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Background Check Template

A Background Check Template lets employers get written permission from a candidate before running a background check. Use this free, ready-to-edit form to comply with legal disclosure requirements and document consent properly. Simply fill in the blanks, download, and get it signed in minutes.

What Is a Background Check Consent Form and Why Do You Need One?

A Background Check Consent Form is a legal document that gives an employer written permission from a job candidate or employee to run a background check, which may include criminal history, credit reports, employment verification, or education records. Under federal law, specifically the Fair Credit Reporting Act, employers are required to provide clear disclosure and get signed authorization before ordering a background check through a third-party service. This form protects the employer from legal liability and ensures candidates are fully aware that a background check will be conducted as part of the hiring process.

Why Use a Ready-Made Template Instead of Creating One From Scratch

Writing a background check consent form from scratch can be risky, since federal and state laws require very specific disclosure language, and getting it wrong can expose a business to legal claims. A ready-made Background Check Template already includes the essential sections — clear disclosure statement, types of checks being conducted, candidate authorization, and signature line — so employers only need to add their company details. This saves time during the hiring process and helps ensure the form meets legal disclosure requirements before a background check is ordered.

Who Should Use This Background Check Consent Template

This template is built for small business owners, HR departments, staffing agencies, and hiring managers who need to run background checks as part of their hiring process. It's useful for businesses hiring for positions involving financial responsibility, access to sensitive information, or work with vulnerable populations, such as children or elderly individuals. Landlords conducting tenant screening background checks can also use a similar version of this template to obtain proper consent before running a check.

How to Fill Out and Use This Background Check Consent Form Correctly

Start by adding the full name and contact details of the candidate or employee, along with the company name requesting the background check. Next, include a clear disclosure statement explaining that a background check will be conducted for employment purposes, separate from any other paperwork like a job application. Add a list of what the check may include, such as criminal history, employment verification, education confirmation, or credit reports if relevant to the position. Include a section for the candidate to authorize the check with their signature and date. Finally, keep a signed copy on file, since employers may need to show proof of proper disclosure and consent if a hiring decision is ever challenged.


How to Use Agreed Templates

Start With the Template

Open the Product Agreement Template in your Agreed workspace and begin with a ready-to-use agreement structure.

Customize Agreement Details

Add or edit product details, responsibilities, pricing, deliverables, timelines, and other terms to match your agreement needs.

Review, Sign & Manage

Send the agreement for review and approval, collect signatures, and manage the completed agreement securely in Agreed.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Everything you need to know about Agreed. Can't find what you're looking for?

Yes, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, employers must provide clear disclosure and obtain written authorization from a candidate before ordering a background check through a third-party company.

No, federal law requires employers to disclose that a background check will be conducted and get signed consent beforehand, separate from the general job application.

Most employers can decline to move forward with the hiring process if a candidate refuses to consent, since background checks are often a standard requirement for the position.

In many cases, yes. Employers running periodic background checks on current employees, such as annual checks for certain industries, typically need a new signed consent form each time.

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