Instructions for Obtaining Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance

  1. Visit www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis
  2. Employees who are renewing their background clearances have a prior created Keystone ID.  Select Individual Login.
  3. Select Access My Clearances.
  4. Scroll to the bottom of this page and choose Continue.
  5. You will arrive at the Keystone Key login screen.  At this point you may choose to:
    • Enter your username and password if you recall that information.
    • Choose Forgot User ID and/or Forgot Password in the Self-Service for Citizens section.  
    • Contact the CWIS Solution Support Center at 1-877-343-0494 for assistance.

      login prompt for username and password
  6. Once you are logged into the site, follow the following steps: 
    • Read and agree to the My Child Welfare Account Terms & Conditions. Click Next.
    • Scroll to the bottom and click Continue.
    • Select Create Clearance Application.
    • Scroll to the bottom and Click Begin.
    • Select School Employee Not Governed by Public School Code: Applying as a school employee not governed by Section 111 of the Public School Code. Click Next.
    • Complete applicant information. You only need to enter required information. Then select Next.
    • Complete current address. At the bottom, please select to have a paper version of the certificate to be sent to your home. Finalize by clicking Next.
    • Complete previous addresses. **Please only indicate your state(s) of previous residence.  Finalize by clicking Next.
    • Add household members: You must list all household members you have lived with since birth. Finalize by clicking Next.
    • Scroll through the application summary. At the bottom, click Next.
    • Provide E-signature. Please certify the application and sign. Finalize by clicking Next
    • Submit application payment: Please enter the payment code provided to you by the Office of Human Resources. Finish by clicking Submit.

You will receive an email from noreply@pa.gov within 24 - 72 hours of submitting this application notifying you that your results are ready. Using that email, you can download your certificate as a PDF for your records. The Office of Human Resources will have access to your results via the portal so no follow-up is required unless contacted by our office.