Paper Application for NSOR Verification Available

The application for new hire early care and education professionals and volunteers to verify they are not on the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) is now available online in paper format.

Learn More

Due to a federal requirement under the reauthorization of the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), child care providers are required to complete a new clearance—the National Crime Information Center/National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR).

The NSOR clearance will verify that a check of the National Sex Offender Registry was conducted and if the individual can or cannot work for a regulated child care provider. This clearance is required in addition to a Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check for Employment or Volunteers, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Fingerprinting.

Requirements

Effective since September 30, 2019 all new hires are required to have:

  • A Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance

  • PSP Criminal History Clearance

  • FBI clearance required by DHS

  • NSOR Verification Certificate

  • Out of state clearances if they resided outside of Pennsylvania in the past five years.

In addition, the following individuals must complete the NSOR verification certificate by July 1, 2020:

  • Any individual 18 years or older residing in the child care facility;

  • All individuals working for Regulated Child Care Providers;

  • Any individual with an ownership interest (corporate or non-corporate) in a Regulated Child Care Provider and who participates in the organization and management of the operation.

Application Process

Currently, all applicants must use a paper application to process an NSOR clearance.

There is no fee for the NSOR clearance, but it will take 14 calendar days from the date it is received to be processed. Applications may be:

  • mailed to the Clearance Verification Unit, ChildLine at:
    Department of Human Services
    PO Box 8170
    Harrisburg, PA 17150-8170

  • scanned and e-mailed to:
    RA-PWNSOR@pa.gov     with “NSOR Verification Applicant_(Your Last Name)” in the subject line.

  • hand-delivered to the Clearance Verification Unit lobby at:
    Hillcrest Building #53
    5 Magnolia Drive
    Harrisburg, PA 17110 (free parking is available)

Those submitting an application should retain a copy for their records as proof of submission.

There has been no official word on when the electronic application link will go live, so the paper application must be submitted one of the ways listed above.

Questions and Support

For more information on required clearances, visit the Keep Kids Safe website.

A webinar with OCDEL representatives in partnership with PACCA in early October 2019 provided additional information about this new process and is now available for viewing.

Please see the full Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) requirements announcement from OCDEL for full details.

*Information provided by the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL)

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