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Background Checks and Drug Screening for Students

Here's how to navigate the background check and drug screening before becoming a School of Health Professions student.

Background checks

The Joint Commission, which regulates accreditation of hospitals, home health agencies, clinics and other facilities, requires employees and volunteers to have a background check. The same regulation holds true of students within these facilities, or their accreditation may be in jeopardy. Other evaluations, such as a drug screening may also be required.

Prior to final acceptance and enrollment in classes but after you've been accepted to the KU, you'll be directed to Validity Screening Solutions for a background check. Your academic department will then review the subsequent report. Acceptance will not be final until KU has received your background check report.

The background check performed by Validity Screening Solutions includes the following:

  1. Social Security Number Trace (primarily serves as an address/identity verification tool)
  2. Criminal History (felony/misdemeanor convictions/pending cases at the county, state, and federal levels)
  3. OIG/GSA (searches Office of Inspector General and General Service Administration for fraud against any federally funded health care program, i.e., Medicare, Medicaid, etc.)
  4. Multi-State Sex Offender Registry
  5. Global Screen

Yes. You must pay a one-time fee directly to Validity Screening Solutions, but KU generally only requires this background check once, and that's prior to official acceptance in an academic program.

However, if you interact with a health care facility as part of your program, the administration there may require a more current background check. But most facilities that have affiliation contracts with KU will accept the same background check you completed prior to acceptance.

Since a background check is part of the visa process, international students arriving in the United States for the first time are not required to submit a background check.

If you are an international student who has spent more than 30 days in the United States after receiving your visa, a new background check will be required.

Normally, the following will prevent admission:

  • Felony convictions
  • Misdemeanor convictions or felony deferred adjudications involving crimes against persons (physical or sexual abuse)
  • Misdemeanor convictions related to moral turpitude (prostitution, public lewdness/exposure, etc.)
  • Felony deferred adjudications for the sale, possession, distribution, or transfer of narcotics or controlled substances
  • Registered sex offenders
  • Sanctions within the health care field, including Medicaid, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the General Services Administration (GSA)

No. Professional certifying agencies within your chosen profession may have different rules regarding background checks. A conviction that did not disqualify you from a KU program may preclude you from taking a certification or qualifying exam at the end of the academic program.

Make sure to confirm whether or not your background will affect your ability to ultimately practice in your field. It is your responsibility to research that possibility.

Getting ready for clinicals? Most places affiliated with KU request a student background check. Request a copy online and then follow these steps:

  • Login with personal username (email address) and password
  • Click "View Report" to generate a report
  • Reports filed prior to June 2012 must be requested from the VSS Client Care team, 913-322-5901, students@validityscreening.com
Drug screening

Most clinical sites require a drug screening for participating students. Because drug screens can be customized by clinical site, do not start the drug screening process until your academic program or clinical site instructs you.

Yes. The School of Health Professions employs a standard 10-panel plus oxycodone/oxymorphine test. Other clinical sites may ask for different tests.

Request a copy online and then follow these steps:

  • Login with personal username (email address) and password
  • Click "View Report" to generate a report
  • Reports filed prior to June 2012 must be requested from the VSS Client Care team, 913-322-5901, students@validityscreening.com

Results

Should a background check or report come back with an unacceptable offense, the department will review the information and make a decision on the applicant's eligibility. The applicant will be notified regarding their status to enter the program. These cases will be considered individually and, under extenuating circumstances, an exception could be made.

Normally, the following will prevent admission:

  • Felony convictions
  • Misdemeanor convictions or felony deferred adjudications involving crimes against persons (physical or sexual abuse)
  • Misdemeanor convictions related to moral turpitude (prostitution, public lewdness/exposure, etc.)
  • Felony deferred adjudications for the sale, possession, distribution, or transfer of narcotics or controlled substances
  • Registered sex offenders
  • OIG, GSA, and Medicaid sanctions

If there is a conviction that does not disqualify the applicant/student from a program and subsequent affiliation, the student should be aware that this may not be the case for the professional certifying agency. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not the conviction will prevent them from taking a certification or qualifying examination upon completion of an academic program.

Other reports you may need

What other reports may be needed from me?

  • Registration in the Family Care Safety Registry. This check reviews Missouri records for any individuals disqualified from working in a health care facility in that state. No additional information or fee is required for this check.
  • If you are assigned to a clinical rotation in Missouri, you may need to complete the Missouri Department of Mental Health Disqualification Registry Report. Contact the Office of the Dean for details.
KU School of Health Professions

KU School of Health Professions
KU Medical Center
3901 Rainbow Blvd
Mailstop 2007
Kansas City, KS 66160
913-588-5235 • 711 TTY
healthprofessions@kumc.edu