Background Check Services

The Office of Human Resources offers various types of background checks depending on your position and role within the university. Background check services are only provided for official university business. The Office of Human Resources is available for consultation regarding both the policy and program processes.

Final candidates for specified university positions are required to successfully complete a background check, per policy 4.15. There may also be occasions when current employees or non-employees (volunteer, contractor, consultant, etc.) will be required to complete a background check and/or a renew a background check.

Select positions and individuals not included in the background check policy who are working with minors must complete a fingerprint background check.

The Ohio State Office of Human Resources does not conduct background checks for the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. For Ohio State Wexner Medical Center background check information, contact HR Shared Services at 614-293-4995 or Security ID Processing at 614-293-4452.

Online First Advantage Background Checks are completed if you are a final candidate for a position or university employee who is required to have a background check. First Advantage, the university’s exclusive third-party vendor for pre-employment screening, will email you a link to complete the background check online by submitting required information. Learn more about the information you need to provide, what the email looks like and how to complete the process.

Online Sterling Talent Solutions Background Checks are completed if you are obtaining a non-employee (contractor, consultant, etc.) appointment for university involvement and are required to have a background check. Sterling, the university’s exclusive third-party vendor for non-employee screening, allows you to complete the background check online by submitting your information through the vendor portal. Learn more about the information you need to provide, what the platform looks like and how to complete the process.

Fingerprinting BCI/FBI Background Checks may be required for some university positions or programs, including but not limited to Education, Nursing, Speech and Hearing, Psychology, Social Work, Learning Center and Work Study, as outlined by the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) and some university policies. Volunteers or others who are working with minors are also required to complete a fingerprint background check, per policy 1.50.

Background checks required by the ORC must be conducted through a fingerprinting process and submitted to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). BCI/FBI background check services are conducted at the Ohio State Office of Human Resources, 1590 N. High Street, Suite 300, Columbus, Ohio 43201.