A Checkr background check typically searches for criminal records, identity verification, employment history, education credentials, motor vehicle records, and drug test results, depending on which package an employer selects. Not every Checkr check includes all of these components. The specific searches depend on what the hiring company requests and what the role requires.
Criminal Record Searches
Criminal history is the most common component of a Checkr background check. Checkr pulls from multiple layers of criminal record databases to build a more complete picture.
A national criminal database search scans aggregated records from courts, corrections departments, and law enforcement agencies across the country. This broad search acts as a starting point, catching records that might exist in jurisdictions where you’ve never listed an address. However, national databases can have gaps, so Checkr typically follows up with more targeted searches.
County-level criminal searches are more precise. Checkr checks court records in specific counties tied to your address history, which often surfaces records that national databases miss. Many employers also request a federal criminal search, which covers federal district courts and picks up offenses like fraud, embezzlement, tax evasion, and other crimes prosecuted at the federal level.
Sex offender registry searches check all public registries nationwide. Global watchlist searches scan domestic and international watchlists for sanctions, terrorism links, and other flags relevant to certain industries.
How Far Back Criminal Records Go
Most Checkr background checks cover seven years of criminal and court records. Criminal convictions can legally be reported indefinitely under federal law, but most consumer reporting agencies default to seven years for consistency.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act sets specific limits on non-conviction records. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction cannot be reported if they are more than seven years old. Bankruptcies drop off after ten years. Civil suits, civil judgments, collection accounts, and paid tax liens all follow a seven-year reporting window.
There is an important exception: if your expected salary is $75,000 or more, these seven-year caps do not apply under federal law. Some states impose their own stricter limits regardless of salary. A number of states restrict conviction reporting to seven years, and several prohibit reporting non-convictions entirely. The rules that apply to your check depend on where you live and where the job is located.
Identity and SSN Verification
Checkr verifies your identity using your Social Security number. This trace confirms that the name, date of birth, and SSN you provided match public records, and it generates a list of addresses associated with your SSN. That address history is what Checkr uses to determine which counties to search for criminal records. The SSN trace itself is not a credit check and does not affect your credit score.
Employment and Education Verification
Some employers add employment verification to the check. Checkr contacts your previous employers to confirm job titles, dates of employment, and sometimes the reason for leaving. If a former employer doesn’t respond, Checkr may ask you to provide documentation like pay stubs or a W-2.
Education verification works similarly. Checkr confirms the school you attended, the degree you earned, and the dates of attendance by contacting the institution or using a clearinghouse database. These verifications are not included in every check and only run when the employer specifically requests them.
Motor Vehicle Records
For roles that involve driving, employers often request a motor vehicle report. This pulls your driving history from the relevant state’s Department of Motor Vehicles, showing license status, DUI or DWI offenses, suspensions, and moving violations. If the job doesn’t require driving, this search is usually skipped.
Drug Screening
Checkr can coordinate drug testing as part of the background check process, though the test itself is administered at a clinic or lab, not by Checkr directly. The employer chooses the panel (the specific substances tested for) and whether to include it. You’ll receive instructions on where and when to complete the test. Drug screening is most common in transportation, healthcare, and positions involving heavy machinery or public safety.
Continuous Monitoring After Hiring
Some employers, particularly gig economy platforms and companies with safety-sensitive roles, subscribe to Checkr’s continuous monitoring service. This runs in the background after you’re hired and alerts the employer if new records appear on your criminal history.
The monitoring pulls from several sources on a rolling basis. Arrest records come through near real-time data integrations with jails and holding facilities across the country, with any new arrests verified at the county level before being reported. The national criminal database and electronic county records are searched every 30 days. Sex offender registries and global watchlists are also rescanned monthly. Checkr also cross-references its own proprietary data: if a separate background check on the same person turns up new information, it triggers a fresh search.
Not all employers use continuous monitoring. It is a separate, subscription-based product and not part of a standard pre-employment check.
What Checkr Does Not Search
A Checkr background check is not a credit check unless the employer specifically requests one, and credit checks are generally limited to roles in finance, banking, or positions with fiduciary responsibility (meaning you’d handle money or sensitive financial information). Checkr also does not search your social media accounts, medical records, or genetic information. It does not report sealed or expunged records, which are cases a court has officially removed from public access.
How to Dispute Inaccurate Results
If your Checkr report contains a record that isn’t yours, shows incorrect details like wrong dates or charge types, or reflects a case status that has since changed, you have the right to dispute it. Log into the Checkr candidate portal, locate the report, and select “File a dispute” at the bottom of the page. You can upload supporting documents during the dispute process or attach them by replying to the dispute confirmation email.
If the dispute button isn’t available, you can contact Checkr directly or mail your dispute to their office at 1 Montgomery St., Suite 2400, San Francisco, CA 94104. For errors in personal information like your name, date of birth, or Social Security number, you’ll need to update that information separately rather than filing a dispute.
Under the FCRA, if an employer plans to take adverse action based on your background check (not hiring you or rescinding an offer), they must send you a pre-adverse action notice with a copy of the report and give you time to respond before making a final decision.