What shows up on a background check for employment?

An employment background check shows identity confirmation, criminal court records, and whatever else the employer ordered — typically past employment, education, driving history, professional licenses, and sanctions lists. It does not show credit scores, medical records, or private social media.

What shows up on an employment background check?

Employers see only the searches they ordered and paid for. There is no single universal report that reveals everything about a person.

What is commonly included

Identity verification — confirming the SSN, name, and address history belong to the applicant.
Criminal records — county, state, and federal court records, plus national database and sex offender registry searches.
Employment history — employers, titles, and dates of employment.
Education — degrees, dates attended, and whether the credential was actually awarded.
Motor vehicle records — license status, class, violations, and suspensions for driving roles.
Professional licenses — status, expiration, and disciplinary actions.
Sanctions and exclusions — OIG, SAM, and healthcare exclusion lists for regulated roles.
Drug screening — where lawful and role-appropriate.

What does not show up

Your credit score. Employment credit reports show accounts and payment history in some states and roles — never a FICO score.
Medical records or health conditions, which are protected.
Arrests that did not lead to conviction, in the many states that prohibit reporting them.
Sealed, expunged, or juvenile records.
Private social media accounts or personal messages.
Salary history, in the states where asking is prohibited.

The lookback limits that shape the report

Under the FCRA, most non-conviction items cannot be reported after seven years. Convictions have no federal time limit, but roughly a dozen states impose their own seven-year cap. Both of these limits are lifted for roles paying above a salary threshold in some states.

Every Ethur report includes document-based identity and biometric verification, so the records returned are provably tied to the person who applied — not a name match.

Frequently asked

Do background checks show all past jobs?

No. They confirm the jobs you listed, or the employment records available through payroll data sources. There is no master list of everywhere a person has worked.

Will a background check show a case that was dismissed?

In many states, no — non-conviction dispositions are restricted. Where reporting is allowed, the disposition is shown alongside the charge.

Can an employer see my credit score?

No. Employment credit reports exclude the score entirely.