Hiring teams don’t have time to wait around. When roles need to be filled, every extra day in the hiring process slows down business and risks losing good candidates. That’s why the speed of a background check matters.
Most background checks take one to two days to complete. But timing can vary greatly. Some reports are finished in minutes, while others can be delayed for days. The good news is that, with the right provider, background checks don’t have to be a bottleneck.
We’ll break down what affects turnaround time, what delays to watch out for, and what you can realistically expect when running background checks in your own hiring process.
Why background check turnaround time varies
There isn’t one standard background check. Employers choose different types of screening depending on the role, and each one has its own process. That’s why turnaround times don’t always look the same.
For example, a truck driver and an accountant may both need criminal history checks, but the depth of that search could differ. The driver might also need a motor vehicle record pulled and a license verified, while the accountant may require additional education and employment verifications. The point is: different roles call for different levels or combinations of screening, and each adds its own timing.
The scope of the search matters, too. Looking further back into someone’s history or pulling records from multiple counties can add time. But it’s not always a straight line. Sometimes a deeper search moves just as fast as a basic one because different court systems move at different paces.
And then there’s the provider. Some companies still rely heavily on manual work behind the scenes, which slows things down. Technology-first providers like Yardstik, on the other hand, are able to automate big parts of the process, cutting down on delays.
Turnaround time for each type of screen
Some screens can wrap up in seconds. Others take longer because they involve extra steps—like pulling court records, waiting on lab results, or getting responses from schools and past employers. That’s why timelines vary so much.
What follows isn’t a guarantee, but it gives you a sense of the normal ranges you’ll usually see with a reliable provider.
| Type of Screen | Typical Turnaround Time Range | Considerations |
| Identity Verification | Instant | This requires modern screening technology, like Yardstik’s Identity Verification. |
| Criminal Background Check | 0-3 days | This varies based on the depth of the search. |
| MVR Check / Driving Record Check | 0-1 days | |
| Drug Screening | 2-7 days | This timeline begins after a sample is collected from the candidate. |
| Social Media Screening | 1-2 days | |
| Employment / Education Verification | 1-3 days |
It’s important to see these timelines as ranges, not promises. A check can finish faster or slower depending on many other factors. More complex checks don’t always mean longer waits, and simple ones aren’t always the quickest.
The point is: there’s a “normal window” for each type of screening, but the actual timing is case by case.
Common reasons a background check is delayed
At the end of the day, a background check is research, and research requires due diligence to ensure that records are still accurate and truly belong to the candidate. So, even when you’ve set everything up right, background checks can still hit slowdowns.
Here are some of the most common reasons a report might not come back as quickly as you’d like:
- County court records: County courts are usually the primary source for criminal records. The challenge is that every court operates differently. Some provide quick digital access, while others still require staff to manually pull records. That difference can turn a same-day result into a multi-day wait.
- For a list of known court delays, you can always check Yardstik’s real-time monitor.
- Alias searches: If a candidate has used more than one name, each name needs to be checked. This could include maiden names, past name changes, or cultural naming conventions. Running those additional searches can add time but ensures nothing is missed.
- Many providers skip alias searches or charge extra for them, but without them, records are often missed. For that reason, Yardstik always includes alias searches at no additional cost.
- Common names: When a candidate has a very common name, it takes more digging to confirm whether a record actually belongs to them. Additional data—like Social Security numbers—may need to be matched to verify accuracy.
- Inaccurate information from the candidate: Sometimes delays happen because the information submitted doesn’t match official records. A mistyped date of birth or a Social Security number that doesn’t line up can trigger extra steps. In some cases, providers will pause the report until the candidate corrects or confirms their details. Yardstik’s candidate-friendly workflows help reduce these errors and make it easy to resolve them quickly if they happen.
- Waiting on the candidate: The process can’t even begin until the candidate provides consent. If they take their time, the timeline gets pushed back before the research even starts.
None of these issues guarantee a long delay, especially when you’re working with a provider that uses technology to move quickly. But they’re worth knowing about so you can set realistic expectations when planning your hiring process.
And while this isn’t an exhaustive list of possible delays, these are the ones you’ll run into most often.
Why do some background checks come back in minutes?
It’s common for background checks to finish quickly. In fact, many reports return in a matter of minutes when there aren’t many complicating factors like court delays or mismatched information.
That said, no background check is guaranteed to be instant.
What about providers who provide all background checks instantly?
Some providers advertise instant results for every single background check. Sounds appealing, but here’s the catch: if it’s always instant, it isn’t a true employment background check.
Why? Because real employment background checks require due diligence. That means verifying records at the source, checking for aliases, and following federal regulations like the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Those steps can’t always be instant. Providers who skip them can show results quickly, but the data isn’t reliable.
Many of these companies are upfront about their limitations. If you look closely, you’ll see disclaimers telling you not to use their reports for hiring decisions. Many even display warnings that their reports aren’t FCRA-compliant.
This is where accreditation matters. The Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) sets strict standards for compliance, accuracy, and fair practices. PBSA-accredited providers like Yardstik can’t promise every check will be instant. But with Yardstik, you can be confident that your results will be fast, accurate, and compliant.
The bottom line: if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Fast results are possible, but instant results every single time should raise a red flag.
How to improve background check turnaround time
Background checks don’t have to drag out the hiring process. While some delays are outside of your control, there are steps you can take to make sure you get results fast.
Here are a few ways to speed things up:
- Tighten your recruiting process. Make it simple for candidates to complete their information and give consent right away. The sooner they start, the sooner results can come back.
- Set clear expectations. Let candidates know what’s needed from them and when. A quick response on their end can save days.
- Work with a technology-first provider. The system running the checks makes the biggest difference. Providers built on modern technology can process high volumes quickly and spot potential delays early, while providers relying on manual steps often struggle to keep pace.
Yardstik was built on modern technology that automates what can be automated, while keeping human oversight where it matters. That combination means faster results without cutting corners.
Our customers, who rely on us to help them hire quickly at scale, love that reports come back faster than they’d ever seen with other providers. When your process is supported by better tech, better data providers, and smarter workflows, delays don’t have to hold you back.
If you’re ready to speed up your hiring without sacrificing accuracy, take a look around our site or talk to sales today.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice or used as a substitute for obtaining legal counsel. You should always speak to your own lawyer before acting or refraining from acting on the basis of any information included in this post.