{"id":6378,"date":"2026-07-02T14:04:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T22:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/talent\/sample-page\/background-checks-faq\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T10:27:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T18:27:55","slug":"background-checks-faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/talent\/hiring-process\/prehire-background-checks\/background-checks-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"Background checks: FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/talent\/hiring-process\/prehire-background-checks\/background-checks-faq\/#Requirements\" >Requirements<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/talent\/hiring-process\/prehire-background-checks\/background-checks-faq\/#Process\" >Process<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/talent\/hiring-process\/prehire-background-checks\/background-checks-faq\/#Employment-and-appointment\" >Employment and appointment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/talent\/hiring-process\/prehire-background-checks\/background-checks-faq\/#Costs-and-charges\" >Costs and charges<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Requirements\"><\/span>Requirements<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Is a criminal background check required for a UW employee who has not previously had a criminal background check?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>No. The criminal background check requirement only applies to individuals hired on or after July 1, 2007.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Process\"><\/span>Process<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong>How long does it take to conduct a criminal background check?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Most background checks can be completed within two to three business days after the selected candidate provides the required information to the University&#8217;s background check vendor.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If a candidate is found ineligible for employment based on the results of the background check, who may the department contact for further information?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You may contact the Human Resources employment manager that serves your department.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Employment-and-appointment\"><\/span>Employment and appointment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong>For candidates who are subject to a criminal background check,\u00a0how soon can they begin work?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The candidate can start work as soon as your HR recruitment team member notifies you of a satisfactory background check result and the hire is initiated in Workday.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If a thumbprint is required to complete a criminal background check, can a department employ the selected candidate before the result is available?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This depends on the department&#8217;s hiring practices and the nature of the crime(s) reported in the preliminary results. If the department allows a candidate to begin work, the department must provide the candidate with written notice that continued employment is contingent on a satisfactory criminal background check result. Discuss the anticipated time frame for completing the check with your HR recruitment team member.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Costs-and-charges\"><\/span>Costs and charges<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong>How will I know which candidate(s) background check charges apply to?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When the HR recruitment team member runs the background check, the billing information associated with the department&#8217;s account is charged. Documentation will include the date, charge, requisition number, and name of the candidate(s) for whom the check was run.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What if a department feels that it can&#8217;t afford the cost of conducting criminal background checks?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Hiring officials are encouraged to consult with their supervisors or administrators about funding. Background checks must be conducted for staff hires, and the employing unit is responsible for the cost of the background check.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If the final candidate rescinds their acceptance of the job offer after a criminal background check is conducted, will the background check fee be refunded?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>No.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have questions after reading about background checks? See if your question has already been addressed in this FAQ page.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":0,"parent":6414,"menu_order":50,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","slim_seo":{"title":"Background checks: FAQ - Total Talent Management","description":"Have questions after reading about background checks? 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