Washington State Background Check: What to Know

Lily Evans - June 3, 2025

Dealing with a background check is often an important part of life, though the experience can be overwhelming if you have never done it before. Washington state background checks are aimed at looking at all of your records from the state of Washington. 

There are multiple public records involved in the state background check, and it’s important to understand what might be shown on your background check report. Our article tells you what to know about a Washington state background check and what might be considered a red flag on one of these checks.

What Is a Background Check?

A background check is a check into your personal history that includes disclosure of any criminal records and civil records in your name. Oftentimes, these reports are used to ensure that someone is who they claim to be and that the person is qualified for whatever position they are applying for. 

Background checks are highly personal, and they reveal a good amount of sensitive information, something that leads to several state laws outlining the background check process and procedures for obtaining consent before a background check is conducted.

Every state has differing laws when it comes to background check disclosures and consent forms, and it’s important to understand the laws in Washington state before you agree to the background check process.

Why Do I Need to Submit a Background Check in Washington State?

Most of the time, background checks in Washington state are used to ensure that a candidate for employment is approved for a certain position. Many companies may have policies in place that require them to check every new employee, and some companies may conduct routine background checks on current employees. 

Certain career fields, such as healthcare or fields that work with vulnerable populations like children, may have background check requirements to ensure all candidates are qualified to do their job.

Washington state background checks may also be conducted when an individual is applying for certain positions within the state government, when someone needs to obtain clearance for sensitive information, and as part of professional certification, such as obtaining a bar license for lawyers.

Washington State Background Check: What’s Included

Several different items may be included in your Washington state background check. Generally, the most important thing that people look for is a history of criminal activity. Your criminal record will appear on a Washington state background check, and a state background check looks at crimes that have been committed in all counties of Washington state. This gives employers and other individuals a complete picture of any criminal activity in your history.

In addition to criminal records, you can expect to see civil records appear on your background check report. Lawsuits, evictions, and other disputes that resulted in civil court dates are generally public information and are available to anyone looking into your background check report.

Washington state background checks include employment history, educational history, and personal information such as your full name, address history, and Social Security Number. Professional licensure details might also appear on these reports.

Will Arrests Show Up on a Washington State Background Check?

Certain types of arrests will show up on your Washington state background check. Typically, arrests that do not result in a conviction will not appear on the report. However, arrests that occurred in the state of Washington within the past year, plus any arrest that happens to a person who is a registered sex offender or has committed the crime of kidnapping, will appear, regardless of whether or not a conviction has been received yet.

If you were arrested for a crime but did not receive any kind of conviction, and the arrest occurred several years ago, it is unlikely to appear on your background check report. You can usually request the reporting agency remove this detail of your history, according to state law, if you wish to ensure your Washington state background check is free of arrest reports.

Can I Hide Details From My Washington State Background Check?

It is usually not possible to hide details from appearing on your Washington state background check. Most of the information that appears on your background check is part of the public record, which means that members of the public have the right to access this information. 

Employers and other individuals conducting official background checks must obtain your consent before doing so, and this grants them permission to look at all of your background details.

The only instance when you can hide things from your Washington state background check report is if certain parts of your criminal history are eligible for sealing or expungement. Sealing is the process of removing criminal details from your background check report, but still making them available to law enforcement professionals and court officials. On the other hand, expungement totally removes criminal details from your record, making it as if they never existed.

Only certain individuals and certain types of crimes are eligible for either sealing or expungement, and you will need to consult with a lawyer if you are concerned about what your criminal history might show.

How Do I Fail a Washington State Background Check?

Failing a Washington state background check depends on who is conducting the background check, what they are looking for, and the standards that a company might be holding new employees to. 

For example, if you are applying for a job that involves working with vehicles or heavy machinery, you may fail your Washington state background check if you have an extensive history of driving offenses and DUIs. On the other hand, some jobs may not fail you for having a history of driving offenses, depending on what they are.

You will need to check with the employer or person requesting your Washington state background check directly to understand what they are looking for and what the qualifications are for passing or failing this report. If you believe that you were unjustly denied, it may be possible to file a dispute against the results of your background check.

What If My Background Check Is Wrong?

If your background check is showing incorrect information about you, you will need to contact the reporting agencies directly to request a change period. Most of the time, reporting agencies and other online websites will have a contact form or a request for change form somewhere on their website. 

State laws can also impact the process for requesting changes and updates to your background check report, so it’s important that you research Washington state law when it comes to the disclosure of certain items on your background check and how to make adjustments to this report.

How Can I Review My Own Background Check Report?

We recommend reviewing your own background check report as a way to see what is included in your history and what potential employers might be able to see about you. By reviewing your own background check report ahead of time, you can get a good idea of what might be a red flag to certain employers and what is incorrect on your report. Routinely conducting background check reports can also help you identify any discrepancies and even potentially catch identity theft before it becomes too impactful on your record.

Some states allow you to request a copy of your official background check report once an employer runs it, or you can use online tools to quickly check your background history and ensure that everything looks good. It’s often a good idea to conduct a quick check on your background report before you start the process of applying for jobs.

Understanding Your Washington State Background Check

Understanding your Washington state background check report is essential if you want to know what is shown on this report and what may potentially raise issues for you as you consent to background checks. For the most part, people can pass background checks easily, and employers or other individuals are only looking into someone’s criminal history. 

However, Washington state background checks can also be used to confirm identity, address history, and other personal details, so it’s important to always list your information accurately and refrain from trying to lie or hide things on your background check report.