Important information from the Bureau of Certification regarding the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) verification certificate

Over the last several weeks ChildLine received and processed over 26,000 applications for the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR). The first batch of verification result letters are scheduled for mailing on Nov. 4, 2019. Ongoing batches of letters will following each day. A 14-day turnaround is the goal for mailing, after receipt of the application, and the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and ChildLine are aware of the current delay in meeting this time frame.  

Through Dec. 31, 2019, new hires are able to begin working as a provisional hire until the NSOR clearance is returned. Beginning Jan. 1, 2020 child care operators will be able to seek a waiver for hires unable to fully comply with the new Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) background clearances.

OCDEL is requesting your assistance, so the NSOR verification team is able to process the most critical applicants timely. Thank you in advance for your attention to the following suggestions:

  • If you are not required to obtain the verification until later in the year, please wait on sending in your application at this time. Current employees are required to obtain the NSOR background clearance by July 1, 2020.

  • Do not send in multiple applications. This will result in multiple verification letters mailed since the current process is not an automated online process, but instead a manual procedure. 

  • Only the applicant can receive the verification letter. If a provider or agency submits an application request on behalf of their staff the application will be rejected. A letter will be sent to the agency explaining the need for the individual applicant, not the agency, to submit the application. FBI regulations prohibit ChildLine to release this result to any other entity than the applicant.

Additional clarifying information:

  • There is not a projected date at this time for a fee on the NSOR verification. This verification is offered free of charge at this time. 
  • Providers will not receive a phone call regarding NSOR verification. Only the applicant will receive their verification letter and they are encouraged to maintain a copy.