Every price below is what you actually pay — no surprises, no hidden fees beyond clearly noted 3rd-party court costs.
SearchMyBackground™ with Paperless Consent — included with every account
Candidates complete their own forms and sign authorization documents online. No paper, no chasing applicants. Mobile-friendly and FCRA compliant.
Staffing agencies screen differently — here’s why it matters
Unlike a direct employer, a staffing agency often screens the same candidate for multiple client placements — or keeps candidates on payroll until a client buyout. Your FCRA obligations are the same either way: you are the employer of record, and the screening must be defensible.
Pre-screening before client presentation
You screen the candidate before presenting them to a client. The searches should reflect the role they’re being presented for — not a generic baseline. A candidate going to a financial services client needs different searches than one going to a warehouse.
Role + history = right searches
On payroll until employer buyout
The candidate is your employee during the placement period. Your screening standard is what protects you — and your client — if something goes wrong. Consistent searches across your entire roster is the only defensible position.
Consistency = protection for you and your clients
Screen the person, not just the role
Whether pre-screening or placing, the right searches depend on who the candidate is — their name history, where they’ve lived, and what records may exist in counties databases never capture.
Start with the placement role
What will this candidate actually do at the client site?
- →Finance or admin → civil + credit report
- →Driver or fleet → MVR + CDLIS
- →Healthcare → sanctions check
- →All placements → multi-state + county courthouse
Look at their history
Where have they lived? How many names have they used?
- →One county, one name → straightforward
- →Multiple counties → search each one
- →Multiple states or name changes → broader coverage
Apply it consistently
Same role type = same searches, every candidate. That’s what protects you and your clients.
- →Use GCR for criminal searches → automatic
- →Add other services manually per order
- →Or ask us to build role-specific packages
What this costs in practice
Click any scenario to see exactly which searches are ordered and why. Every candidate deserves their own search, built around their role and history.
Jerome — temp warehouse placement, one name, one county for 4 years
Single location · Single name · Physical labor role · No financial access
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| Search | Why it’s ordered | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-State Criminal Search with AliasBroad sweep · all 50 states · instant | Catches anything outside his home county. SSN trace confirms one county. | $17.00 |
| County Courthouse Criminal Search — Cuyahoga Co., OHDirect courthouse records · 7 years | Database searches miss things. Direct courthouse search is the gold standard for his county of residence. | $10.50 |
$27.50
* Court access fees not included. If the SSN trace returned additional counties, we’d add a $10.50 courthouse search for each one.
Angela (formerly Angela Reed, now Angela Foster) — contract accounts payable specialist, 2 names, 3 counties, placed at financial services client
Two surnames · Three counties · Financial access · Client-facing role
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| Search | Why it’s ordered | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-State Criminal Search with AliasBoth names · SSN trace surfaces all counties | “Angela Reed” and “Angela Foster” both searched. SSN trace returns all 3 counties. | $17.00 |
| County Courthouse — Dallas Co., TX7-year courthouse record | Lived here years 1–3 of the lookback window. | $10.50 |
| County Courthouse — Harris Co., TX (Houston)7-year courthouse record | Lived here years 3–5 of the lookback window. | $10.50 |
| County Courthouse — Travis Co., TX (Austin)7-year courthouse record | Current county of residence. | $10.50 |
| National Federal Courts Search94 federal districts · 7 years | Financial access placement — wire fraud, embezzlement, and identity theft live in federal courts, not county databases. | $20.00 |
| County Civil Search — Travis Co., TXCivil court records · 7 years | Financial services client requirement — civil judgments, liens, and bankruptcies are relevant for a candidate with payment system access. | $12.00 |
$80.50
* Court access fees per county not included. The financial services client’s risk profile drove additional searches beyond what a generic package would have included.
Dr. Patel — direct-hire placement, healthcare operations director, 4 counties across 3 states, previous surname, licensed healthcare administrator
Multiple names · Four counties · Three states · Healthcare placement · Licensed role · Direct hire
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| Search | Why it’s ordered | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-State Criminal Search with AliasAll names · all states · instant | Both surname variants searched. SSN trace surfaces all 4 counties across 3 states. | $17.00 |
| County Courthouse — 4 counties across NJ, NY & CT$10.50 per county × 4 | Every county where she lived in the past 7 years searched individually. | $42.00 |
| National Federal Courts Search94 federal districts · 7 years | Healthcare operations with budget authority — fraud, identity theft, and embezzlement all live in federal courts. | $20.00 |
| Healthcare Sanctions Level 3 (OIG LEIE Plus)OIG, GSA, FDA, DEA, DOD lists + all 50 states | Healthcare placement — excluded or sanctioned individuals cannot work in Medicare/Medicaid-connected organizations. Non-negotiable. | $10.00 |
| Professional Credential Verification — administrator license$10.00 per license | Confirms license status, issuance date, and any disciplinary history. The client is paying a placement fee — credentials must be verified. | $10.00 |
| Employment Verification — 3 prior employers$10.00 per employer × 3 | Direct-hire placement — the client needs confirmed employment history before committing to a permanent hire. | $30.00 |
$129.00
* Court access fees not included. A direct-hire placement at this level demands this level of screening — the client’s trust in your agency depends on it.
Automate criminal search coverage with Gap Coverage Request (GCR)
GCR applies to criminal background searches only. Make two selections — once, for your whole account — and our compliance team automatically adds every appropriate county, state, and federal search for each candidate based on their address history and alias names.
Most staffing agencies should choose Best Practice (Option 1) for both sections. It’s the most complete coverage and the most defensible position if a placement decision is ever questioned. Other services — verifications, drug testing, driving records, sanctions checks — are added manually per order or built into a role-specific package.
GCR applies to criminal searches only. Fees charged per search per name — costs scale with addresses and aliases found. Court access surcharges apply in some jurisdictions.
Placing at volume or across multiple client types? Ask us about role-specific packages.
We can build separate pre-configured packages for each role type you place — warehouse, finance, healthcare, executive — so your team runs the right searches every time without having to think about it. Contact us and we’ll set it up at no extra charge.
The Defensible Workplace
New for 2026. An executive guide to employment screening, FCRA compliance, and negligent hiring risk. Essential reading for staffing agencies navigating dual liability — to your candidates and your clients.
Full a la carte pricing
Build the right search for each placement. Every price shown is what you pay — no membership, no minimum order, no surprises.
Multi-State Criminal Search with Alias Instant
1 billion+ records across all 50 states — counties, DOC, courts, sex offender registries, and terrorism sources. Includes alias names, SSN trace & validation, death index, and address history. All flags reviewed by FCRA-certified staff before release.
⚠ Best paired with county courthouse searches — not recommended as a standalone
County Courthouse Criminal Search
Direct courthouse lookup — felonies & misdemeanors, 7-year history. All convictions and pending cases reported. Order one per county the candidate has lived in.
Same day – 3 business days · Court access fees may apply
Statewide Criminal Repository Search
State law enforcement database, 7-year history. Coverage varies by state — contact us about yours. Not available in all states.
Same day – 1+ week · Repository fees may apply · MA requires extra step
National Federal Courts Search
All 94 US district courts — wire fraud, embezzlement, identity theft, corporate espionage that never appear in county or state searches. 7-year history.
Same day – 3 business days
Nationwide Wants & Warrants
Local, county, state, and federal extraditable warrants — misdemeanors and felonies. Not all agencies contribute.
1–2 business days
County Civil Search
Non-criminal civil court records, 7-year history. Recommended for finance, legal, and executive placements.
3–5 business days · Court access fees may apply
Employment Verification Agreement required
Confirms title, dates, full/part-time, separation reason, and rehire eligibility. 3 contact attempts. Essential for direct-hire placements.
1–5 business days · Employer fees may apply
Education Verification Agreement required
Confirms degree, major, graduation date, and GPA. 3 contact attempts.
1–5 business days · Third-party fees may apply
Professional Credential Verification Agreement required
Verifies licenses and certifications — type, issuance date, current status, and any disciplinary history. Critical for healthcare, legal, financial, and licensed trade placements.
1–3 business days · Credentialing fees may apply
Professional Reference Interview
Structured interview with a supervisor, colleague, or personal reference — performance, reliability, strengths, and any concerns.
Turnaround varies
Employment Credit Report (PEER) Instant
Payment history, debts, public records, and address history. For finance and executive placements. Signed authorization required. State law may restrict use — ask us.†
Not a consumer credit report — no credit score provided
E-Verify
Post-hire employment eligibility verification through SSA and DHS. As employer of record, your agency carries this obligation. Completed after the I-9 Form.
1–2 business days once account established · MOU with SSA/DHS required
Healthcare Sanctions Level 3 (OIG LEIE Plus)
Checks OIG LEIE, GSA EPLS/SAM, FDA debarment lists, DEA registrant lists, DOD TriCare, HHS ORI, and disciplinary listings from all 50 states including 900+ regulatory agencies. Required for any healthcare placement.
Instant
Worker’s Compensation Search
Post-employment search identifying prior workplace injury claims — date, case number, type of injury, and duration. Not available in all states. Particularly relevant for physical labor placements.
State surcharges may apply · Signed release may be required
Motor Vehicle / Driving History Instant–5 days
3-year driving record — violations, suspensions, revocations, points, and current license status. Available from 49 states + DC. PA not available.
State access fees apply · State-specific authorization may be required
Commercial Driver’s License Check (CDLIS) Instant
Verifies current CDL and identifies all states where an additional driving record should be requested. FMCSA compliant under 49 CFR Part 391. Required for any commercial driving placement.
Identifies all prior CDL-holding states · SSN match included
5-Panel Urinalysis
Amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, PCP, marijuana. Lab screen, GC/MS confirmation if needed, and MRO review.
1–3 business days after specimen received · Collection fees may apply separately
10-Panel Urinalysis
All 5-panel substances plus barbiturates, benzodiazepines, methadone, propoxyphene, and methaqualone.
1–3 business days after specimen received · Collection fees may apply separately
International Criminal / Education / Employment
Available for many countries. Depth and availability vary. Country-specific release forms required. Relevant for international placements and candidates with overseas employment history.
3–15 business days · Call 866-891-1954 opt. 2 for a quote
pricing
Important: Database searches are broad but should never be your only source. Always pair them with individual county courthouse searches for each location the candidate has lived. The SSN trace included in the Multi-State search will surface those counties for you.
Ready to screen with confidence — and protect your clients?
We’ll help you build a defensible screening process for every role type you place. No pressure, no hard sell.
* 3rd-party court, repository, and state access fees may apply and are not included in listed prices.
† Employment credit reports and employment verifications may require a one-time physical site inspection — ask us for details.
*** Worker’s Compensation: additional state surcharges may apply. Not available in all states.
MA statewide repository requires additional steps — contact Support@SecureSearchPro.com. PA MVRs not available.
E-Verify requires execution of a Memorandum of Understanding between your organization and SSA/DHS prior to use.
All searches subject to FCRA compliance. State and local law may restrict use of certain report types.