Idaho Background Check: What’s Included and What to Know

Richard Grey - June 17, 2025

Dealing with a background check in Idaho might seem confusing at first, especially if you’ve never dealt with a background check request before. However, this state-level background check is fairly straightforward, and you shouldn’t have too much to worry about when you submit your Idaho background check as long as you prepare properly. 

Our article tells you what’s included on an Idaho background check and what to expect so you can put your mind at ease as you go through this process.

What Is an Idaho Background Check?

An Idaho background check is a state-level background check that looks at all of your history within the state of Idaho. Generally, these background checks are given as part of a pre-employment screening, but they could also be part of screening volunteers for various opportunities or routine checks to ensure that someone is qualified and safe for whatever their role in the community is.

There are specific laws surrounding background checks in Idaho, and whoever is requesting your background check report must follow these laws. Typically, this involves obtaining your consent, adhering to background check guidelines set out by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and ensuring that you understand what they are looking for on your background check report.

Why Are Idaho Background Checks Necessary?

Idaho background checks are necessary for a few different reasons. Generally speaking, companies and employers will implement background check policies to ensure that any individual hired is qualified for the role they wish to perform and that they do not pose a safety risk to the workplace; this is part of a company’s due diligence.

Furthermore, Idaho background checks can help to confirm someone’s identity, ensure that they don’t have a criminal background that could disqualify them from a certain position, and increase the safety of various workplaces and neighborhoods. In regards to financing and loans, an Idaho background check can confirm credit scores and reduce the chances of someone defaulting on a loan or being unqualified for a position handling finances.

What Shows Up on an Idaho Background Check?

Several different things show up on an Idaho background check and it’s important to be aware of what someone might be able to see on your background check report. For the most part, those who request your report are mainly interested in confirming your identity and accessing your criminal history. However, other details are often included in these reports.

Items that show up on Idaho background checks include:

• Criminal history
• Civil history
• Personal information
• Employment history
• Educational history
• Driving records
• Address history

It’s important to note that when someone is running an Idaho background check on you, they will only be looking at things that happen within the state of Idaho. Primarily, these background checks are used to check your history within Idaho and nowhere else; federal crimes and other federal-level details will not usually appear on this type of background check.

That being said, it is possible for criminal history or significant history outside of Idaho to be reflected on your background check report. Just because this type of background check report is primarily looking at your history in Idaho does not mean that other details will not be visible to the person requesting your report. 

For example, if you were required to register for the sex offender registry in a different state and then moved to Idaho, this can be shown on your report along with your current state registration.

Do I Need to Submit a Drug Test With My Idaho Background Check?

You will only need to submit a drug test with your Idaho background check if your employer or the requester of the background check report asks you to do so. Most of the time, whether or not a drug test is required with your background check depends on the position you are applying for and the career field you are in. For example, healthcare professionals are generally drug tested along with their background check reports to uphold high employment standards.

The person requesting your Idaho background check report will not be able to see any of your results from previous drug tests. This information is confidential and they will need to request a new drug test if they wish to evaluate this information.

How Do I Get a Background Check in Idaho?

In Idaho, official background checks are processed through third-party agencies that your employer or another individual selects. You get a background check in Idaho by consenting to an agency performing a background check report on you; you will provide information such as your Social Security Number, name, and address history, and then the report will be conducted.

If you want an unofficial report just to see what your Idaho background check might show, you can use an online background check tool to look yourself, or someone else, up. These online reports are an easy way to find information about yourself or someone else, better preparing you for an official Idaho background check.

How Long Does an Idaho Background Check Take?

There are several factors that can affect how long an Idaho background check takes. Typically, the turnaround time for one of these reports is between one and five business days. This is a wide range as a background check report may be looking at criminal records in-depth; background check services might also have numerous requests to get through, or there may be an issue with a candidate’s information that slows down the background check process.

If there are significant issues with your Idaho background check in terms of processing, you could be waiting up to a week or more for your results to be returned and reviewed.

How Much Will an Idaho Background Check Cost?

The cost of your Idaho background check varies depending on whether you or the person requesting your background check is paying for the report. In many cases your employer will pay for the background check report as part of a pre-hiring screening process; you will pay nothing for the background check in this case.

If you are required to pay for your own Idaho background check report, it will usually cost between $15 and $50 depending on how in-depth it needs to be, the agency conducting the service, and expedited turnaround requests.

Can I Hide What Is Shown on an Idaho Background Check?

It is not typically possible to hide what is shown on your Idaho background check report. These reports show all of your history, and unless you have a specific court protective order or parts of your criminal records are sealed or expunged, your report cannot be hidden. If you are worried about what someone might see on your Idaho background check, or if you have significant privacy and safety concerns, you should speak to a lawyer or look at Idaho’s details on protective orders and sealing records to learn if you are eligible for any of these measures.

How Can I Adjust My Idaho Background Check?

If you have a genuine concern about your Idaho background check, such as the name not matching or the employment information being wrong, you may want to adjust your report. This can be done by contacting the agency that returned your report and progressing through the steps to request an adjustment; most third-party background check agencies provide clear steps for requesting adjustments.

Keep in mind you may need to provide information that backs up your requested changes and you cannot ask to change things such as your criminal or civil records unless your records have been officially sealed or expunged.

Are Federal and State Background Checks Different?

While both federal and state background checks are ways to find information about a person, these checks are technically different. Federal background checks look at someone’s history on the federal level and include things like federal crimes, civil issues tried in federal courts, and other potential issues that interfere with federal security. State background checks usually don’t include federal-level issues, focusing instead on the history someone has in a specific state.

Understanding Your Idaho Background Check

Idaho background checks don’t need to be as confusing as you might think. As long as you understand what to expect from an Idaho background check and take your time to properly prepare, you can be ready for the next time a background check is requested of you. We recommend taking some time to look up your own report online to ensure that everything is correct and in order for your next official Idaho background check.