How Long Does a Background Check Take?
Average Time
The length of time background checks may take to be completed depends on the nature and scope of the background check that the employer has requested. However, most background checks can take anywhere between three business days to one week to be completed. Some background checks such as Federal Criminal Searches can take up to thirty days.
Reasons Background Checks May Take Longer
- There is difficulty contacting former employers or educational institutions in Prior Employment Verification's and Education Verification's. Accredited Background Checks may ask you to provide additional information to substantiate your claims in applications and/or resume's so be sure to have all documentation readily available.
- Courts can be closed for Holiday's or backlogged which can increase the time it takes to conduct criminal records checks.
- If a drug test was purchased in conjunction with a background check, you may need to be contacted by a Medical Review Officer (MRO) regarding your sample's results.