How Much is a Background Check in Florida?

Michelle Wilson - July 16, 2023

If you’re trying to order a background check online, you’ll want to use a reputable and reliable company. After all, using a background check company helps verify your information to ensure the details are accurate and correct. A pre-employment background check can help hiring managers choose the ideal candidates for their business. The cost of a background check in Florida varies by company and required components. The average varies between $15 to well over $300. Those background checks with only criminal reports are more cost efficient than those requiring reference checks, education verification, and more.

Screening Requirements for Background Checks in Florida

Florida offers two kinds of background checks. These reports include the following details:

Level One Background Check

The level 1 background check is a name-based screening that covers the state of Florida. The report will include criminal history and employment verification. Additionally, the screening will consist of the national sex offender registry. Some of these reports will have a credit check too.

Level Two Background Check

The level two background check will require fingerprinting and a complete FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement screening. Anyone holding prohibited offenses on their record is rejected by these background checks.

What is a Level 3 Background Check?

Ch. 435, Fla. Stat defines the level one and two background checks. Currently, Florida doesn’t offer a level three screening. Occasionally, individuals refer to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) screening as a level three background check.

What Information Does the FDLE Contain in Florida?

An employer often uses the term background check to reference a criminal history. This clarification confuses many job applicants, especially when referencing the FDLE. According to the FDLE, a background check includes a comprehensive search of the following databases:

• The Florida Crime Information Center for warrants and domestic violence (including a warrant file check).
• The Florida Computerized Criminal History Central Repository for Florida arrests as a state-wide check.
• The Florida Computerized Criminal History Central Repository for Florida arrests and the national criminal history database at the FBI, as a national screening.

The national record check requires fingerprints to complete. The state record checks frequently use name, Social Security number, and birthdate.

Why Do Hiring Managers Perform Background Checks?

Florida employers will commonly use background screening for a multitude of reasons:

Promoting Workplace Safety

An employer must legally offer a safe workplace for customers and staff. The employer must minimize risk, including potential injuries and accidents. Completing a background check can identify applicants with criminal convictions or other risky behavior that could threaten the safety of others.

Avoiding Reputation Damage

The actions and behavior of a company’s employees significantly impact the public’s perception. To maintain the brand’s reputation, employers will perform a background check to ensure anyone working with the business holds similar values and views.

Reducing Liability Risks

Anyone failing to perform a background check risk hiring someone who could harm others. This added risk exposes the company to negligent hiring liability situations best avoided. Employers screen out underqualified individuals by conducting an in-depth background check, reducing liability risks overall.

Performing Regulatory Compliance

In a few industries, hiring managers are required to screen any potential applicant before making job offers. Companies operating in regulated industries should perform pre-employment background checks to meet legal requirements.

What Shows Up on a Florida Background Check?

Many employers running a pre-employment screening will request criminal history, employment verification, identification confirmation, and education information. Depending on the available position, employers may request additional information.

Previous Employment Verification

Confirming an applicant’s employment history is essential for hiring qualified employees. Unfortunately, some people may embellish a resume, including lying about previous positions or roles. When requesting employment verification, the background report will outline all prior employment of an individual to ensure it’s truthful and accurate. These details will include the company name, title, and hiring dates.

Criminal Records

The criminal history of an individual depends on the results. If an applicant holds a criminal record, the Florida pre-employment background check will detail the following:

• Charging information or arrest details
• Date the case was filed, including the disposition date
• Disposition of the case
• Level of the offense (detailing felony or misdemeanor)
• Sentencing information

Education History

An employer hiring for positions that require a degree or certificate may request education verification in the background screening. The education verification will confirm your post-secondary education, complete with the name and address of the educational institution, dates of attendance, and diploma or certificate received.

Professional License Verification

Like the education verification, a professional license verification will confirm all professional licenses required for the position are valid. These details will include the name listed on the license, issuance date, whether the license is valid, expiration dates, and license type. This verification will also include any sanctions, suspensions, and discipline against the licensee on file.

Where Employers Get a Pre-Employment Background Check in Florida

There are two available methods for conducting a background check in Florida. Users can complete the background screening independently or work with a reputable third-party background check provider.

Performing a Do-It-Yourself Background Check

A few employers may choose to complete the background check on their own. These companies may submit requests to the Division of Criminal Justice Information Services, educational institutions, former employers, and applicable license boards.

 A hiring manager can also check online for information about candidates and try to secure details online. Unfortunately, Google may return inaccurate or incomplete information, making it a good starting point but unreliable overall. Occasionally, the details received through these search efforts may not comply with the FCRA, so always ask the employer how they verify the background check details.

Use a Third-Party Background Check Company

The easiest way for an employer to perform a background check on prospective employees is to use an FCRA-compliant background check company to compile the information. You will receive notice from the employer with the name and contact information for the third-party company.

Third-party companies use advanced algorithms and search methods to find applicable information. Many companies will offer complete reports, including criminal history, credit reports, and social media profiles.

Conclusion

The cost of a background check in Florida will vary, depending on the information requested. As a do-it-yourself option, the prices of performing a background screening are minimal. Unfortunately, this method also leaves gaps in the profile, or risks being inaccurate and incomplete.

Using a third-party company to perform the pre-employment background screening is often more cost-effective when verifying all details is essential. These background check companies often offer individual report pricing or monthly memberships allowing multiple screens simultaneously.