Frequently Asked Questions

Creating an account is free and takes just a few minutes. You can sign up at app.3rddegreescreening.com/signup. Once your account is created, you can begin ordering background checks immediately.

No. There are no long-term contracts or monthly minimums. You pay only for the checks you run, and your rates are locked in for life. No surprise price hikes.

Getting started is free and takes just a few minutes. No contracts, no setup fees. You'll need basic company information to create your account, then you can begin ordering immediately.

Switching won't disrupt your process. We'll help transition your setup, workflows, and integrations. Contact our team to learn more.

We offer a comprehensive range of screening services including Social Security Number traces, criminal record checks (county, state, federal), credit checks, civil record checks, employment and education verification, professional license verification, motor vehicle records, drug screening, identity verification, I-9/E-Verify, international checks, healthcare sanctions checks, and more.

90% of our background checks are completed within 36 hours. Criminal record checks powered by Equifax can return clear results in minutes. Turnaround time depends on the specific checks ordered, the jurisdictions involved, and the responsiveness of courts and previous employers.

90% of our screenings are completed within 36 hours of ordering. Complex verifications like license checks may take slightly longer, but you'll always have real-time visibility through your dashboard.

Most personal background checks are completed within 36 to 72 hours. You'll receive an email notification as soon as your results are ready.

Most criminal record checks are completed within 36 to 90 hours depending on jurisdiction. Our proprietary court access platform provides direct access to 2,500+ courthouses, which dramatically reduces turnaround compared to traditional court runners. You'll have real-time visibility through your dashboard.

Start early, right after application or during interviews. This prevents delays and keeps hiring moving.

The standard turnaround time is up to 48-72 hours from the date of collection when no additional testing or MRO interview is required. After the specimen is collected, it's shipped to the lab, which can take up to 24-72 hours to arrive and begin testing. If additional testing is needed, this can add up to 3-5 or more business days. Once testing is complete, results are reviewed by the Medical Review Officer (MRO), which may add up to 1-3 business days, before results are reported to the employer.

A few factors can affect shipping and turnaround: collections completed after the shipper's daily pickup time (which varies by site), collections completed on Fridays after pickup or over the weekend since FedEx doesn't offer weekend pickup, and weather or transit delays. We communicate any delays as we receive notifications from shippers and labs.

Yes. Our platform automatically generates FCRA-mandated disclosures, obtains consent, tracks adverse action workflows, and includes required summaries of rights. All our criminal record checks are fully FCRA compliant. We also handle state and local disclosure requirements for jurisdictions like California, New York, and others. We are PBSA-accredited, the highest independent standard in the background screening industry, and our processes are independently audited for legal compliance, data security, and accuracy.

The Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) accreditation is the industry's highest standard. It requires passing rigorous third-party audits of our processes, data security, compliance procedures, and ethical practices. We've maintained our accreditation continuously.

No. Every criminal check, every verification, and every support interaction happens on US soil. Your applicants' personally identifiable information never leaves the United States.

Yes. Background screening requirements can vary by state, industry, and role. We help ensure your screening process aligns with the appropriate regulations and standards.

Our technology, powered by Equifax, rapidly scans two robust data networks for incarceration and sex offender records, typically using just a Social Security number. If no records are found in those networks, a clear result is returned instantly, reducing the need for manual research.

No. It improves it. Identity verification confirms the person and improves the subject data used by the criminal, address, alias, and other screening searches.

No. IDV can support a stronger identity workflow, but I-9 and E-Verify are separate employment-eligibility processes with their own requirements.

That discrepancy becomes reviewable. The point is not automatic rejection. The point is to avoid running searches on bad identity data.

A standalone tool proves someone completed a verification event in its portal. 3rd Degree furnishes the result as part of the consumer report, so it carries CRA accuracy procedures, candidate rights, and a documented trail, and it lives in the same file as the background check.

Our criminal record checks search four levels of records: national criminal databases, county criminal records at the local level, federal criminal records, and state criminal records. Sex offender registry searches are also included. This multi-level approach ensures thorough coverage and a complete picture of a candidate's criminal history.

proprietary court access is our proprietary court record access platform that connects directly to 2,500+ federal, state, and local courthouses. It enables us to retrieve criminal records with 99.99% accuracy, often in minutes rather than days. The platform covers all 50 states and territories.

Absolutely. You can configure different screening packages based on the position, level of responsibility, and risk profile. For example, a senior executive might require a deeper federal search, while an entry-level position may only need a county and national database search.

Yes. The entire background check application is mobile-friendly. Candidates receive a text or email invite, take a photo of their ID, and electronically sign disclosures and consent forms, all from their phone. No post office visits needed.

Yes. We have pre-built integrations with leading applicant tracking and HRIS platforms. Our browser extension can also pull candidate information directly from your ATS to initiate background checks without leaving your existing workflow.

Absolutely. Our customer base spans many industries running high volumes simultaneously. Our platform is built to scale, and our customer support team is available when you need support.

It depends on risk and responsibility, not just job title. Roles with access to cash, alcohol, or customer data need more thorough screening than entry-level positions.

A report is cancelled when a candidate fails to submit their required information before the expiration date. Once cancelled, the report is automatically removed from the dashboard, which is why the candidate appears to disappear from your view.

Applicant Pending means the process is paused until the candidate takes action, using the link sent to their phone or email to provide consent, complete their questionnaire, or schedule a drug screening. Applicant Ready Queue means the background check is briefly on hold while our team manually verifies the candidate's ID, usually within a few hours. Pending means the report is processing. ERROR means the report requires attention; email cs@3rddegreescreening.com so we can help resolve the issue. Complete means all necessary checks are done and you can view the candidate's full report.

Candidates can track the progress of their background check by logging into my3dsreport.com.

As a candidate moves through the background check process, their report automatically updates its location in your dashboard. Reports start in Order > Applicant Pending when an order is first initiated, and remain there until the candidate completes their QuickApp Questionnaire. After the candidate submits their questionnaire, the report moves to Report > Pending Reports while the background check is being processed. Once the background check is entirely finished, the final report is available in Reports > Completed Reports.

Your report includes criminal record searches, identity verification, and any other screening components you select. You'll see exactly the same information a potential employer would receive.

No. A personal background check is a soft inquiry. It does not affect your credit score, and it does not appear on any public record.

Absolutely. Your data is encrypted end-to-end, stored on US-based servers, and never shared with anyone without your explicit consent. We are PBSA-accredited and SOC 2-compliant.

Employment verifications confirm the past employment details provided by a job applicant to support hiring decisions and compliance obligations; timing and method can vary based on employer responsiveness. Multiple methods may be used. Most commonly, we contact the employer directly by phone, email, or fax. We may also ask the applicant to assist by providing employer contact information, connecting current or previous payroll providers, or uploading pay stubs, W-2s, or offer letters, especially when employers are unresponsive or no longer exist. Some employers outsource verification to third-party vendors like The Work Number or Experian Verify, which can be faster but may involve additional fees.

Applicants can opt out of having their current employer contacted, and this option is available by default through a dropdown selection during the screening process. While most applicants decline contact with their current employer, the feature can be disabled at a client's request due to potential concerns about premature employer contact.

Many verifications complete within 1-3 business days. Delays can occur if employers are hard to reach, require written authorization, or if older employment records are archived. Applicant contact during this process does not indicate a problem; outreach is limited, professional, and part of our standard process.