Fingerprint Clearance Cards
Source: Graduate Medical Education Office
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
Distribution: Program Directors, Residents and Staff
Date: January 25, 2008
Residents[1], as a condition of employment, must obtain a valid fingerprint clearance care, in accordance with A.R.S. § 15-1881 (see attached), as amended, and provide a copy of such card to the GME Office prior to the first day of their employment. A resident who does not possess a fingerprint clearance card upon notification that s/he has been accepted for a residency position, must, pending receipt of such fingerprint clearance card, provide a signed, notarized statement to the GME Office, on a form provided by such office, declaring that s/he is not awaiting trial on or has never been convicted of or admitted in open court pursuant to a plea agreement, to committing any offense listed in Arizona Revised Statutes § 41-1758.03, subsection B or C, as amended, in this state or a similar offense committed in another state or jurisdiction.
Effect of Failure to Obtain Fingerprint Clearance Card or Revocation of Fingerprint Clearance Card. Residents who are unable to obtain a fingerprint clearance card prior to employment will be ineligible for employment with the University of Arizona. The College may rescind the offer of employment of a resident who fails to obtain a valid fingerprint clearance card prior to employment, and may dismiss a resident whose fingerprint clearance card is revoked, upon notification of revocation. Maintaining a valid fingerprint clearance card will be required to retain good standing within the College.
Payment of Expenses of Obtaining Fingerprint Clearance Cards. Neither The University of Arizona, the College of Medicine nor the UA/UPHK GME Consortium pays or reimburses for the expenses related to applying for or maintaining fingerprint clearance cards.
Limitations on Obtaining Fingerprint Clearance Cards. A person who is awaiting trial on or who has been convicted of committing or attempting, soliciting, facilitating or conspiring to commit any of the offenses listed in A.R.S. § 41-1758.03(B), as amended, in this state or the same or similar offenses in another state or jurisdiction is precluded from receiving a fingerprint clearance card.
A person who is awaiting trial on or who has been convicted of committing or attempting, soliciting, facilitating or conspiring to commit one or more of the offenses set forth in A.R.S. § 41-1758.03(C), as amended, in this state or the same or similar offenses in another state or jurisdiction is also precluded from receiving a fingerprint clearance card, except that such person may petition the board of fingerprinting for a good cause exception pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-619.55.
How to Apply For Fingerprint Clearance Cards
Individuals may apply for fingerprint clearance cards through the Department of Public Safety (http://www.azdps.gov/reports/fingerprint/faq/default.asp).
BACKGROUND CHECKS
Notwithstanding the requirements for obtaining a fingerprint clearance card, and while the College has made every effort to minimize the number of times a resident will be required to undergo background checks, including criminal background checks, some hospitals and outpatient clinics nevertheless require that residents submit to additional fingerprinting, as well as undergo comprehensive background checks and receive appropriate clearance from such hospitals or outpatient clinics before they will be permitted to participate in clinical rotations at those institutions. Residents who either do not submit to fingerprinting or who fail to receive appropriate clearance from such institutions to participate in clinical rotations may be unable to fulfill their program requirements. Such residents therefore may be unable to retain their employment with The University of Arizona.
Payment of Expenses of Obtaining Background Checks.
Neither The University of Arizona, the College of Medicine nor UA/UPHK GME Consortium pays or reimburses for the expenses related to background checking or fingerprinting associated with such background checks.
15-1881. Postsecondary health sciences programs; definitions
- A program in a public or private postsecondary institution that requires clinical training in hospitals or other health care facilities as part of its educational program may require as a condition of acceptance as a health sciences student or as a condition of employment as a clinical assistant the person to obtain a valid fingerprint clearance card issued pursuant to title 41, chapter 12, article 3.1 or may require that the card be obtained before placement in clinical training rotations. The program may rescind the admission, remove the person from the educational or training program or terminate the employment of any person who fails to obtain a valid fingerprint clearance card.
- A person who is required to possess a fingerprint clearance card pursuant to subsection A of this section and who does not possess a fingerprint clearance card before enrollment or employment at the public or private postsecondary institution shall verify to the public or private postsecondary institution, by completing a signed notarized form provided by the public or private postsecondary institution, that the person is not awaiting trial on or has never been convicted of or admitted in open court pursuant to a plea agreement to committing any offense listed in section 41-1758.03, subsection B or C in this state or a similar offense committed in another state or jurisdiction, pending receipt of the fingerprint clearance card.
- Information contained in a form submitted pursuant to subsection B of this section is confidential.
- A person who is required to obtain a fingerprint clearance card pursuant to this section may be charged all costs and fees associated with obtaining or renewing the card as prescribed by sections 41-619.53 and 41-1750.
- For the purposes of this section:
- "Clinical assistant" means a participant in a graduate medical or pharmacy education program at a public or private postsecondary institution.
- "Health sciences student" means a person who has applied to or is enrolled in a public or private postsecondary institution program of study in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, athletic training, dental hygiene, communication sciences and disorders, speech and hearing sciences or general health sciences.
[1] This policy applies to residents hired after January 1, 2008.
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