How Long Do Employment Background Checks Take?

The Short Answer

Most pre-employment background checks return results within 24 to 72 hours. However, the actual timeline depends on which components are included in the check. A basic criminal search on a candidate who has lived in one state their whole life is very different from a multi-state search with employment verification going back 10 years.

What Affects Turnaround Time

Criminal Searches

County criminal searches are typically the fastest — most return within 24 hours. Federal criminal searches run through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) and usually complete in 1–2 business days. Some counties still require manual courthouse research, which can add 2–5 days.

Employment Verification

Verifying past jobs requires contacting each employer directly. If a previous employer uses a third-party verification service like The Work Number (Equifax), results can come back in minutes. If someone has to manually look up records, it may take 3–5 business days or longer, especially if HR departments are slow to respond.

Education Verification

College degree verification through the National Student Clearinghouse returns almost instantly. Older degrees or international credentials can take significantly longer — up to 2 weeks in some cases.

Motor Vehicle Records (MVR)

MVR searches are state-dependent. Most states return results electronically within 1–3 business days. A handful of states still require manual requests.

Drug Testing

Drug test results depend on the type of test ordered. A negative urine screen typically clears within 24–48 hours. If a specimen is flagged and sent for confirmation testing by the MRO (Medical Review Officer), add another 24–72 hours.

Average Timelines by Package Type

| Package Type | Typical Turnaround | |---|---| | Basic criminal (single county) | 24–48 hours | | Standard pre-employment package | 2–4 business days | | Full package with employment verification | 3–7 business days | | DOT driver qualification screening | 3–5 business days |

What Slows Things Down

• Candidates who don't submit their information promptly
• Counties with manual court record systems
• Employers who are slow to return employment verification calls
• International searches
• Discrepancies that require additional research

What Employers Can Do

The single biggest way to speed up a background check is to make sure your candidates complete their authorization forms immediately. Screening companies cannot begin the process until they have signed consent from the applicant.

Partnering with a screening provider who has direct integrations with court systems and major verification databases also makes a significant difference.

At Do It Right Screening, most of our standard packages return within 1–3 business days. We proactively follow up on delayed components so you're never left waiting without knowing why.

If you have specific turnaround requirements for your hiring process, contact us and we'll design a package that fits your timeline.