EPIK 2015 Policy Changes

US applicants can now use FBI-approved channellers to obtain their Identity History Summary Check (formally known as Criminal Record Checks).

All Identity History Summary Checks (IHSC) must be apostilled by the Department of State in Washington DC. Apostilled IHSCs from individual state’s Secretary of States will no longer be accepted.

EPIK will no longer require CRC’s for those already residing in South Korea at the time of application, however a criminal background check will be requested by the candidate’s POE/MOE after being accepted. EPIK advises applicants to make sure they have no record before applying, otherwise their contract will be revoted immediately if a history is found.

EPIK will require a Criminal Record Check from the country they are currently in if an applicant stayed longer than 12 months there at the time of their EPIK application as well as require a CRC from their home country.

Applicants with tattoos in easily visible areas such as on their wrist, arm, calf, neck, behind ears, upper/lower back, ankle, etc. must now submit photos of the tattoos at the time of application. A section will be made available in the application.

Teachers with non-earlobe piercings will now be required to remove them if a superior at the school requests. This must be agreed to on the sworn declaration form.

Applicants with medical concerns must now submit a Doctor’s Note that state’s the applicant’s current medical status as well as a confirmation statement that the applicant will have “no problem teaching abroad.”