Background Check in Georgia: Everything You Need to Know

Brandon Way - January 12, 2025

Background checks are an important part of the process when it comes to applying for a job, shopping for specific items, and even if you’re applying for higher education. While these checks have become routine, they vary based on the state you live in, so it’s important to know what these differences are and how they impact the process. 

While background checks in Georgia tend to follow the same guidelines as most background checks in the United States, there are some state-specific laws that you need to account for. 

The good news is that we’re here to help, and in this article, we take you through everything you need to know about the background check process in Georgia. Whether you’re applying for a job or a hiring manager, you’ll find value here.

What Is a Background Check?

A background check is a process that employers use to evaluate someone’s public records before making a hiring decision. While background checks are common for employment, they’re also useful when making decisions about personal relationships, education, and more, so it’s not always an employment situation.

Most background checks will uncover public records, check education, and generally ensure that someone is up to the standards of a company. It’s also important to note that some industries are required to run background checks by law in Georgia, and these checks may have a more expensive process.

There are also laws that determine how far back these checks can go in Georgia, so it’s important to understand how everything impacts these checks in the state.

What Information Shows up in a Georgia Background Check?

Background checks in Georgia tend to include public records about someone, along with some personal details. This can include criminal records, court records, and even moving violations. 

The type of background check influences the information that shows up as well. For example, an FBI background check might show more details about criminal records than a standard identity verification check.

Other information that shows up on a background check in Georgia tends to include:

• Full name and maiden name 
• Social Security number verification 
• Social media reports 
• Contact information 
• Education history 
• Employment history 
• Credit history 
• Driving records 
• Jail records 
• Arrest records 

Some background checks will also include a drug test, which checks for drugs in someone’s urine, blood, or hair. Drug screenings tend to be common for government work.

How Far Do Background Checks in Georgia Go Back?

Typically, background checks in Georgia are limited to a seven-year lookback period, which is true for background checks in most states. 

This is due to limitations placed on background checks by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Based on these guidelines, most information that’s older than seven years can’t be used during the background check process to evaluate a candidate.

While this tends to be true for most jobs and records, it’s not true for all of them. For example, if someone is applying for a position in Georgia that pays more than $75,000, the company can look back further than seven years. Violent felonies, sexual offenses, and some other felonies might also not fall under protections in the Fair Credit Reporting Act, so keep this in mind.

It’s important to note that this only applies to employment scenarios. If someone is running a personal background check, for example, they can find records that are older and use that information to make a decision about them – just some things to keep in mind.

How Much Does a Background Check in Georgia Cost?

Background checks in Georgia can be free, cost a few bucks, or even cost you more than $100. Ultimately, it comes down to the background check method and the information that you’re looking for. In fact, the amount of information can also impact the price.

If you have someone get fingerprinted through the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), for example, it will cost you around $30 to $38.25, depending on the method of fingerprinting. 

Background checks can also vary in cost depending on the information. If you have to get motor vehicle records, you’ll also need to pay at least six dollars from the Georgia Department of Driver Services. That goes up to eight dollars if you want the full seven-year report. Drug screenings will also cost an extra $25 to $100, depending on the extent of the test

For these reasons, the cost of a background check in Georgia comes down to what you need. In some cases, you can compile these records yourself and save money, so take some time to consider your options.

How Long Do Background Checks Take in Georgia?

Simple background checks in Georgia don’t take that long, and you can expect most results to be in within a few days or even hours. Identity verification, credit checks, and even criminal records searches can all take a few days. Generally, they shouldn’t take any longer unless there are red flags or any information that needs to be further evaluated. 

Some more in-depth background checks may take a few weeks. For example, applying for some state jobs with a lot of responsibilities can require drug testing, motor vehicle reports, and additional information that slows the process down. In these cases, expect about a week or two.

If a background check is taking longer than two weeks, it’s a good idea to follow up with the agency running the check to ensure that more information isn’t needed.

How to Run a Background Check in Georgia 

Running a background in Georgia is easier than you think, and you don’t even have to rely on expensive background check companies if you don’t mind taking things online. In fact, you can run a check yourself by visiting state databases and working with government agencies for information. That said, it’s often expensive, inefficient, and harder to go this route.

Before you decide to run a check, it’s a good idea to consider your options, so we take you through a few of the best methods below.

CheckPeople.com 

The best way to run a background check in Georgia is to work with CheckPeople.com. Not only do we offer extensive resources to make the background check process more understandable, but we also have an online background check tool. 

This tool is connected to millions of state and federal databases across the country, so you can find everything you need in one place. 

We’ll do all the heavy lifting and comb through these databases to compile a full report that includes all known public records about someone. All of our records are current, up-to-date, and easily accessible in one comprehensive report, so you don’t have to worry about finding inaccurate information.

Not only do we offer include identity verification, but it can also help you find:

• Court records 
• Criminal records 
• Marriage and divorce records 
• Maiden name 
• Social media accounts 
• Addresses 
• Phone numbers 
• Email addresses 
• Sex offender status 

Depending on the person, you may find some or all of this information. Even if we can’t help you find every detail, we can point you in the right direction. We always recommend starting with CheckPeople.com because it’s the most affordable way to begin the background screening process.

Background Check Agencies 

Background check agencies are also a great place to get a background check done. These are companies that specialize in background checks, so you don’t have to worry about getting inaccurate or outdated information. 

Background check companies also take the hard work out of your hands. All you have to do is get consent and send the right paperwork, then the agency will do the rest for you.

While background check agencies are some of the best places to get a background check done, they’re not perfect. The cost is high, especially if you don’t have to run a lot of checks. This makes them a bad fit for small businesses and individuals who want to run a single background check or maybe two. 

Therefore, consider the amount of checks you plan on running before going this route.

Final Thoughts on Background Checks in Georgia 

Background checks in Georgia are common, and the state has plenty of resources in place to help you run them. You can also go online and do some digging yourself if you’re up for it.

That said, we always recommend working with CheckPeople.com to make the background check process a breeze. Not only do we make the process as simple as possible, but you don’t have to leave your couch. 

The only time we recommend taking background checks into your own hands is if you need to speak with someone’s references. Nothing can replace speaking with someone’s personal and professional references to get a better feel for them.