How long background screening take

Having the option of instant checks is vital for employers on a strict timetable and a need to speed up the process. While we offer instant searches, we also have on-the-ground court runners to send to specific courthouses to conduct in-person criminal searches. Since county courts are where most criminal cases are filed, employers must have the option of live courtroom searches as part of their candidate information screening.

We offer a wide variety of screening services, many of which go beyond just criminal history. Employers can work with us to expand their checks to include resume verifications, civil court searches, driving record searches, and more. How long it takes an employer to get a pre-employment background check report back will vary depending on the type of checks the employer wishes to run—among other variables.

However, as we have already explored, several variables can delay a check. Perhaps you requested an international search, or maybe you merely submitted the check request right before a major U. Sometimes, job seekers can feel left in the dark about the outcome of their background information checks.

The FCRA dictates that an employer must notify an applicant and obtain their consent to conduct a pre-employment screening. It also states that an employer must notify the candidate in writing if it wishes to disqualify the candidate based on criminal history or some other form of information found during the vetting process.

Some services require phone interviews. Those include education and employment verification as well as reference checks. How long each of these services takes also depends on a few other factors. The average we have been able to achieve for the most common verifications is listed below. Search Results for:.

Turnaround Time for Employment Background Checks One of the complicating factors when trying to estimate how much time an employment background check will take is that the average pre-employment background check is multiple types of checks.

Turnaround Times for Other Types of Background Checks For employment background checks that incorporate searches beyond criminal records, there can be even more variation in the number of days to complete the checks.

Driving record checks Our estimate for a motor vehicle report at backgroundchecks. Credit history checks In most cases, credit checks should process instantly. Civil court searches How much time a civil court search takes depends on whether the court in question is a county or federal court.

Federal Background Checks The typical employment background check takes between a few days and a few weeks to complete. If you have: lived or worked abroad traveled extensively outside the country have relatives who are foreign nationals or have spent significant time outside the country, your background check will likely take longer.

Bankruptcy checks If a person has filed for bankruptcy, the information should be recorded in U. Identity checks As previously mentioned, backgroundchecks. Weekends: Our estimates for how much time a screening may take are in business days, not all days.

If you order a check right before a weekend, that will usually add to the total time of the screening process. Closures: During the COVID pandemic , many county courts, businesses, educational institutions, and other offices were either closed or operating with reduced hours. This article provides insight into average turnaround times for five common background checks and includes what these checks are used for, how the data is accessed, and possible reasons why turnaround times might be delayed.

Depending on the type of information an employer needs, a background check can be ready in less than a minute, or it can take up to five business days. It can take longer if it requires manual searches or cooperation from other organizations, such as professional license certifications, universities, and previous employers. Employers also often run ongoing background checks on current employees through regular employee drug testing or annual criminal background checks to ensure a safe workplace.

An employment background check can include, but is not limited to, your work history, education, credit history, driving record, criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening. A criminal background check generally takes between one to three business days, but can be returned much faster depending on the database that is being search, such as the National Criminal Database. An instant background check includes basic information that is searchable online through specialized databases to which a verified background check provider has access.

It often includes basic searches such as a Social Security number SSN trace, a national criminal database search, and a sex offender registry search. Since a background check service can typically gather this information quickly, turnaround times are almost instant.

A criminal background check may also search sex offender registries, county criminal court records, domestic and global terrorist watch lists, and federal and state criminal records. Additional searches of these databases can take one to three days depending on manual search requirements. The typical turnaround time for a federal background check is one day.

Find jobs. Company reviews. Find salaries. Upload your resume. Sign in. Career Development. What does a background check include? Identity verification. Employment verification. Academic verification. Criminal checks. Professional certification verification. Credit checks. Global watch list checks. Driving checks. Why do employers use background checks? How long does a background check take?

Are background check delays possible? Provide accurate information. As mentioned above, if the employer transmits inaccurate information to the third-party investigative agency, then the check can take a longer time. Any type of criminal activity will show up in a background check so be upfront about felony and misdemeanor criminal convictions with your potential employer before the check is run.

Example of employment credit report. Negative credit history such as a series of bankruptcies can quickly suggest to an employer that you might be a risk in a financial role. Providing all of the appropriate documents when requested can speed up the background check process so be sure to complete as quickly as possible.

Hint: Other background check information can include driving records and social media accounts. It depends on the position and employer. Here are a few possible reasons for the delay:. For the first reason, the background check company might be waiting on, for example, a pending county courthouse record. You might have passed your background check with flying colors, but the employer is looking at other factors like skill set before hiring.

Be sure to check your email including spam! Your employer will normally email or call you if you successfully pass your background check. Another way you know you passed is if you receive the job offer! If negative information from the background check impacts the hiring decision, the employer is legally obligated, according to The Fair Credit Reporting Act FCRA , to provide two notices.