ESS Career Kickstart Incentive
ESS is excited to offer the new Career Kickstart Incentive to help start your career in education. Newly hired ESS staff will be eligible for compensation for some of the costs associated with required school district credentials. Full program details include:
- Substitute and permanent staff must successfully work 25 assignments with ESS within 90 days of hire date to qualify for compensation.
- Compensation applies to costs for background checks and medical checks, which includes but is not limited to health screening, drug tests, and TB tests.
- Maximum compensation of $125 for all applicable credentials.
- Receipts of credentialing costs must be provided to the ESS Career Kickstart Incentive Reimbursement Request Form. Please click here to access the form.
- Credentialing compensation will be included on the second paycheck after the employee has worked 25 days, and submitted all applicable receipts.
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 vaccine (Maricopa and Pima County only) |
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 and $90 from 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 |
$13.25 |
| Tuberculosis Test Results |
Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| Act 16-67, Education Employment Verification |
Free |
| Delaware Requirements | Fees |
|---|
| Criminal History Check |
$65 |
| Child Protection Request |
$14 |
| Tuberculosis Test Results |
Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| Florida Requirements | Fees |
|---|
| Fingerprinting/Background Check |
Varies by Location: $60-$78 |
| Georgia Requirements | Fees |
|---|
| State/FBI Fingerprint Check |
$48-$67 |
| Drug Screen (Savannah Chatham Only) |
$10 |
| Idaho Requirements | Fees |
|---|
| State/FBI Background Check |
$38.25 |
| Indiana Requirements | Fees |
|---|
| Expanded Criminal History Check (ECH) |
$31.75 |
| Substitute Teacher Permit |
$16.32 |
| Louisiana Requirements | Fees |
|---|
| State/FBI Fingerprint Check |
$49.25 |
| Massachusetts Requirements | Fees |
|---|
| Fingerprinting/Background Check |
$35 |
| Michigan Requirements | Fees |
|---|
| Livescan Fingerprints Code (SE) |
Varies by location $60-$70 |
| Substitute Teacher Permit |
$45 /school year |
| 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 |
| 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 the state of NJ via University attended (cost not associated with ESS) |
| NJ Substitute Teacher Certificate (60+ college credits or more) |
$125 |
| NJ Substitute Teacher Certificate Renewal (60+ college or more) |
$125 |
| NJ Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release Form |
Free |
| New Mexico Requirements | Fees |
|---|
| State/FBI Fingerprinting |
Varies by location: $44 to $88 |
| Substitute Teacher Certificate |
$50 |
| North Carolina Requirements | Fees |
|---|
| Background Check |
$22 |
| Health Form / Tuberculosis Test Results |
Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| Drug Test
(only in Newton- Conover and Pitt) |
$12 |
| 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 |
$65 |
| Central Background Registry - PreK-12 Only |
$35 |
| Substitute Teacher License - In-State |
$140 |
| Substitute Teacher License - Out-of-State |
$190 |
| Drug Screen - Varies by Location and Positions |
$45 |
| PENNSYLVANIA REQUIREMENTS | FEES |
|---|
| Arrest Conviction Report |
Free |
| PA State Criminal Record Check |
$22 |
| Child Abuse Clearance |
$13 |
| FBI Fingerprinting |
$23.85 |
| TB Test/Physical |
Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| Emergency Permit (Teaching Positions) |
Varies by Location |
| Act 126 – Mandated Child Abuse Reporter Training |
Free |
| Act 168 – Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release |
Free |
| Rhode Island | Fees |
|---|
| BCI/FBI Background Check |
$35
(Increasing to $45 effective 1/3/23) |
| Tuberculosis Test |
Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| South Carolina Requirements | Fees |
|---|
| Criminal Background Check: BIB |
$22 |
| TB Test |
Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| 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 - $50 |
| Utah Requirements | Fees |
|---|
| State/FBI Background Check |
Varies by Location: $0 to $60 |
| Reference Check (53G-11-410) |
Free |
| Virginia Requirements | Fees |
|---|
| State/FBI Fingerprinting |
$37 |
| State Child Protective Service Clearance |
$7 – $37 (cost determined by the states and time frames in which the applicant lived) |
| TB Screening |
Roanoke Area - Free
Other Areas - Based on Health Insurance Co-Pay |
| Drug Screening (Roanoke Only) |
$9 |