Commonly asked questions about Background Checks
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Q. Do all volunteers have to go through the background screening or is it only for those working with children?
Yes. All volunteers should be screened and review the child protection training materials. Our experience is that most all...
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Q. Who reviews the background screening materials and makes the final determination if an individual is approved?
In most cases it is appointed individuals from the local church. Given the variety of organizational structures in the...
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Q. What if an individual refuses to submit to a background check?
Each individual that is emailed an application to run a background check, will receive three reminders to complete the...
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Q. What if an individual serves for several years? Does such an individual need to obtain a new background screening?
Yes. While a church may decide on its own to conduct background screenings on its volunteers more frequently, standard...
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Q. Will any type of arrest, conviction or other psychological issue disqualify an individual from being able to serve in ministry?
No. Some types of convictions will automatically disqualify an individual from serving. Disqualifying information would include any history of...
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Q. What if an individual committed a sexual crime many years ago but has become a Christian since and/or has a long history of not engaging in that behavior again? Shouldn’t we show grace to the person and let him participate in ministry?
We celebrate the transformation in the life of someone who has committed sexual abuse against children and pray that...
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Q. How much will the background check cost?
Cost depends on your state and county (additional mandatory fees may apply). The difference depends on the reliability of...
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Q. Is the background check for volunteers similar to those done for paid employees, such as teachers and other care givers?
Yes. In fact, all staff and employees of the church or ministry, including it’s Senior Pastor, must pass an...
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Q. What should I do if an applicant does not want to provide their SSN?
All 1’s can be entered instead of the applicant’s SSN. The SSN is not essential for a criminal search...
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Q. How long does a background check take?
Reports containing no-hits complete instantly while reports with “hits” can take up to 72 hours to complete.
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Q. Why won’t the system let me order an MVR?
If you’ve selected À La Carte but are unable to select MVR, make sure the applicant’s DL number and...
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Q. When I generate a report on the applicants we’ve run this month, why are some applicants missing?
The date range in the report feature is for the date they were entered into the system (“Applicant Creation...
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Q. Can I fax orders for background checks?
Yes. However, there is a $1.00 data entry fee per applicant on faxed orders.
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Q. Our organization is located in PA, will the Basic Package we ordered still comply with the new laws?
Unfortunately, the Basic Package alone no longer satisfies the new PA laws. You will need to order the PA...
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Q. Why is my background check taking so long?
Though most background checks come back almost immediately, our standard turnaround time is 1-3 business days.
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Q. What does it mean if a state does not report to the National Criminal Database?
It is the states’ prerogative whether they report to the National Criminal Database (NCD). If your state DOES NOT...
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Q. Where is the recommendations map?
Once on our site, scroll to “Background Checks” at the bottom of the page and click “Online Consultation.” This...
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Q. What does “Alert” mean?
An “Alert” means something on the report requires your attention. It does not necessarily indicate a criminal record on...
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Q. When I try to submit my applicant, it says “Oops, it seems that this applicant’s information has already been entered.” How do I proceed?
It appears you entered the applicant into the system, but did not complete the applicant’s background check order. To...
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Q. I’m trying to run credit history checks but the system won’t let me order them. How do I order credit checks?
An approval process is required before you request a credit check. If you cannot select “Credit History” from the...
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Q. I’m getting started ordering background reports, what compliance guidelines should I follow?
Please see: Background Checks – What Employers Need To Know Link:
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Q. What information is needed to run an applicant’s Motor Vehicle Record?
Applicant’s full name, date of birth, driver’s license number, and the state of issuance are required to verify motor...
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Q. Can you check to see if an applicant has a history of filing for Worker’s Compensation and, if so, what information is needed?
Yes, we currently offer this search for individuals who have worked in Florida and California only. We require the...
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Q. Will individuals receive a copy of the background check run on them?
This will be up to the local church that conducts the background check. If adverse information does show up...
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Q. How do I delete a background check?
There is no way to delete a background check. However, you can archive the report and/or the profile. To...
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Q. How do I get a list of every background check I’ve run?
It is possible to export a list of any given set of names into an Excel spreadsheet. To do...
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Q. Why can’t I add the Child Abuse Registry to my background checks in the À La Carte section?
Most organizations are not automatically set up with the Child Abuse Registry because not all states have access to...