FCRA Employment Screening: A Sample Report
Walk through a complete employment screening report before you order one.
Every field below comes from a fictional applicant, so you can see exactly how FCRA-compliant results arrive in your account.
What’s Included in This Employment Screening Report
One order, one price, four search types. Results arrive in 24 hours or less.
SSN Trace, Names, Aliases & Address History
The trace returns the identifiers you need to choose the right court jurisdictions.
Nationwide Criminal Database Search
The database sweep points you toward counties that deserve a court-level search.
National Sex Offender Search
Public registries from all 50 states and the territories run with every order.
USA Patriot Act, OFAC & SDN Search
Sanctions and enforcement screening covers regulated hiring requirements.
Federal USDC Criminal Search
Federal district courts hold cases that never appear in county records.
One County Criminal Court Search
A researcher verifies the case at the courthouse that holds the original file.
See a Report Sample, Step by Step
Follow the four sections in the order they appear inside your secure account.
Step 1 — SSN Trace & Address History
SSN Trace & Address History
The trace confirms identity first, so every later search runs against the right person.
Complete
- Social Security Number
- 123-45-****
- Name
- Jane A. Sample
- Date of Birth
- 05/24/****
- Search ID
- 998524
- Date Ordered
- 03/01/2024
- Date Completed
- 03/01/2024
Information from the SSN Trace service is not part of the FCRA process. It is to be used for location purposes to identify names, aliases, DOBs & address history to determine FCRA county and state criminal jurisdiction searches. Please be aware that criminal searches are based on your provided input, NOT SSN Trace results. To view SSN Trace, Name, Aliases & Address History, you must be logged to your secure account. Go to “Detailed View” page for your applicant, Under Search Types, click “Instant SSN Trace Past Address History”, a green “Complete” link will show on right-side, click to view.
Step 2 — Nationwide Criminal Database Search
Nationwide Criminal Database Search
The database returns physical identifiers, the reporting source and the match type on every hit.
2 records
- Sex
- Female
- Race
- White
- Height / Weight
- 5’07” / 160 lbs
- Hair / Eyes
- Brown / Green
- Source
- Texas Department of Public Safety
- Match Type
- Partial name and exact DOB match
- AKA on File
- Jane Sample-Smith
Convicted
- Case Number
- C-1-CR-20-8751231
- File Date
- 05/02/2020
- Offense Date
- 04/30/2020
- Offense Level
- Misdemeanor, Class B
- Disposition
- Convicted, no-contest plea
- Disposition Date
- 05/25/2023
- 40 hours community service
- $125 fine
- $425 court costs
Pending
- Case Number
- 2325415887
- File Date
- 01/02/2024
- Offense Date
- 12/31/2023
- Offense Level
- Felony
- Disposition
- Pending
- Next Court Date
- 05/12/2024
In this particular case, our criminal database detected more recent results from a different county. This county should be added to report.
Therefore a database hit is a lead, not a verified record. Confirm every hit at the court that holds the file.
Step 3 — County Criminal Court Search
County Criminal Court Search
A researcher pulls the case file at the courthouse and confirms it against the applicant’s identifiers.
Records found
Found guilty
- Case Number
- C-1-CR-20-8751231
- File Date
- 05/02/2020
- Offense Date
- 04/30/2020
- Disposition
- Found guilty
- 2 days county jail
- 40 hours supervised community service
- $125 fine
- $425 court costs
Adjudication withheld
- Statute
- 322.03(1)
- Offense Level
- Misdemeanor, 2nd degree
- Offense Date
- 12/31/2023
- Disposition
- Adjudication withheld
- $490 court costs
No records found
No matching records were found in this jurisdiction. Search any known alias as well, because records file under the name used at arrest.
Step 4 — Federal USDC Criminal Search
Federal USDC Criminal Search
Federal district courts handle offenses that state and county courts never see.
No records found
No matching federal records were found in either district.
Federal cases cover fraud, trafficking, weapons and interstate crimes. Consequently a clear county search does not rule out a federal record.
Add More Searches Anytime, Right From Your Account
Open the applicant’s Detailed View and choose any additional county, state or federal search.
Applicant information pre-populates automatically, so you never re-enter the name or date of birth.
Therefore a flagged county, like Dallas above, takes seconds to add.
Report Summary: What Employers Should Do Next
Five steps keep your hiring decision defensible under the FCRA.
- 1
Confirm the county results are current
Add any county the database flagged before you review the file.
- 2
Evaluate each offense individually
Weigh job-relatedness, how recent the offense is, and its severity.
- 3
Send the pre-adverse action notice
Include a copy of the report and A Summary of Your Rights Under the FCRA.
- 4
Give the applicant time to respond
Allow a reasonable period to dispute or explain the record.
- 5
Send the final adverse action notice
After the waiting period, confirm the decision in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in an FCRA employment screening report?
The $58 report includes an SSN trace with names, aliases and address history, a nationwide criminal database search, a national sex offender search, USA Patriot Act, OFAC and SDN screening, a federal USDC criminal search and one county criminal court search.
How long does an FCRA employment background check take?
Most reports finish in 24 hours or less.
Courts that require an in-person researcher can take longer, and your account shows the status of each search.
Can I add more searches after I receive the initial report?
Yes. Open the applicant’s Detailed View and select any additional county, state or federal search.
The applicant’s information pre-populates, so the new search starts immediately.
Is a nationwide database search enough on its own for FCRA compliance?
No. A database search is a pointer, because it may carry incomplete or outdated dispositions.
Confirm every hit with a county or federal court search before you act on it.
What does a “Report Flag” mean?
A report flag means the database found activity in a county your order did not cover.
Add that county from your account so the file gets verified at the source court.
Permissible Use & Legal Restrictions
You certify a permissible purpose under the FCRA each time you order a report.
Nationwide database searches
Database results may be incomplete, outdated or reported under a different name.
Verify every hit at the court of record before you make a decision.
SSN trace results
The trace locates jurisdictions only. It is not a consumer report, and it never supports an adverse decision.
Employer obligations
Collect a signed disclosure and authorization first. Then follow the adverse action steps in full.
Review your state’s rules on the background screening laws page.
Ready to Order Your FCRA Employment Screening Report?
Open an account and run your first $58 report, typically back within 24 hours or less.
Optional Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) is available on all user accounts.
Questions? Call (800) 661-0278 or email support@usabackground.com.
BCS Background Screening LLC is a PBSA member consumer reporting agency based in Coral Gables, Florida.