Wyzant: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

Wyzant was founded in 2005 by Andrew Geant and Mike Weishuhn in Chicago, Illinois, beginning as a bootstrapped venture aimed at using technology to streamline the process of connecting students with qualified tutors. The platform initially focused on academic tutoring, primarily serving college students seeking local tutors, and grew steadily by allowing tutors to set their own rates and manage scheduling and payments directly through the platform.

By 2013, Wyzant had grown to serve more than 1 million students and 500,000 tutors, with cumulative gross sales exceeding $100 million, and received its first external funding, a $21.5 million Series A investment from Accel Partners, to expand its technology and reach. Wyzant subsequently acquired competitor Tutorspree to further consolidate its position in the online tutoring marketplace. In February 2021, Wyzant was acquired by IXL Learning, a K-12 personalized learning platform used by millions of students, joining IXL's portfolio of education technology acquisitions that also includes Vocabulary.com and Education.com.

Today, Wyzant's network includes tens of thousands of expert tutors who have collectively taught millions of lessons to students across a wide range of ages and subjects, from elementary education to advanced college-level coursework, LSAT test prep, coding, and music. It's important to understand that Wyzant itself does not directly employ the tutors who provide lessons through its platform; tutors operate as independent service providers who set their own rates and are booked directly by students or parents. Wyzant's own internal workforce, separate from independent tutors, includes software engineers, trust and safety staff, and customer support personnel who operate the platform.

Company culture and employee programs: Wyzant has emphasized trust and quality assurance since its early days, offering platform features such as tutor feedback and ratings along with an optional background check feature for tutors, backed by a "Good Fit Guarantee" aimed at ensuring student satisfaction. The platform has also expanded into corporate offerings, including Wyzant for Business, a subsidized tutoring benefit for employees. Compensation for independent Wyzant tutors is set by each individual tutor rather than through a standard employee pay structure, so those interested in becoming a tutor should review Wyzant's own onboarding materials for current details.

Wyzant has historically offered tutors the option to complete a background check as part of building trust with prospective students and their families, given that many tutoring sessions take place in a student's home or in other unsupervised, one-on-one settings.

The process for becoming a Wyzant tutor typically includes creating a detailed profile outlining subject expertise and qualifications, and optionally completing a background check to display a verification badge that can help attract students and families seeking additional assurance.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical background check for a tutoring platform applicant may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though state laws may extend or restrict this timeframe, particularly for tutors working with minors.

Eligibility for background check verification badges and platform participation is generally evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to tutoring, particularly given that many students on the platform are minors. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that may apply differently in the context of independent contractor platform screening.

Applicants can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how background check information can be used in screening decisions. It requires that individuals be notified before a check is run, provide written consent, and receive specific notices if a decision is made based on background check results.

What if I disagree with something in my background check?

Under the FCRA, if you believe your background check report contains inaccurate information, you have the right to dispute it directly with the consumer reporting agency that prepared the report. The agency is generally required to investigate the dispute, typically within 30 days, and to correct or remove any information it cannot verify as accurate. If Checkr conducted the background check, dispute instructions are included in the notification sent to your Checkr candidate account.

Can I see a copy of my own background check report?

Yes. Under the FCRA, if a background check is used to make an adverse hiring decision, you are entitled to receive a copy of the report along with a summary of your rights under the law before the decision becomes final.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what Wyzant may see during the sign-up process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to Wyzant or another platform, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.