Criminal Background Checks
Criminal Background Checks (CBC) are becoming a standard requirement for employment
in health care today. SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University works with many health
care facilities in Brooklyn, New York City, and beyond to provide you with these clinical
experiences, as part of your education. Many of these facilities also require that
students that are sent to their facilities have completed a recent Background Check
to ensure the safety and well being of their patients.
As was indicated in previous communications, all students admitted to a program at SUNY Downstate are required to have a Criminal History Background Check prior to enrollment.
State University of New York (SUNY) policy prohibits SUNY Downstate from inquiring into an applicant’s prior criminal history. After acceptance, SUNY Downstate shall inquire if the student previously has been convicted of a felony and to participate in a Criminal Background Check. The information shall be reviewed by a standing campus committee consistent with the legal standards articulated in New York State Corrections Law, and other applicable law.
As such, all students are selected for admission prior to review of or request for a background check. Students are responsible for completing a Background Check prior to enrollment at SUNY Downstate, but after you are admitted to your program. SUNY Downstate does not consider prior criminal history in decisions on admission.
Results of the background check will be made available to the student and to SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. All background checks will be treated as confidential.
Background checks performed for employment, previously, cannot be used to fulfill the CBC admissions requirement to the programs at SUNY Downstate without prior permission. See the instructions on the website regarding how to submit a prior report that was completed within one year of the date of entry to your program at SUNY Downstate.
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is working with DISA Healthcare Technology to complete the background check process for all admitted students in the School of Health Professions, College of Nursing, and School of Public Health (except MD/MPH applicants). Accepted Applicants in the College of Medicine or the MD/MPH or MD/PhD programs should see a special set of instructions below. Accepted Applicants in the School of Graduate Studies (except MD/PhD applicants) should see a special set of instructions below. The cost of the background check is $184, which is payable by the student to the company directly.
To obtain your background check:
- Go to the DISA Healthcare Technology website and click on "Place Order."
- In the Package Code box, enter the package code: SU41
- Enter your payment information — Visa, Mastercard, or Money Order.
- Follow the online instructions, enter all of the requested information, and complete your order.
PLEASE NOTE: Your Criminal Background Check must be requested no later than April 15 or within 15 days of your acceptance to SUNY Downstate, whichever comes later. Failure to do so will result in rescinding your offer of admission.
PLEASE NOTE: Accepted applicants to the College of Medicine or the MD/MPH or MD/PhD programs should use the criminal background check service associated with your AMCAS application. For more information about this process, see the information on the College of Medicine's Admission web site here.
Accepted applicants to the MD/PhD program should use the criminal background check service associated with your AMCAS application. For more information about this process, see the information on the College of Medicine's Admission web site here. Your AMCAS background check will satisfy the background check requirement for you.
Accepted applicants to all other PhD programs in the School of Graduate Studies who have been offered a stipend as part of their acceptance letter will be hired as employees of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. As an employee, you will be required to complete a criminal background check through the Department of Human Resources. The criminal background check completed by the Department of Human Resources will satisfy the Criminal Background Check requirement. You do not have to (and should not) complete the background check through CertifiedBackground.com.
If you are an accepted applicant to the School of Graduate Studies who has not been offered a stipend as part of your acceptance, you should complete the Criminal Background Check through DISA Healthcare Technology.
If you are unsure, you should contact the School of Graduate Studies.
Our CertifiedBackground.com package includes the following:
- County Criminal Records
- Nationwide Sexual Offender Index
- Social Security Alert
- Residency History
State University of New York (SUNY) policy prohibits SUNY Downstate from inquiring into an applicant’s prior criminal history. After acceptance, SUNY Downstate shall inquire if the student previously has been convicted of a felony and to participate in a Criminal Background Check. The information shall be reviewed by a standing campus committee consistent with the legal standards articulated in New York State Corrections Law, and other applicable law.
Students who have previously been convicted of a felony or other crimes are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions. Students who have concerns about such matters are advised to contact the Dean's office of their intended academic program or the Admissions Office at admissions@downstate.edu.