Criminal Background Check Policy

Prospective teachers in Teacher Education programs at the University of Georgia must manifest the highest of professional standards. Such standards, which define the professional behavior of educators, have been written and adopted by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission as The Code of Ethics for Educators. The intent of the Code is to "protect the health, safety and general welfare of students and educators, and ensure the citizens of Georgia a degree of accountability within the education profession..."

The first of these ethical standards states that "An educator should abide by federal, state, and local laws and statutes. Unethical conduct includes the commission or conviction of a felony or misdemeanor offense, including DUI/BUI, but excluding minor traffic violations such as speeding, following too closely, improper lane change, etc."

Please be aware that admission to the program and/or student teaching will have no effect as to whether the Professional Standards Commission will certify an individual for teaching. The Professional Standards Commission conducts and evaluates criminal background checks without regard to such review by an educational institution or whether an educational institution has previously evaluated an individual.

To order your criminal background check, please click on this link: Student Check