Identity Verified Prints (IVP)

Identity Verified Prints (IVP) Fingerprint Clearance Card Application

A valid Identity Verified Prints (IVP) Fingerprint Clearance Card is required for practicum and student teaching.

REGISTRATION PROCESS: Please register here: Arizona Department of Public Safety Services.

You will NOT need a code from NAU or an employer to schedule your appointment. Select Apply for a background check – Register. Then select Apply for a Fingerprint Clearance Card.
Select Board of Education (Teacher Certification).
Make sure you have access to a payment method to complete the application process. The cost is $67.00.
Once your payment and registration are complete, you will get a receipt page as well as a link to set up a time and place to get your fingerprinting completed.

REPORT IVP NUMBER AND EXPIRATION DATE: As noted, the results could take up to 6 weeks for those with no criminal records. It will take an additional amount of time for those who have some sort of history. If you did not have an IVP number at time of application to the Professional Education Programs, you must email the IVP number and expiration date to your program advisor. Find your program advisor here.

CHECKING THE STATUS: You will be provided an IVP number when you have your fingerprints scanned; keep this number with you. It is a good idea to begin the practice of “checking the status” of your fingerprint clearance card after submitting application (and after the waiting period for processing). After you have been admitted into the Professional Education Programs to become a certified teacher, you will be required to maintain a “valid” status on your card throughout the program and your teaching career. To check the status of your fingerprint clearance card, go the Arizona Department of Public Safety Fingerprint Services (AzDPS).

SUBMITTING COPY OF CARD: You are required to submit a copy of the front and back sides of your fingerprint clearance card here.

INVALID CARD: If your fingerprint clearance card should become invalid, you must follow the process indicated on the Arizona Department of Public Safety Fingerprint Services website to appeal or reinstate your card. You will not be allowed to be in a PK-12 school setting without a valid fingerprint card and will be removed from your practicum or student teaching experience immediately. It will be your responsibility to work with AZ DPS to regain a “valid” status for your fingerprint clearance card. You must notify your program advisor or the Professional Education Programs director if your status changes. Your cards are monitored by NAU staff; however, it helps with the process when a student notifies NAU as soon as they are notified or discover a status change.

REGULAR (NON-IVP) VS. IVP CARD: An IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card is required by the Arizona State Board of Education per ARS 15-534 (see https://www.azdps.gov/services/public/fingerprint).

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REGULAR (NON-IVP) AND AN IVP APPLICATION?

The only difference is when your fingerprints are taken. Once an applicant’s fingerprints have been taken for a Regular (Non-IVP) paper application the technician is able to return the completed fingerprint card to the applicant for delivery to DPS, along with the application and fee for processing. For an IVP paper application, the statutes on the application require the submission of “Identity Verified Prints” (IVP) pursuant to ARS § 15-106 which reads in part:

…The law enforcement agency, school district, charter school or other entity shall verify the identity of the applicant through recognized means of photographic identification and a comparison of the demographic information on the photographic identification against the demographic information on the application form and the fingerprint card. The authorized person taking the fingerprints shall enter on the application form a description of the photographic identification presented by the applicant. The law enforcement agency, school district, charter school or other entity shall place the completed fingerprint card, the completed application form or any other form required by the department of public safety and the fee provided by the applicant in the postage prepaid envelope provided by the department of public safety and mail it to the fingerprinting division in the department of public safety…

This means the technician taking the fingerprints must not break the chain of custody by giving the fingerprints back to the applicant, but must mail the fingerprint card directly to DPS, along with the application and fee, in the provided blue DPS return envelope.

NOTE: If you submit an electronic application, either a Regular (Non-IVP) or an IVP application, your fingerprints will be submitted to DPS electronically.

The same background check is done for both the Regular (Non-IVP) and IVP application.

If you have a Regular (Non-IVP) Fingerprint Clearance Card, you will need to apply for an IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card. Information regarding how to apply can be located on the Arizona Department of Public Safety website (see https://www.azdps.gov/services/public/fingerprint). The only method to obtain an IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card is the Online Application process. IVP Fingerprint Clearance Cards are not available through the Print Application option, so please make sure to follow the steps outlined for through the Online Application and select the option for an IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card.

Identity Verified Prints (IVP)