Find out how Checkr’s advanced background check platform makes employment screening more efficient so you can hire faster.
Quick online account setup makes ordering background checks easy—plus, pricing is pay-as-you-go.
of customers say our turnaround time is faster than the competition of customers say Checkr has simplified their daily work of customers choose Checkr over the competition due to ease of useWhatever you need, we’ve got a solution. Here are our most common background checks and verifications.
Search national, federal, state, and county criminal records.
Verify candidates’ academic history and degrees earned.
Confirm work history provided is true and accurate.
Review driving records to identify qualified candidates.
Support a safe workplace with an employment drug testing program.
Complete and manage Form I-9 verification for employees.
Checkr’s guides to employment background check laws by state are designed to help you understand which federal, state, and local laws may apply.
California Connecticut District of Columbia Massachusetts Mississippi New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico North Carolina North Dakota Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Washington West VirginiaCheckr’s guides to employment background check laws by state are designed to help you understand which federal, state, and local laws may apply.
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Frequently asked questions
Background checks search public records, and access other sources, to gather and verify information about individuals. Many employers use background checks to help evaluate a candidate’s qualifications for a job, make smarter hiring choices, and mitigate risk.
A background check or background screening is the process of examining public and private sources to collect information about a person. Background checks may be used by employers, landlords, or volunteer organizations.
The information included in a background check will vary depending on the purpose of the screening. However, background checks often include some or all of the following:
Pre-employment background checks are screenings conducted by employers as part of the hiring process. They may involve a criminal history check, credit check (if the role is finance-related), driving record check (if the position involves driving), and employment or education verification. Employers may also choose to conduct reference checks, drug testing, or other additional screenings. In some industries, such as education, healthcare, and commercial transportation, pre-employment screening is required by law.
Employers use pre-employment background checks to help make more informed hiring decisions, mitigate risk to their business, and protect their organization against liability.
Pre-employment background checks typically start by notifying the candidate of the intent to conduct a background screening and obtaining their consent. Employers then gather the job applicant’s personally identifying information (PII), such as full name, date of birth, Social Security number (SSN), and current or past addresses.
Background check services, like Checkr, use the candidate’s PII and SSN to conduct the specific background screenings the employer requests, such as criminal records checks or driving record checks. Depending on the type of screening, this process may include searching online databases, making phone calls, or physically visiting courthouses or motor vehicle departments to gather records. When the screening is completed, the employer receives a background check report with the requested information.
Federal laws and guidelines, as well as state and local laws, regulate how and when background checks are conducted, what information can be included in the background check report, and how that information can be used in hiring decisions. For example, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) specifies how companies can obtain and consider the information in consumer reports (which include background checks), and outlines the adverse action process employers must follow if they decide to deny employment based on a candidate’s criminal record. Further, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) offers guidance to employers for preventing discrimination by considering the results of a background check in the proper context, called an individualized assessment.