Career Kickstart
Get reimbursed for credentialing costs!
Credentialing Reimbursement
ESS is excited to offer the Career Kickstart Incentive to help start your career in education. Newly hired ESS staff are eligible for compensation for some of the costs associated with required school district credentials. Full program details include:
- Substitute and permanent staff must complete 25 assignments with ESS within 90 days of their hire date to qualify for compensation.
- Compensation applies to costs for background checks and medical checks, including but not limited to health screening, drug tests, and TB tests.
- The maximum compensation is $125 for all applicable credentials.
- Receipts of credentialing costs must be submitted through the ESS Career Kickstart Incentive Reimbursement Request Form. Please Click here to access the form.
- Credentialing compensation will be included in the second paycheck after the employee has worked 25 days and submitted all applicable receipts.
- Do not submit your receipts before working 25 assignments within your first 90 days. Early submissions will not be accepted.
- Submissions received more than 120 days after your hire date will not be accepted. For example, if you have worked for ESS for over a year, your receipts are no longer eligible for reimbursement.
For questions about the ESS Career Kickstart Incentive, contact us at Kickstart@ESS.com.
Requirements by State
Working with children requires several federal and state clearances which must be obtained whether you work for ESS or directly for a school district. Requirements vary by state and your personal cost for credentialing depends on a number of factors including your certification status and whether you’ve already obtained any of these clearances. To view a breakdown of requirements and potential fees, please click your state below.
| Alabama Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| ABI/FBI Criminal History Check | $46.50 |
| Alabama Substitute Teacher License | $30 |
| Arizona Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| IVP Fingerprinting | $87 |
| State Substitute Teacher License | $35 |
| Proof of MMR (Maricopa & Pima County) | Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| Arkansas Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| State/FBI Fingerprinting | $37 |
| DHS Central Registry | $10 |
| California Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| State/FBI Fingerprinting | $40 – $90 |
| Tuberculosis Test Results | Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| Colorado Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| Fingerprinting/Background Check | $52 |
| State Substitute Teacher License | $60 for 1 Year; $90 for 3 Years |
| Connecticut Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| Department of Children and Families Child Abuse and Neglect Registry Record Check | Free |
| CT State Background Check | $75 |
| FBI Criminal Background Check | $13.50 |
| Tuberculosis Test Results (select districts) | Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| Act 16-67, Education Employment Verification | Free |
| CT Police May Charge an Additional Fee at Time of Fingerprinting | $5 – $30 |
| Delaware Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| FBI/State Criminal History Check | $85 |
| Child Protection Request | $14 |
| Tuberculosis Test Results | Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| Florida Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| Fingerprinting/Background Check | Varies by Location: $60 – $90 |
| Georgia Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| State/FBI Fingerprint Check | $48 – $67 |
| Drug Screen (Savannah Chatham only) | $15 |
| Idaho Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| State/FBI Background Check | $38.25 |
| Illinois Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| IL Substitute Teacher License | $50 ($25 for Short-Term License) |
| IL Paraprofessional Application | $100 |
| Background Check | Free |
| Indiana Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| Expanded Criminal History Check (ECH) | $31.75 |
| Substitute Teacher Permit | $16.32 |
New opportunities coming soon.
| Kansas Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| Kansas Substitute Teacher License | $70 |
| Tuberculosis Test Results | $30 |
New opportunities coming soon.
| Louisiana Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| State/FBI Fingerprint Check | $49.25 |
New opportunities coming soon.
New opportunities coming soon.
| Massachusetts Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| Fingerprinting/Background Check | $35 |
| CORI | Free |
| Michigan Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| Livescan Fingerprints Code (SE) | Varies by Location $60 – $70 |
| Substitute Teacher Permit | $45 per School Year |
New opportunities coming soon.
| Mississippi Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| State/FBI Fingerprinting | Varies by Location: $32 – $40 |
| Missouri Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| FBI/Highway Patrol Background Check | $41.75 |
| Substitute Teacher Certificate | $50 |
| Family Care Safety Registry | $15.25 |
New opportunities coming soon.
New opportunities coming soon.
New opportunities coming soon.
| New Hampshire Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| Fingerprinting/Background Check | $48.25 |
| New Jersey Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| Criminal History Approval/New Fingerprints | $11 Processing Fee; $67.38 Required to Schedule IdentoGo Appointment |
| Criminal History Archive | $29.75 |
| Criminal History Transfer | $6 |
| Tuberculosis Test Results | Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| NJ Teacher Certificate (if applicable) | Cost Paid by Applicant to State of NJ via University (not associated with ESS) |
| NJ Substitute Teacher Certificate (60+ college credits) | $125 |
| NJ Substitute Teacher Certificate Renewal (60+ college credits) | $125 |
| NJ Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release Form | Free |
| New Mexico Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| State/FBI Fingerprinting | Varies by Location: $59 – $118 |
| Substitute Teacher Certificate | $50 |
New opportunities coming soon.
| North Carolina Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| Background Check | $38 |
| Health Form/Tuberculosis Test Results | Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| Drug Test (only in Newton-Conover and Pitt) |
$12 |
New opportunities coming soon.
| Ohio Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| BCI/FBI Background Check | $47.25 |
| Substitute Teacher Certificate | $25 |
| Oklahoma Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| State/FBI Fingerprinting | $58 |
| Oregon Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| State/FBI Fingerprinting | $12.50 |
| Background Check | $67 |
| Central Background Registry (preK-12 only) | Free |
| Substitute Teacher License (in-state) | Varies by Applicant |
| Substitute Teacher License (out-of-state) | Varies by Applicant |
| Drug Screen (varies by location/position) | Free |
| Pennsylvania Requirements | FEES |
|---|---|
| Arrest Conviction Report | Free |
| PA State Criminal Record Check | $22 |
| Child Abuse Clearance | $13 |
| FBI Fingerprinting | $26.20 |
| TB Test/Physical | Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| Emergency Permit (teaching positions) | Varies by Location |
| Act 71- Suicide Prevention Clearance Certificate | Free |
| Act 126 – Mandated Child Abuse Reporter Training | Free |
| Act 168 – Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release | Free |
| Rhode Island | Fees |
|---|---|
| BCI/FBI Background Check | $45 |
| Tuberculosis Test | Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| South Carolina Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| Criminal Background Check: BIB | $38.00 |
| Tuberculosis Test | Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
New opportunities coming soon.
| Tennessee | Fees |
|---|---|
| TBI/FBI Criminal Background Check | $32 – $38 |
| Medical Screening (varies by district) | Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| Drug Screen (varies by district) | Free |
| Texas Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| State/FBI Fingerprinting | Varies by Location: $37 – $75 |
| Utah Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| State/FBI Background Check | Varies by Location: $0 – $60 |
| Reference Check (53G-11-410) | Free |
New opportunities coming soon.
| Virginia Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| State/FBI Fingerprinting | $27 – $38 |
| State Child Protective Service Clearance | $10 |
| Tuberculosis Screening | Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| Washington Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| State/FBI Fingerprinting | $20 |
| Background Check | $50 |
| Substitute Teacher License | Varies by Applicant |
New opportunities coming soon.
| Wisconsin Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin Substitute Teacher License | $125 |
| Tuberculosis Test Results | $35 – $59 |
New opportunities coming soon.