Youâve jumped through plenty of hoops â the application and the interview â and now the hiring manager wants one more thing: a background check. If youâre new to the world of job-seeking, you may not have come across this before now. Donât let it spook you.Â
If you want to know more about pre-employment screening and background checks, youâve come to the right place. In the following guide, weâll cover what a background check is, why it matters to both you and the employer, and exactly how long it takes for a background check to come back.
Undergoing a background check is a standard part of the hiring process for most jobs today, Employers want to verify candidates are qualified and trustworthy before making a job offer
If you’re applying for a new job, you probably wonder, “How long will the background check take?” The turnaround time can range from less than an hour to a week or longer.
Certain factors like the type of background check, screening company, and accessibility of records determine how quickly you’ll get results. Read on for a detailed look at average turnaround times for common background checks and what causes delays.
Overview of Background Check Turnaround Times
Most background checks for employment take 1-3 business days on average. Some can be completed in minutes, while others take 5 days or more.
Here are the typical turnaround times for key background screens:
- Criminal record check: 1-3 days
- Employment history verification: 1-3 minutes to 2-7 days
- Driving record check: >1 hour to 1-3 days
- Drug screening: 1-3 days
- Education verification: A few minutes to 1 week
Turnaround time also depends on the company performing the background check Large screening firms like GoodHire use advanced systems and databases to deliver most results within 24 hours
What Impacts Turnaround Time?
Several key factors influence how quickly you’ll get your background check results
Type of Check – Criminal checks are faster than employment verifications involving contacting past employers. Checks requiring drug testing or education verification take more time.
Screening Company – Large firms with digital systems deliver faster turnaround than small companies doing manual checks.
Candidate Information – Accurate names, dates, and other info speeds up searches. Errors cause delays.
Record Availability – Online accessible records are quicker while paper records require manual searches.
Legal Compliance – Laws like FCRA require consent forms which add time before checking can start.
Volume of Requests – More pending requests causes slower turnaround for employers and universities.
Understanding what impacts turnaround helps set realistic expectations for how long your background check will take.
Turnaround Times by Type of Check
Criminal Background Checks
Criminal checks typically take 1-3 business days on average. Checks finding no records may come back within a few hours while convictions requiring research add days.
Factors impacting turnaround:
- Checking multiple counties – Adds time versus just federal check
- Manual paper record searches – Adds days rather than digital records
- Higher volume of requests – Slows researcher response time
Employment History Verification
Confirming employment history ranges from minutes to a full week:
- Quick verification through databases like The Work Number takes only 1-3 minutes.
- Contacting employers directly by phone or email takes 2-7 days.
- Larger employers are slower to respond with 2-5 days being common.
Factors impacting turnaround:
- Available digitized records – Speeds up online database results
- Direct employer contact – Adds days for communcation and response lags
Driving Records (MVRs)
Driving records fall into three main turnaround categories:
- Digital MVR databases return results in >1 hour usually
- MVR requests through gov’t agencies take 1-3 days
- Paper copy requests by mail add weeks for processing
Factors impacting turnaround:
- Online accessible driving records – Fastest option
- Requests through DMV – Takes days for processing
- Paper copy requests – Adds weeks to get mailed records
Drug Screening
Most standard 5-panel or 10-panel drug tests through labs take 1-3 business days to receive results.
Factors impacting turnaround:
- Type of test – Instant tests are fastest while hair tests take longer
- Testing facility location – Impacts sample shipping/transit time
- Busy seasons – Can extend lab processing time
Education Verification
Confirming education history can range from minutes to a full week:
- Instant database results through Student Clearinghouse take minutes
- Direct school contact by Clearinghouse takes up to 1 week
Factors impacting turnaround:
- Available digital transcripts – Enables fast verification
- Contacting universities – Admin response time causes delays
How to Speed Up Your Background Check
While some delays are unavoidable, you can help speed up your background check process:
- Provide complete legal names, dates, and other accurate info upfront
- Use a large screening company with digital access like GoodHire
- Follow up quickly if your employer or university needs clarification
- Be patient as government agencies and schools respond slower
Discuss expected turnaround times with employers so you can plan accordingly. While background checks do take some time, they allow you to prove you’re a qualified, reliable candidate.
Background Check Turnaround Times by Industry
Turnaround time standards also vary based on the industry:
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Healthcare – Typically 5-7 days for sensitive roles like doctors and nurses.
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Education – 7-14 days is common for teachers and those working with minors.
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Banking/Finance – Quicker turnaround of 2-5 days as delays can cause lost opportunities.
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Government – May take weeks due to extensive checks and bureaucratic processing.
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Food/Hospitality – Just 1-3 days on average for most restaurant and hotel roles.
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Tech – Tends to be 3-5 days in major Silicon Valley type firms.
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Engineering – 5-7 days for liability reasons in aerospace, construction, etc.
Turnaround Time Statistics
Some key statistics on background check turnaround times include:
- 80% are completed within 2 business days according to PBSA
- 57% take just 1 business day or less per NAPBS
- 90% within 5 business days according to NAPBS
- 2-4 weeks for roles requiring extensive screening like government and schools
So for most jobs, expect your background check to take 1-3 days on average, with some variance based on industry and check type.
Will a Longer Turnaround Time Hurt Your Chances?
Don’t worry if your background check takes a full week instead of 1-2 days in most cases. Employers know turnaround varies.
As long as you’re upfront about any past convictions and have nothing major to hide, a longer turnaround won’t hurt you. It just means being patient as the employer completes due diligence.
For sensitive roles, delays over 2 weeks could impact your chances if other candidates have faster check completion. Discuss timelines with employers in those cases so you can plan accordingly.
Do International Checks Take Longer?
Yes, international background checks often take longer on average. This is due to:
- Language and cultural barriers causing delays
- Varying data privacy laws by country
- Some records being difficult to access remotely
For candidates with extensive international history, expect turnaround times to be 1-2 weeks on average rather than days. Inform employers in advance so they can accommodate longer timelines.
Key Takeaways
Most common background checks like criminal, employment, and driving records take 1-3 business days on average. Turnaround times range from instant database results to 1-2 weeks for extensive education and work histories.
Factors like check type, screening company, record availability, and legal compliance all impact speed.
Turnaround also varies by industry and role sensitivity. While delays can be frustrating, most employers understand it’s outside your control. Stay patient and focus on putting your best foot forward throughout the hiring process.
Why do employers do background checks?
Chances are, you are 100% honest about who you are and your background. Most candidates are. However, when employers are looking to hire new people, they have to consider a multitude of factors. Here are some of the reasons they carry out the checks:Â
Whether someone is using an entirely false identity or using fake references, that can pose a real threat to the business. Employers use background checks to make sure that all of the information a person has given is accurate. Ensuring that each new hire has been fully background checked is a savvy move and can prevent issues down the line.Â
Itâs important to make sure that the details you have given them are true and to guarantee that you donât pose any risk to either the staff or business. When an employer hires a new staff member, they are assuming responsibility for them. Should anything go wrong after the fact, it will be their neck that is on the line. For that reason, conducting a thorough background check has become common across many modern-day industries.Â
While your resume paints a basic picture of your professional standing, it may not give the employer all the details that they need. Should the hiring manager need more information about you or your experiences, they may find this in the background check itself. As we have mentioned, this process will uncover information about your education, employment, and any criminal charges. That means that an employer can get a clear view of things.Â
In specific industries â such as those where you have contact with children or vulnerable individuals â you will find that background checks are the norm. Often enough, this is because of certain state laws or guidelines.Â
The employer may have no choice but to run a background check before they can onboard a new member of staff. Keep in mind that the sector in which you work may determine how likely you are to need a background check.
What is a background check?
First up, letâs deal with the basics: What is a background check?Â
The simplest explanation is that this is a process that an employer goes through to verify that you are who you say you are. It also checks certain things, such as whether you have a criminal record, your educational status, your employment history, and any other miscellaneous information (including credit status for some jobs).Â
An employment background check is usually a good sign. Many employers will only conduct a background check at the later stages of the hiring process when theyâre comparing one or two job applicants. This leaves many job seekers asking what the standard background check duration is and how soon they might expect a job offer!
Are you about to get hired? If the hiring manager is running a background check, that means that you are far along the application process. However, it is not a guarantee that you are about to get a job offer. Read our guide on what a background check means for you here.
How Long Does an Employment Background Check Take?
How long does an employment background check take?
Understandably, candidates might be anxious to know exactly how long employment background checks will take but there may not always be a straight answer. This is because each background check depends on various factors, as explained above. Typically, a background check should take between two and five business days.
When do employers ask for a background check?
This step usually occurs following one or more interviews, so an employer typically asks you to agree to a background check near the end of the hiring process. How long does it take to process a background check? Typically, background checks require between two and five business days to process.
What does a background check check if you have a job?
It also checks certain things, such as whether you have a criminal record, your educational status, your employment history, and any other miscellaneous information (including credit status for some jobs). An employment background check is usually a good sign.
How long does a criminal background check last?
A criminal background check is usually part of a full employment background check process. The criminal background check duration can last up to two weeks, so you can expect to hear back within a week or two of the prospective employer starting the process. What’s the background check duration for a government job?
