SOP Background checks · Compliance
Background check workflow
From contingent offer to clearance. Your job is to set expectations, route consent on time, and know what happens when something flags.
The standard timeline
| When | Step |
|---|---|
| Day 0 | Contingent offer extended; HR initiates the check. |
| Day 0–1 | Candidate receives consent paperwork (FCRA). |
| Day 2–3 | Consent completed; vendor begins checks. |
| Day 5–10 | Typical clearance window for staff. |
| Day 10–20 | Clearance for faculty / clinical (adds licensure & sanctions). |
Set expectations on the offer call
- The offer is contingent on a clear background check.
- The vendor will email consent forms within 1 business day.
- Don’t confirm a start date until clearance is complete.
When a check flags
A flag does not automatically rescind the offer. HR runs the FCRA process — pre-adverse notice, an individualized assessment, then a final decision. Your role is to give context on the job duties, not to adjudicate.
Never tell a candidate informally why a check flagged.
All adverse-action communication goes through HR with the required FCRA notices.