprints submitted to TSPC will be accepted for clearance for any Oregon teaching license, registration or certification. Previously cleared fingerprints by the Oregon Department of Education or any employer are not acceptable to satisfy TSPC’s criminal background checks. (7)(a) A candidate admitted to an Oregon educator preparation program may not be placed in any practicum, student teaching or internship placement where the candidate may be in unsupervised contact with any K-12 student until the fingerprint and criminal background check has been submitted to TSPC, completed and cleared by the TSPC Executive Director. (b) Failure to comply with this provision may result in Commission sanction.