Personal background check, on yourself.
Run a background check on yourself before your next job interview, apartment application, or licensure submission. See what employers see — and fix errors before they cost you the offer. Reports back in 1–3 business days, starting at $39.
Why Run a Personal Background Check?
Most job seekers don't think about background checks until an offer is rescinded. By then, it's too late to fix a wrong arrest record, an unreported expungement, or an old charge that was dismissed but still appears in commercial databases.
A personal background check lets you see your record the way an employer will see it — before they see it. If something is wrong, you have time to dispute it. If something is right but explainable, you can prepare a clear answer for the interview. Either way, you're not blindsided.
What's Included in a Personal Background Check?
The Standard package ($39) includes:
- National criminal database search (7-year lookback)
- Sex offender registry search (lifetime, all 50 states)
- Identity verification (SSN trace, address history)
- Terrorist watchlist / OFAC search
The Premium package ($69) adds:
- County-level criminal court searches in your residence county
- Employment verification (up to 3 prior employers)
- Education verification (highest degree)
- Extended 10-year lookback where state law permits
How Personal Checks Differ From Employer Checks
The data is the same — same court records, same registries, same databases. But the legal and process framing is different:
- You order it, you own it. The PDF is yours. Save it, share it, reference it during interviews.
- You consent to yourself. No employer authorization paperwork. Just verify your own identity.
- You see everything. Including data points that wouldn't be reportable to an employer under FCRA's 7-year limit. Useful for personal awareness even if employers can't legally see it.
- You fix errors before they hurt you. Disputes go through the data source. Most resolve in 30 days. After resolution, you can re-run the check and have a clean copy.
Common Reasons to Order a Personal Background Check
- Job hunting — see what HR will see during pre-employment screening
- Apartment applications — many landlords run background checks; know what's there
- Professional licensing — some boards require self-disclosed background reports
- Verifying expungements — confirm a court-ordered expungement actually cleared from commercial databases (it often doesn't until you push)
- After identity theft — confirm no fraudulent records were filed under your name or SSN
- Personal peace of mind — know your record
Your Privacy and Data
Your personal background check report is delivered to you and only you. We don't share it with employers, marketers, or data brokers. Reports are stored encrypted in your account for 90 days, after which they are deleted unless you save a local copy first.
Order Your Personal Background Check
Click order now to start, or call (602) 899-3611 if you have questions. Most reports complete in 1 to 3 business days.
Questions we hear daily
What is a personal background check?
A personal background check is a self-ordered report you run on yourself — usually before a job interview, an apartment application, or to verify what an employer will see when they screen you. Personal checks include criminal record searches, sex offender registry, identity verification, and (with the premium package) employment and education history.
How is this different from a check my employer would run?
The data sources are the same. The difference is who orders and pays. A personal check is ordered by you, paid for by you, and the report is yours to keep and share. An employer's check is ordered through their HR or screening vendor, requires your written FCRA consent, and the employer is the only party legally entitled to the result. Many job seekers run a personal check first to know what an employer will see and to correct any errors on their record before applying.
Can I share my personal background check with an employer?
You can — and many candidates do. A personal report from VerticalID Screening is a PDF you can email or upload to an employer portal. That said, most employers will still run their own check during the hiring process because they need an FCRA-compliant report tied to their consent paperwork. Treat your personal check as a preview, not a replacement.
How long does a personal background check take?
Most personal checks return in 1 to 3 business days. Statewide instant criminal database searches return in minutes. County criminal searches take 1 to 3 business days. Employment and education verifications can take up to 5 business days because we contact prior employers and schools directly.
How far back does a personal background check go?
Standard personal checks search the past 7 years of criminal history at the county and national database level, plus the lifetime sex offender registry. Some states (California, Massachusetts, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Washington) limit reports to 7 years total under state FCRA rules. Premium packages can extend to 10 years where state law permits.
Will errors on my background check disappear if I order one?
No — but you'll see them, which is the first step to fixing them. If your personal report shows incorrect information (an arrest that wasn't yours, a charge that was dismissed but still appears, an old conviction that should have been expunged), you have the right under FCRA Section 611 to dispute it directly with the data source. We provide instructions in your report on how to file a dispute. Most disputes resolve within 30 days.
How much does a personal background check cost?
Standard personal background checks start at $39 (criminal records + sex offender registry + identity verification, 7-year national lookback). Premium adds employment verification, education verification, and extended county searches for $69. Volume isn't available — this is a one-off self-screening product.
Run a Check on Yourself
See what an employer will see before you apply. Affordable, fast, and yours to keep.