Guide to Alabama Background Checks

Pre-employment screenings can play an important role in the hiring process, but all background checks must comply with applicable local, state, and federal laws. This guide explains what an Alabama background check may include, how much it costs, how long it takes and what laws may apply.

A background check in Alabama can help employers maintain a safe work environment and minimize liability risk by reviewing a candidate’s background, qualifications, and experience that may not appear in other areas of the hiring process. Alabama background checks can also help employers determine a candidate’s eligibility for a role and verify information they provide in a job application, resumé, or interview.

Employers can select screenings based on your company background check policy  and the position for which you’re hiring, such as conducting credit checks for candidates who will have access to company financials or MVR checks for candidates who will be driving on the job. 

In some cases, background checks in Alabama are required. For example, Alabama law requires employers to conduct background checks on candidates for sensitive roles, such as individuals working in childcare settings, schools, long-term care facilities, Alabama law enforcement, and healthcare.

Even when the law doesn’t require it, employers may conduct pre-employment screenings to help them identify candidates who may be a good fit for their organization.

The cost of a state of Alabama background check varies depending on the screenings you include, how many you order, and who conducts them—your HR team or a consumer reporting agency (CRA), like Checkr.

Employers that choose to handle pre-employment screenings internally can subscribe to the Alabama Background Check System (ABC) to conduct Alabama background checks online. You must first be approved by the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center to obtain Alabama criminal records through the ABC system. There is a $95 annual fee to use the system, plus a $15 fee for each Alabama criminal background check and a $10 free for each MVR check you order.  

Although compiling records on your own is an option, many employers choose to partner with a background screening provider for cost and time savings. Checkr offers customizable background check packages, so you can order comprehensive screenings in one platform. 

When partnering with a CRA, like Checkr, companies of all sizes can benefit from access to a wide range of screenings and customizable packages to meet your hiring needs. Our background check packages start at $29.99 with the option to add additional screenings, such as a more comprehensive criminal background check or education and employment verification. Volume discounts are also available.

Checkr also offers personal background checks to enable individuals to see what employers or landlords may see when conducting a background screening. This background check includes an SSN trace, sex offender registry search, global watchlist search, and national criminal records search. Candidates can easily order and view their results in the secure Candidate Portal.

How long a background check takes in Alabama varies depending on the scope of the search, the availability of records, and whether you conduct searches yourself or work with a background check provider. Employers that handle background checks internally may have to complete manual searches that can be time-consuming, such as county court systems that require in-person searches or contacting educational institutions and prior employers and waiting for their reply.

How far back an Alabama background check goes may also affect the time it takes to complete screenings. For example, verifying an employment history that goes back decades may take longer than verifying the work history of a candidate with just a few years of experience. 

Partnering with a background check provider, like Checkr, to conduct Alabama background checks can speed the process while providing accurate, comprehensive results. In fact, 89% of all criminal checks, including county searches, complete in one hour. Checkr’s modern technology and automated workflows reduce manual review time and shorten turnaround times, while supporting compliance, making it easier to manage risk and ensure consistency across your team.

See how FOSS Swim School partnered with Checkr and saw a 78% reduction in average background check turnaround time, while helping build trust with their new hires.

Although Alabama doesn't currently have a statewide Ban the Box law, the following state laws may have implications when conducting Alabama background checks for employment. Employers must also comply with applicable federal, state, and local hiring laws. You may wish to adhere to the most stringent laws or consult legal counsel if you have questions about compliance with Alabama background check laws.

The Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment and Eliminate Recidivism Act (REDEEMER Act) enables individuals with certain misdemeanor or felony convictions to petition the court for expungement. Additionally, those with expunged records do not have to disclose expunged convictions to prospective employers. A candidate can legally respond no when asked if they’ve been convicted of a crime. Anyone, outside of the individual directly related to the conviction, who discloses an expunged conviction without a court order may be guilty of a misdemeanor. See law.

Summary: Public and private schools must conduct an Alabama fingerprint background check on all candidates who will have unsupervised access to children. Candidates who do not consent to a background check are automatically disqualified from these roles. See law. 

Summary: Alabama law enforcement candidates must undergo a fingerprint-based state and national criminal records check completed by the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). See law.

Summary: Employers that work with consumer reporting agencies (CRA) to complete background checks must adhere to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FCRA requires employers to provide written notice of their intent to conduct a background check and receive written consent from the candidate before proceeding. If an employer decides not to hire a candidate because of the results of a background check, they must also follow the adverse action process. See law.

Currently one city has enacted a Ban the Box law:

Alabama background checks can help employers find qualified candidates while reducing organizational risk. At Checkr, our modern technology streamlines the background check process, improves efficiency, and reduces manual labor, enabling employers to fill roles faster. Choose from multiple screening options to meet your business needs, while built-in compliance workflows help support fair hiring.  Get started with Checkr.

About the author

Jennifer writes about a variety of topics, including background checks, employee benefits, small business insurance, risk management, workplace culture, and more. Her work includes educational articles, blogs, e-books, white papers, and case studies.