Federal Background Checks: Fast, Compliant Screening

Running a federal background check helps employers make more informed hiring decisions, support safety, and reduce legal risk. This guide to federal background checks covers how these searches work, what information may show up, and any compliance regulations to keep in mind, empowering employers and individuals to navigate the background screening process with confidence.

A federal background check is a type of criminal record screening that searches federal criminal records across the 94 US federal district courts through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) database.

Specific laws and regulations may require a federal background check for employment, depending on the nature of the role or industry. Even when not hiring for regulated positions, employers often perform federal background checks as part of a comprehensive criminal background check to review a candidate’s criminal history at the national, state, and county levels.

As an employer, it’s important to understand how federal background checks work, what they include, and how much they cost.

Federal background checks are conducted by accessing the PACER database to identify any records related to the subject of the background screening. Employers may perform these checks directly or partner with a background check provider, like Checkr, to handle the process.

PACER provides public access to over one billion documents from federal courts. Results of a federal background check may include federal felony and misdemeanor convictions across all federal district courts.

After receiving a federal background check report, employers review the records and apply their background check policy on federal employment background check disqualifiers as a guide to determine whether to proceed with the hiring process.

When performing a federal background check for employment using a consumer reporting agency (CRA), employers must adhere to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This federal law requires employers to provide candidates with clear disclosure of their intent to run a pre-employment background check. Employers must receive written consent from the candidate before beginning the background screening process. Additionally, employers must follow the adverse action process should they decide not to hire the candidate as a result of information reported on a background check.

The information included in a federal background check may vary depending on the search provider and the requirements established by federal, state, or local laws and regulations.

In general, a federal background check reports felony and misdemeanor convictions for offenses prosecuted at the federal level, such as:

A federal background check may include federal convictions for:

Depending on the scope of the screening process, certain non-criminal records may also appear on a federal background check. The federal court system handles:

These records are available through PACER, and some employers may include them in their federal background checks, especially when relevant to the position or based on company policy.

The FCRA sets limits on how far back specific information can be reported.

However, these limitations may not apply if a candidate’s expected salary is $75,000 or higher, or if the employer conducts the search independently (not through a CRA).

State and local laws may shorten the lookback period, so it’s important to consult your legal counsel so you can comply with regulations based on your location.

It’s essential to understand the difference between a federal background check and an FBI background check:

FBI background checks are generally more in-depth, with no specific time limit on how far back investigators may search. The intent is to gather information relevant to determining a candidate’s eligibility or suitability for sensitive roles.

The cost of a federal background check depends mainly on whether an employer chooses to search PACER independently or partners with a CRA, like Checkr. Here’s a look at the costs for each circumstance.

Employers who opt to access PACER independently are subject to service center fees, which may change overtime. As of March 2025, the PACER service center fees are:

Partnering with a CRA to conduct a federal background check is often more cost-effective, offering reduced overhead and the ability to bundle services.

Checkr’s Complete package, which costs $89.99 per report, includes:

Employers can add a federal background check to any other Checkr package for $10. Bulk discounts are available for organizations conducting over 300 background checks annually, making Checkr an affordable option for businesses with high volume hiring.

Individuals and job candidates subject to a federal background check should understand the processes of criminal record expungement and sealing, what to do if they find discrepancies in federal records, and how they can view their public records independently.

Here’s what you need to know:

Expungement and sealing of records are both types of criminal record clearance. The difference is whether the records continue to exist.

In most cases, expunged or sealed records will not show up on a federal background check. However, some types of employment, particularly those involving national security, may require disclosure of all interactions with law enforcement, including expunged records.

If you find a discrepancy, error, or inaccuracy in a federal background check, your next steps depend on how you received the information.

If you accessed PACER on your own, you can notify the court where the case was filed to begin the dispute process.

If your federal background report was conducted through a CRA, you have the right to contact the agency to dispute the information. Under the FCRA’s standard “Summary of Rights” document, candidates have the right to dispute any information that is incomplete or incorrect on a background check provided by a CRA.

To view your public records, you can run a background check on yourself. Although you can search public databases independently, ordering a personal background check from Checkr simplifies the process.

With Checkr, you only need to provide basic information to get started, and reports are ready to review within minutes.

Running a background check on yourself gives you a preview of what employers may see. Knowing what’s on your background check can help you anticipate questions and provide context about your records. Reviewing the results also allows you to dispute inaccurate information before a prospective employer sees it.

A federal criminal background check can give employers valuable insight into a candidate's past interactions with the federal court system, helping them make informed hiring decisions. Whether you’re an employer or an individual, Checkr makes conducting federal and other background checks simple, fast, and accurate.

Checkr’s modern platform makes background checks easier and more efficient, while our built-in compliance tools help you manage risk for your business. In addition to federal background checks, Checkr offers multiple screening options for comprehensive screenings with fast turnaround times and accurate, easy-to-read results. Get started with Checkr today.

Finding out what’s on your background check report is easy with Checkr. Our personal background checks can be ordered online, with easy-to-understand results available in minutes.

Our personal public records checks can help you prepare for your job search or screen others, such as nannies, caregivers, tutors, and other individuals you invite into your home. Order online today.

About the author

Hayley Harrison writes about a wide range of business topics and best practices, including background checks, candidate experience, and recruitment and retention. Her work includes educational articles, e-books, and blog posts.