How Often Should Employers Run Background Checks?

Many employers view background checks as a one-time step in the hiring process, but in reality, screening frequency should align with the nature of the role, industry regulations, and ongoing risk exposure. Knowing how often to run background checks helps businesses stay compliant, protect their workforce, and maintain trust with customers and partners.

At Confirmify, we help employers build screening programs that support both initial hiring and long-term workforce oversight.

Pre-Employment Screening: The Foundation

Every employee should undergo a background check before they are hired. Pre-employment screening establishes a baseline and ensures candidates meet your organization’s standards before gaining access to systems, customers, or sensitive information.

Pre-employment background checks typically include:

Criminal history searches
Identity and SSN verification
Employment and education verification
License or certification checks where applicable
MVR checks for driving roles

This initial screen helps reduce negligent hiring risk and supports fair, informed hiring decisions.

When to Re-Screen Current Employees

Re-screening employees after hire is a best practice in many industries, especially for roles involving safety, financial responsibility, or access to vulnerable populations.

Employers commonly re-screen:

Annually or biannually as part of a standard compliance program
After promotions or role changes that increase access or responsibility
At contract renewal for contractors or temporary workers
When required by regulation, such as healthcare, finance, or transportation roles
Following workplace incidents that raise compliance or safety concerns

Ongoing screening helps employers identify changes that could affect job suitability while maintaining consistent workplace standards.

Industry-Specific Screening Frequency Requirements

Some industries mandate how often background checks must be conducted. Failing to follow these requirements can result in fines, loss of licenses, or legal liability.

Examples include:

Healthcare & childcare: Regular criminal and exclusion list checks
Transportation & logistics: Periodic MVR and DOT compliance reviews
Financial services: Ongoing monitoring for roles handling sensitive financial data
Security & government contracting: Recurrent screenings tied to clearance levels

Confirmify helps employers align screening frequency with industry regulations and role-specific risk profiles.

Why Choose Confirmify?

Confirmify makes it easy for employers to manage both pre-employment and ongoing background checks without added complexity. Our platform supports scheduled re-screening, role-based screening packages, and real-time tracking — all while maintaining full FCRA compliance. Most background checks are completed within 8 hours to 3 days, and our clients typically experience 30–50% faster turnaround times compared to previous vendors. With transparent pricing and no subscriptions, Confirmify helps you build a screening program that protects your business at every stage of employment.

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