Criminal Background Check

• When You Apply
• If You Are Admitted to the School of Nursing
• Note to International Applicants
• Completing the Background Check
  • Some Things to Remember
  • Technical Support

When You Apply
Print out, sign and date, and include copies of the completed UW School of Nursing Conviction/Criminal History and Authorization for Repeat Background Checks and Dissemination of Results form with your application.

Applicants with a positive criminal history are encouraged to submit a written statement with their application materials explaining the circumstances. Applicants who do not fill out the Conviction/Criminal History and Authorization for Repeat Background Checks and Dissemination of Results form truthfully will not be considered for admission.

If You Are Admitted to the School of Nursing
If and when you are offered admission to the UW School of Nursing you will be instructed at that time to use an online service, Verified Credentials, Inc., to obtain required background checks. All admits will pay $69 for this service.

Please do not run this check prior to your admittance. If a check is run too early you will be asked to run the check again. More information will come to you in your admittance letter.

The Verified Credentials service will provide the School of Nursing with required background check information for all states, so there will be no need for admits who have resided outside the state of Washington during the last three (3) years to provide this information separately. Additionally, there will be NO additional payment required for these admitted students.

No international background checks are required for international admits or domestic admits who have resided outside the U.S. during the past three (3) years. However, these admits will still need to complete the Verified Credentials background check.

Note to International Applicants
International Applicants should submit their background check through Verified Credentials. After selecting your nursing program on the Verified Credentials website look for a box marked "non-U.S. Candidate." Check that box and you will be able to enter an ID number from your country instead of the Social Security Number and proceed with the steps for initiating the background check. If you have any questions, please contact Academic Services at the School of Nursing at 206-543-8736 or 1-800-759-NURS or e-mail: sonas at uw dot edu.

Completing the Background Check

1. Go to the Verified Credentials website and select 'Nursing Students: Get Started'.
2. Read the Dear Nursing Student Applicant letter.
3. Click on the 'To begin ordering your background check report' button.
4. Select 'Go to Next Step' and select University of Washington School of Nursing. You will see a list of the background checks to be conducted and the fee amount. Select 'NEXT'.
5. On the last pages you will be required to provide identifying information as well as a payment source for the fee, which is $69.

Some Things to Remember:

• Once Verified Credentials has completed your background check a completed background check report will be sent to the e-mail address your provide. If your e-mail has a spam or junk mail filter, there is a chance this report will get filtered out. It generally takes only a few days to receive your completed report.
• The UW School of Nursing will have online access to your completed Verified Credentials background check report. Should your background check raise areas of concern related to your participation in a School of Nursing program, you will be contacted by a representative of the school.
• The background check is REQUIRED as part of your admittance to the School. You should submit the necessary information to Verified Credentials in a timely fashion so that your check can be reviewed. Without it, your offer of admittance will be rescinded. Background checks that provide evidence of a positive criminal history will be considered on a case by case basis.
• We understand that the cost of running a criminal history background check can be burdensome. While we cannot waive the fee, applicants who are accepted into a UW nursing degree program and who choose to apply for student financial aid from the School of Nursing may include the cost of the criminal history background check on their list of expenses. The School will consider this cost when awarding financial aid.

For assistance with technical issues (problems with the VCI website, payment issues, etc.), please contact Verified Credentials Customer Services at 1-800-938-6090 or clientservices at verifiedcredentials dot com

For general questions about this process, please contact the Academic Services Office at 206-543-8736 or 1-800-759-NURS or e-mail: sonas at uw dot edu. Please do not contact AS with technical support questions.