Background Check Policies
Student in programs that lead to licensure must complete a criminal background check prior to clinical placement. A student with any criminal history may have difficulty obtaining clinical placements, obtain licensure, or a job in their field of study upon completion of their degree program. The disclosure statement will serve as a notice to the applicant regarding limitations for the University on securing clinical rotations or post-graduation employment if the applicant has a previous conviction.
If an applicant is unsure of their criminal background, they are encouraged to obtain a background check, including fingerprinting (Livescan), at their expense and consider whether there is a benefit from the training offered. The University cannot provide an applicant any guarantee of how a clinical agency, licensing board, or potential employer will treat an arrest, conviction, dismissal, expungement, or a juvenile record (even if the record is closed) that is present on a background check or Department of Justice report.
Prior to beginning the clinical experience in a program, all admitted students must submit to a University-defined and paid for criminal background check and the results will be submitted to the University. Additional requirements may be made by the clinical site(s) to which a student is assigned. Determination regarding a student’s eligibility to attend clinical facilities will be made by the appropriate program administrator. Delays in clinical placement and/or acquiring a license due to criminal background checks results cannot be predicted by the University or the program.