How Long Is a Background Check Good For? A Complete Guide

Cindy Ellis - May 26, 2023

Background checks are one of those topics that many people might feel confused or nervous about, as these checks are often used as part of an evaluation for a job or another opportunity.

If you have had a background check, or you must obtain a background check, you might be wondering how long your background check will be good for after it is completed.

Our article aims to help you understand this information and more details about the background check process so you can put your worries about this report to rest.

What Does a Background Check Involve?

A background check involves a report of your personal history. This includes information such as criminal convictions and offenses, name and address history, previous places of employment or education, and any professional licenses or certifications.

State laws do vary regarding the disclosure of certain personal information. You will need to check with your specific state to see which items are most likely to be included in your background check. This is especially important when it comes to criminal convictions and arrest records.

In most states, the procedure for a background check involves the potential employer or other individual informing the candidate that they will need a background check. Some states require that the information being looked at is disclosed.

Once authorization is given for the background check, the report will be pulled. Then, the potential employer or another individual will review the report to determine if the person is a match for the job or position they are applying for.

It’s important to note that you might fail a background check if you have an extensive criminal record that doesn’t align with the type of position you are applying for.

However, potential employers and other individuals are not legally allowed to reject your application based on certain items they encounter via your background check report. These items include race, religion, marital status, and sexual orientation, among several other things.

If you believe you have been rejected from a position based on one of these discriminatory factors, don’t hesitate to reach out for legal assistance.

When Are Background Checks Given?

Background checks are typically given as part of the employment process. They are either the first step in an application process or the last step, as a final screening before an employment offer is finalized.

You will know if a background check is required because the application will state something like “employment is contingent on passing a background check.” The exact wording of this does vary based on the situation and state regulations.

Other situations background checks where background checks might be requested include screenings for in-home care assistants, prior to gun purchases (dependent on the state), and as part of an evaluation for certain volunteer opportunities or educational programs.

Do Background Checks Expire?

While your background check report doesn’t necessarily expire, a report that was pulled at the start of your career will be outdated within several years. This is especially if you have had many life changes since then, such as changing employers or obtaining additional education credentials.

A background check doesn’t have any expiration limits, but you will typically be expected to submit a new background check for each job or application that requires it. You generally can’t use one background check report indefinitely, as it will be outdated.

Are There Laws Surrounding Background Check Renewals?

There are no state or federal laws surrounding background check renewals, and background checks are technically valid indefinitely once they are completed. However, it is often recommended that employers conduct background checks on their employees every 2 to 5 years, depending on the profession.

Healthcare workers, those that work with vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly, and individuals in security or government positions will typically be given background checks on a more routine basis after being hired into their position than other types of careers.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) does provide more information on what employers need to know when it comes to running background checks. Along with this, they list the type of information employers are able to legally use to evaluate an individual’s eligibility.

Can I Run a Background Check on Myself?

If you are curious about what your background check report might show about your history, you can access a background check report for your own history.

Background check reports use public records, and it is legal for any individual to access public records. To run a background check on yourself and see what information this report holds, access public records through your county’s records office or utilize an online background check tool.

Tools like these will provide you with an easy-to-read report that details all of your background information. Then you can evaluate your report and ensure you will pass future background checks with a potential employer or other organization.

You should keep in mind that you cannot use an online tool or any other system to evaluate other individuals for employment or similar opportunities without proper authorization.

Check with the laws and regulations in your state surrounding background check authorizations for more details if you plan on conducting checks on others as part of a screening process.

Keeping Your Background Checks Up to Date

Your background check report is a vital part of more employment applications or screening processes. Because of this, background checks are often regarded warily, and many individuals may become nervous when authorizing a background check report on themselves.

However, background checks are nothing to be scared of. You can double-check your own report ahead of time if you are concerned about what employers or other individuals might encounter. While your background check doesn’t expire, you should be ready to authorize new background checks at the start of every job as part of a screening process. While working in sensitive professions such as healthcare, child care, or security and government fields, try for every 2-5 years so that your background check report is always up to date.