How long does a background check take?

The typical time frame to complete a background check for employment ranges from a few days up to several weeks. The types of records searched and the accuracy of documents prepared impact the length of the search. More extensive FBI searches can take up to a month.

Under many circumstances, background checks, including criminal records searches, are completed within a few days to a week. It takes two to three days to search county criminal records. In some cases, delays result from incomplete documentation or errors in paperwork by the employer. Searches of agencies that do not have electronic records also take longer.