Background Check in Oregon: What You Need to Know

Lily Evans - December 31, 2024

Background checks are valuable tools that will help you learn more about someone. They can help, whether it’s for work, building a personal relationship, or deciding if someone is a good fit for a public program. Regardless of your reason for running, or even if you need to prepare for one, understanding how background checks work is important. 

Unfortunately, it’s not always as simple as entering someone’s name into Google’s search bar and looking for results. What’s more, every state has unique ways of handling background checks due to specific laws in place at the state level.

The good news is that if you’re worried about background checks in Oregon, you don’t have to be because we’re here to help. This article covers everything you need to know about background checks in Oregon.

What Is a Background Check in Oregon?

A background background check in Oregon is like a background check anywhere else. It’s a process where someone uncovers information about someone, specifically background information. 

This information tends to include identity verification, public records, and even social media accounts or someone’s online presence, although it varies based on the type of check. 

Background checks tend to be useful in many areas as well, so they’re not exclusive to employment. You’ll find that background checks are popular for the sale of firearms in Oregon, which is done through the Firearms Instant Check System.

Most background checks require consent if they’re for employment, education, firearms, or grants, but these rules become a bit looser if you’re running a personal background check.

How Much Does a Background Check in Oregon Cost?

Background checks vary in price. They can cost as little as $1 when you work with an online tool like CheckPeople.com or as much as $500 when you work with a background check agency. 

You can also use public state databases to run a background check yourself, which will cost around $33 for fingerprints. Drug screenings, motor vehicle reports, and credit checks can also add a few dollars here and there to the background check process.

How Long Does a Background Check Take in Oregon?

A background check in Oregon shouldn’t take too long. On average, expect most checks to be completed in around three to five business days. However, how long a background check takes can depend on the level of depth and how much information is being sourced. 

A great example of this is a background check that comes with drug screening and fingerprinting. It can take between 2-4 weeks to process with FieldPrint, a company that the state of Oregon contracts with for fingerprint information. 

Depending on the type of drug test and when you have it done during the process, this can drag things out even more. So, how long a background check takes in Oregon depends on several factors.

The good news is that you can find all of the basics fast when you use a reliable online background check tool like CheckPeople.com. 

How Far Back Does a Background Check in Oregon Go?

Background checks in Oregon go back five to seven years, depending on the type of check and the specific job. Most background checks only go back seven years due to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which has protections in place for applicants who have criminal records, so it’s not just a law for credit history checks.

It’s also important to note that Oregon has Ban-the-Box Laws that impact the background check process. These laws ensure that applicants can make it through the interview process before having to tell employers that they have a criminal record.

What Shows up on a Background Check in Oregon?

Background checks in Oregon reveal a lot of information about someone, and all of it can be useful when determining if someone is a good candidate. For this reason, it’s important to understand everything that can appear on a background check if you’re an employer or someone who’s about to go through one.

Criminal Records 

First and foremost, background checks in Oregon will reveal someone’s criminal history. This includes someone’s arrest records, criminal court records, convictions, jail sentences, and everything else related to a crime. Not only does this apply to felonies, but it can apply to misdemeanors, violations, and even things like community service.

Employment and Education History 

Most employers want to know that someone has the appropriate experience and credentials before hiring them. In these cases, a background check will provide details about someone’s education level and employment history. While records are available to view, employers may contact schools and previous employers to confirm that an applicant isn’t lying.

Driving Records 

When someone is applying for a job that requires driving, a motor vehicle report (MVR) may be pulled. These reports are pulled from Oregon’s Department of Motor Vehicles, and you may have to pay a small fee to view them. 

Driving records tend to include the license that someone has, if that license is suspended, and whether or not someone has something like a DUI or other moving violations.

Credit History 

In industries where someone will be working with money, or if someone is applying for loans for education, credit history comes into play. While credit history reveals someone’s credit score, most background checks will dig deeper than this. 

Information that’s available in someone’s credit history tends to include bankruptcies, liens, loans in default, and other financial records.

Civil Court Records 

Most background checks don’t stop at criminal records. In Oregon, court records are public, so most background checks will pull civil court records and look for red flags, including lawsuits, domestic disputes, and other records that are cause for concern. Disputes of child support and other families may also show up.

How to Run a Background Check in Oregon 

There are a few ways you can run a background check in Oregon. While you can visit Oregon’s government websites and request information, you’ll have to gather everything yourself, which is why most people opt for a background check company. 

While background check agencies work well, what if there was a better way? Learn more about each background check method in Oregon below.

CheckPeople.com 

You can’t go wrong with CheckPeople.com. Our background check tool is one of the best online options for background checks in Oregon, and it’s easy to use. All you need is someone’s first and last name to get started. In fact, you can even enter your information to test out the tool before you use it on applicants. 

Plus, it’s never a bad idea to use an online background check to prepare for a background check you’re about to go through – it can help you fix errors or explain things before they show up during the process. 

Aside from being easy to use, our tool is also efficient. You can find everything that’s publicly available, from criminal records to someone’s website or social media accounts. We also present the information in a digestible way, so you don’t have to worry about jumping around to different databases or reading through lots of pages to view the information.

Last but most importantly, our information is always accurate and current, so you never have to worry about missing anything. If we can’t help you find specific details about something, like a specific arrest detail, we can at least point you in the right direction as well. The only real limit is drug screening and contacting references.

Background Check Agencies 

When you want to run a background check, a background check agency is always a good choice. These agencies specialize in background checks around the United States, and there are even some local Oregon background check companies you can count on.

What makes working with an agency a good idea is the fact that you don’t have to worry about doing any work. You don’t have to search for information, reach out to anyone, or even go online. All you have to do is get consent and send the necessary paperwork.

While working with a background check agency in Oregon is effective, it’s not always a good idea. This is because it costs a lot more money than using CheckPeople.com or gathering information from state databases on your own.

Run a Background Check in Oregon With Confidence Today!

Oregon background checks continue to be common in almost every industry, and many entry-level jobs at least require some identification verification. Understanding everything you can about checks can make the process easier, help you avoid errors, and even make it easier to choose the right background check provider.

When you need a background check in Oregon, we always recommend working with CheckPeople.com. We make the process a breeze, and you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank.