Guide to Tutor Background Checks

Tutors help students accomplish their educational goals, whether they’re aiming to boost their grades, prepare for exams, or dive deeper into subjects of interest. When tutoring happens outside the structure of a school, safety and trust are paramount.

A thorough tutor background check can help families feel more confident about who they’re bringing into their child’s life. It can also give tutors an opportunity to display their reliability and professionalism. Here’s what you need to know about tutor background checks as a parent or tutor.

Background checks benefit families and educational professionals seeking tutoring positions. Here’s why tutor background checks matter:

For families looking to hire a tutor for their student, trust and safety are often non-negotiable. Running a background check can identify whether a candidate has a history of felony or misdemeanor convictions, appears on sex offender registries, or is listed on government watchlists like the FBI’s Most Wanted List.

A private tutor background check can help identify potential safety risks and empowers families to make more informed hiring decisions. Consistently performing background screenings on prospective tutors can support child safety and foster a more stable learning environment for students of all ages.

Learning centers and other educational organizations also rely on background checks to mitigate risks to students. As part of a responsible hiring process, employment background checks help maintain reputation while reducing legal exposure.

For individuals offering their services as a tutor, background checks aren’t just a formality, but also an opportunity. Sharing a completed background check with your resume or application may help you to show initiative, build trust, and set yourself apart from other candidates.

Your transparency can also help you establish stronger relationships with prospective clients and increase your chances of getting hired. Taking the extra step of providing a background check report also demonstrates your commitment to maintaining a safe environment for students and can bolster your professional reputation.

Checkr makes this process easy. Depending on the package you choose, your profile may contain criminal background checks, education verification, employment verification, and more. Prospective clients can review all the information in one place to expedite and simplify the hiring process. Order online today.

The process for conducting a tutor background check depends on whether you’re hiring a tutor or seeking a tutoring position. Here’s a look at the steps to take for prospective employers and tutors.

If you’re looking to run a private tutor background check to hire or choose an educator to work with your child, follow these steps.

1. Select a background check provider
Although it’s possible to search and review public records yourself, working with a background check provider, like Checkr, often makes the screening process easier and more reliable. Look for a consumer reporting agency (CRA) that’s compliant with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), with experience in childcare and education background checks. Checkr offers a range of education-focused screening options with built-in compliance features.

2. Determine what screenings to include
Once you’ve chosen a provider, determine which background screenings are appropriate based on your needs and risk tolerance.

Educational organizations may want to create a formal background check policy, while families can consider the following standard screenings:

3. Obtain the candidate’s permission
The FCRA requires employers to disclose their intent to perform a background check to the candidate in writing before conducting any screenings. To comply with federal law, you’ll also need to obtain written permission from the candidate before proceeding.

4. Review reports and follow adverse action procedures, if necessary
After obtaining the background check report, review the information carefully. If anything in the report might disqualify the candidate from your tutoring position, the FCRA requires you to follow the adverse action process.

Keep in mind that state and local laws and regulations may have additional restrictions and requirements. Consult your legal counsel to maintain compliance.

Want to stand out in the hiring process? Follow these tips to support a smooth background check process.

1. Research what information employers may want to review
Before applying, read job descriptions carefully to understand what kind of background screening is required. If you’re working with a tutor placement agency or applying to an organization rather than a family, review the website to learn more about the screening process.

2. Gather necessary documents ahead of time
Avoid delays by preparing key documents or information before the background check begins. Depending on the type of screening, you may need:

3. Run a background check on yourself
Running a background check on yourself gives you a preview of your records and allows you to correct any errors in advance. With Checkr, you can order a personal background check and review your results online in minutes. Checkr’s personal background checks may include an SSN trace, global watchlist search, criminal record searches, or driving record checks.

4. Dispute inaccurate information promptly
The FCRA gives you the right to dispute any inaccurate information that appears on a background check report. You typically have 60 days to file a dispute after receiving notice of disqualification. To begin the dispute process, contact the consumer reporting agency that provided the report.

Tutor background checks help build trust between tutors and the families who employ them. Whether you’re a parent looking to screen a prospective tutor or an educator wanting to see what’s on your record, Checkr makes the process fast and simple.

With just a few clicks, you can order a tutor background check and review the report in minutes. Order a background check 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.