Criminal Record Check
In January 2008, the provincial government changed the Criminal Records Review Act.
All members of professional regulatory organizations must now complete a criminal
record check every five years. This requirement applies to all those who work with
children in organizations that the provincial government operates, funds or licenses.
As a result of this legislation, all BC College of Teachers certificate holders
(including those who are retired and other non-practising members of the College)
must complete a regular cycle of criminal record checks. The College will administer
the criminal record check, and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
will carry out the criminal record check, which it has been doing for College applicants
since 1996.
We are administering the new cycle of five-year checks in stages. Each year, approximately
one-fifth of all certificate holders will need to complete a criminal record check
if they have not done so in the past five years. When it is time for your criminal
record check, we will send you a letter describing what you need to do to authorize
us to complete the criminal record check on your behalf.
It is important to submit your criminal record check authorization to ensure that
your BC certification remains in good standing.
If your official last name in the College database begins with a letter from A to
P and you have not completed a criminal record check with the College in the last
five years, you must submit your authorization for a criminal record check by December 31,
2010. You can do this by either:
- logging in to your account and submitting
your authorization online, or;
- mailing us a long version paper-based Criminal Record Check Authorization Form