What is a Background Check?
A background check is a process used by employers, landlords, and other entities to verify information about a person’s history. The purpose of a background check is to gather pertinent details about an individual’s past, which can help assess their eligibility for employment, housing, or other responsibilities.
Background checks serve various functions, including:
- Verifying identity
- Confirming employment history
- Checking criminal records
- Assessing creditworthiness
- Confirming educational qualifications
- Reviewing driving history
There are several types of background checks, and the specific one conducted will depend on the context. These include:
- Criminal Background Check: Checks for any past criminal convictions, arrests, or ongoing cases.
- Employment History Check: Verifies the details of past jobs, including roles, dates, and reasons for leaving.
- Educational Background Check: Confirms the credentials claimed by the individual, including degrees and certifications.
- Credit Check: Assesses an individual’s financial history and behavior.
- Drug and Alcohol Testing: Evaluates whether an individual has a history of substance abuse.
- Driving Record Check: Reviews the person’s driving history, including traffic violations, accidents, and suspensions.
Each of these checks serves a unique purpose in providing insights into a person’s history and suitability for a position or responsibility.
Why Do Employers Use Background Checks?
Employers use background checks to ensure that candidates are who they claim to be, to verify that they meet job qualifications, and to protect their organizations from risks. Background checks can help employers identify potential red flags in a candidate’s past, such as:
- Criminal history: Ensuring that candidates do not have a history of offenses that would disqualify them for the job.
- Misrepresentation: Preventing fraudulent claims about education or employment history.
- Financial instability: Identifying candidates who might have a history of financial difficulties, which can be important for jobs that handle money or sensitive financial data.
- Driving record: Verifying that candidates applying for driving positions have a clean driving record.
Employers also rely on background checks to maintain a safe and secure workplace, ensure legal compliance, and reduce liability risks.
Factors That Influence the Duration of a Background Check’s Validity
Several factors influence how long a background check remains valid:
- Type of Check: Different checks have different validity periods. For example, criminal records may stay on file for years, while employment verification is typically only valid for the period during which the candidate worked at an organization.
- Employer Policy: Employers may set their own validity period based on internal needs. For example, some may require re-verification of a background check every year, while others may accept a background check for up to five years.
- State Laws: Each state has its own rules regarding how long background check results can be considered valid. For example, certain criminal records may only be reportable for a specific time frame (e.g., 7 years for misdemeanors in many states).
- Industry Regulations: Specific industries may require more frequent or updated checks. For example, healthcare workers, financial professionals, and government contractors may be subject to periodic rechecks.
- Position Requirements: For certain high-risk positions, such as those requiring security clearance or jobs that involve working with vulnerable populations, the validity period of background checks may be shorter, requiring frequent updates.
How Long is a Background Check Typically Good For?
The validity of a background check depends on the type of information being verified:
- Criminal Background Checks: Generally, a criminal record stays valid for as long as it exists in public records. Some employers may recheck records annually, while others may accept older reports if they are less than 7 years old (depending on state laws).
- Employment History: Employment verification remains valid as long as the candidate is not changing jobs. Employers may choose to verify past employment again if a significant amount of time has passed or if there is uncertainty about the candidate’s history.
- Education Verification: Education records are generally permanent. However, employers may choose to recheck this information if the degree is required for an advanced position or if there is reason to believe the credentials are fraudulent.
- Credit Check: Credit reports are typically updated annually and can remain valid for up to 6 months, though certain positions (like those in finance) may require more frequent checks.
- Drug Testing: Drug tests typically expire within a few months, depending on the employer’s policy.
- Driving Record Checks: Driving records remain valid for up to 5 years, but employers may re-check driving history more frequently for positions that require driving.
In most cases, employers prefer the background check to be as recent as possible. Background checks typically remain valid for 6 months to 1 year, but this can vary depending on the industry and employer needs.
Do Employers Re-check Backgrounds Over Time?
Employers may choose to re-run background checks for a variety of reasons:
- Ongoing Employment: Employers may periodically check employee backgrounds to ensure they remain compliant with company policies and regulatory standards, especially in high-security or highly regulated industries.
- Promotions or New Roles: If an employee is moving into a new role that requires additional security clearance or qualifications, a background check may be re-run to confirm they still meet the necessary criteria.
- Changing Laws: As new laws or regulations emerge, employers may update their background check policies to ensure continued compliance. This could involve re-running checks on existing employees to ensure they meet new legal standards.
Employers may also recheck backgrounds in situations where significant time has passed, especially for industries like healthcare, education, and finance, where regulatory compliance is critical.
Different Types of Background Checks and Their Lifespan
Each type of background check has a different validity period. The information gathered in a background check can remain relevant for varying lengths of time, depending on the type of information and its significance. Below is a breakdown of the most common types of background checks and how long the information is generally considered valid:
- Criminal Background Checks: