Criminal History Record Check (CHRC) Process

Visit the MEIS Sign In Page:

MEIS Sign In Page

Select “Are you a new user? Click here to create an account.” 

Create a user name. 

Next, create a password consisting of at least 6 characters. The password must also have two of the following: upper-case letter, lower case letter, number, or special character (@,;,&). 

Enter your demographic information. For Superintendents and Renewal Chairpersons, please enter your school email as your primary email and your personal email as your secondary email. All others should only enter personal emails.

Enter town and date of birth. Select “Next”. 

Choose and answer the three secret questions. Select Next. 

Select “I DO NOT want to become a Maine Educator” if you are creating an account as an HR employee, an Institution (Higher Ed) Role, or similar role. Select “I am, or want to become, a Maine educator” if you desire to work in a school in any capacity that requires a background check. (Bus Driver, Lunch Staff, Teacher, Administrator, etc.) Select Next. 

Verify information is correct and select “Submit”. 

Log into your MEIS account:

MEIS Sign In Page

Your landing page will contain this box:

Click on “EDU – Educator”. For the purposes of this application, please consider yourself an educator if you are seeking employment in Maine schools. This includes bus drivers, janitors, lunch staff, etc. 

The next screen will be regarding FERPA. You will need to answer the questions in your account, but can also select “I agree.” 

The next screen will contain tiles that contain "Apply for Your New Maine Credential Here.”

Please select “Apply for Your New Maine Credential Here”. Even if you are renewing your CHRC (background check) it is still considered a new credential. 

The next screen provides an overview of the process and is considered Step 1. There are 15 steps to the initial application, but many of them are skipped over because you are only applying for a CHRC. If you come to any step that asks you to upload information you don’t have, just select the “Next” button. 

Step 2 – Verify your information. 

Step 3 – Verify your address. 

Step 4 –Verify your contact information. 

Step 5 – Please select “No bachelor’s degree”, as a CHRC does not require one. Even if you do have a BA please select you do not because you are only seeking a CHRC background check. 

Step 6 – Add CHRC to the cart (Non Teaching Approval). The associated fee will only be $15. If the fee is anything different, the wrong item has been selected. 

Step 7 – On this screen please double check that the fee is $15. 

Step 8 – Please complete the three required areas.

Step 9 – Please complete all background questions. 

Step 10, 11, and 12 will either not appear or you can just select “next” and skip them. (Our MEIS system us customized to each individual’s file and may look different depending if you already hold a credential with us) 

Please upload any additional information you would like to provide. If there is nothing you would like to provide, just select “Next”.

Step 13 – Please enter credit card information. The credit card address is the physical address that is associated with your credit card account. 

Step 14 – Verify all information on screen is correct before submitting. When ready, select “Submit Application”. 

Step 15 – Confirmation and explanation of next steps. Once you have your fingerprints taken at an IdentoGO location, it takes 2-3 business days for the Department of Education to receive the results. If the background check results are clear, the CHRC will be issued right away. It will take longer to process if anything appears on the background check.

We are no longer mailing credentials. You will need to log back into your MEIS account and you will be able to see if your CHRC has been issued. If a school is requiring a print out, please select “Control -P” and you will be able to print the screen that verifies the credentials you hold.

If you have not yet registered for an appointment with IdentoGO, please visit the following website to set up a date and time at your local site:

Schedule Fingerprinting Appointment

If you have not yet registered for an appointment with IdentoGO, please visit the following website to set up a date and time at your local site:

Schedule Fingerprinting Appointment

Check your MEIS account weekly to find out when your CHRC clearance is issued. No hard copies are issued/mailed.

When your CHRC appears on your MEIS account you are clear to work in schools!