Most employment background checks take 1 to 5 business days. Simple database searches can finish within minutes, while county court records, employment verifications and lab-based drug tests take longer. VICTIG’s average turnaround across all screening services is 1.8 days.
New to screening? Start with our overview: what is an employment background check?
Background check timelines by check type
| Check | Typical time | What can slow it down |
|---|---|---|
| SSN trace / identity check | Minutes | Name or date-of-birth errors |
| National criminal database | Minutes to 1 day | Possible matches that need county confirmation |
| County criminal court search | 1 to 3 business days | Courts that require a clerk to pull records by hand |
| Federal and state criminal searches | 1 to 3 business days | State repository processing times |
| Motor vehicle report (MVR) | Most instant; some states up to 48 hours | States without online records |
| Employment verification | 1 to 3 business days | Closed companies, unreturned calls |
| Education verification | 1 to 3 business days | School closures and holidays |
| Drug test (lab-based) | 1 to 3 business days for negative results | Non-negative results needing lab confirmation and MRO review |
| Health sanctions search | Minutes to 1 day | Name matches that need review |
What causes background check delays
- County court access. Some courts only allow in-person or clerk-assisted searches, and some are short-staffed or closed for holidays.
- Missing or incorrect information. A typo in a name, birth date or SSN, or missing former names, can send a search back for corrections.
- Slow candidate responses. Unsigned authorization forms or unanswered questions pause the check.
- Hard-to-reach employers and schools. Verifications depend on someone at the other end responding.
- Drug test follow-up. Candidates who don’t go to a collection site promptly, and non-negative results that need a Medical Review Officer, add days.
- Adverse action steps. If something on the report could affect your decision, the FCRA requires a pre-adverse action notice before a final decision. Many employers wait at least 5 business days in between. Learn more in our guide to FCRA-compliant background check services.
How to speed up your background checks
- Collect complete information up front: full legal name, former names, date of birth, SSN and addresses for the past 7 years.
- Use electronic consent so candidates can sign the disclosure and authorization right away.
- Order the right package for the role so you’re not waiting on searches you don’t need.
- Send drug test instructions immediately and remind candidates to visit a collection site within a day or two.
- Integrate screening with your ATS so orders start automatically. See VICTIG’s ATS integrations.
- Choose a provider that tells you about delays. VICTIG sends clients regular reports on court delays and turnaround updates.
Why VICTIG is fast
- 1.8-day average turnaround across screening services
- Instant MVRs from most states
- Direct integrations with major applicant tracking systems
- US-based support with an average email response time of about 7 minutes
Frequently asked questions
How long does a pre-employment background check take?
Most take 1 to 5 business days. VICTIG’s average across screening services is 1.8 days.
Why is my background check taking so long?
The most common causes are county courts that require manual searches, missing or incorrect personal information, and employers or schools that are slow to verify history.
How long does a criminal background check take?
Database searches can finish in minutes. County court searches usually take 1 to 3 business days.
How long does an MVR check take?
Most MVRs are instant. Some states take up to 48 hours.
How long do drug test results take?
Negative lab results usually come back in 1 to 3 business days. Non-negative results take longer because they need confirmation and MRO review.
Does a background check take longer around holidays?
Yes. Courts, schools and employers close on holidays, which can add a day or more.
How can employers speed up background checks?
Collect complete candidate information, use electronic consent, order only the checks the role needs and use a provider with ATS integrations.
