What Shows Up on a Locksmith Background Check

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Quick answer: A locksmith background check typically shows county, state, federal and national database criminal records, sex-offender registry matches, and an SSN trace for address history. It can also include motor vehicle records, employment and education verification, and drug testing. Reveal Background returns most searches the same day, subject to FCRA and state limits.

• Locksmiths work unsupervised in homes, cars and businesses, so most employers order criminal, registry, SSN trace and MVR searches together.
• Every check must follow the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): written disclosure, written authorization, and a two-step adverse action process.
• What can be reported depends on state law, including ban-the-box timing and seven-year reporting limits in some states.

What does a locksmith background check cover?

A locksmith background check is an employment screening report that verifies a candidate's identity, criminal history, driving record and work history before they get access to customer property and keys. Reveal Background builds the package from individual searches, so you pay only for the searches you order.

Hiring teams treat locksmiths as a high-trust role. The job involves entering homes, vehicles and commercial buildings, often alone and after hours. Your employment background screening package should reflect that exposure.

Which searches appear on the report?

The table below lists the searches most employers order for locksmith candidates and what each one returns.

Locksmith background check searches and what each shows

Search	What it shows	Why it matters for a locksmith
County criminal	Felony and misdemeanor records from the courts in counties where the candidate lived or worked	Source-level court records, the most detailed view of theft, burglary or fraud cases
State criminal	Records from state repositories, where state law allows access	Catches cases outside the counties you searched
Federal criminal	Federal court cases	Covers federal offenses that county searches miss
National criminal database	Multi-jurisdiction record matches	Locates jurisdictions to search; should be confirmed at the court level
Sex-offender registry	Registry matches	Relevant to in-home work with vulnerable residents
SSN trace	Names and addresses linked to the Social Security number	Identifies which counties to search and flags identity mismatches
Motor vehicle record (MVR)	License status, violations, suspensions	Needed when the locksmith drives a company vehicle
Employment and education verification	Dates, titles and credentials confirmed with the source	Confirms the training and prior locksmith experience claimed

What an SSN trace does and does not do

An SSN trace is an address-history search tied to a Social Security number. It is not a criminal record search. Use it to decide where to run county searches and to spot name or identity discrepancies.

Drug testing

Some employers add pre-employment drug testing for locksmiths who drive or handle high-value access. Reveal Background coordinates this through American Screening Corp. A drug test is a separate service from the background report.

Do locksmith licensing rules change what is checked?

Yes, in some states. A number of states license locksmiths and run their own criminal history review as part of licensing. Others have no state license at all. Confirm the rule with your state licensing board, and treat a license as one data point rather than a replacement for your own screening. A license check also does not cover county records in every place the candidate has lived.

What FCRA steps must you follow?

When a third party prepares the report, the FCRA (15 U.S.C. 1681) applies. The FTC explains these duties in its business guidance on background checks, as of the current guidance on ftc.gov. Follow these steps in order:

1. Give the candidate a standalone written disclosure that you may obtain a background report.
2. Get written authorization before you order the report.
3. Review the report and compare any record with the job requirements.
4. If you may reject the candidate based on the report, send a pre-adverse action notice with a copy of the report and the summary of rights.
5. Allow a reasonable time for the candidate to dispute errors.
6. If you proceed, send the final adverse action notice with the required FCRA information.

What limits apply to what you can use?

The EEOC's enforcement guidance on arrest and conviction records says employers should consider the nature of the offense, how long ago it happened, and the relevance to the job. A blanket ban on any record can create discrimination risk under Title VII. Document your reasoning for each decision.

• Seven-year rules: The FCRA limits reporting of non-conviction arrest records beyond seven years, and several states apply seven-year limits more broadly. Check the state where the candidate will work.
• Ban-the-box: Many states and cities require you to wait until after an interview or conditional offer before asking about or running criminal history.
• Individualized assessment: A theft or burglary conviction may be directly job-related for a locksmith. An unrelated old misdemeanor may not be.

Checklist: ordering a locksmith background check

• Confirm your state and local licensing and ban-the-box rules.
• Collect a standalone disclosure and signed authorization.
• Order county criminal for each county in the SSN trace, plus federal, national database and sex-offender registry.
• Add MVR if the role involves driving.
• Verify prior employment and credentials.
• Add drug testing if your policy requires it.
• Apply a written, job-related standard to every candidate.
• Follow the adverse action steps before declining anyone.

How fast are results?

Reveal Background returns most searches the same day. Some county courts, employment verifications and education verifications take longer because they depend on the source responding. There is no setup fee and you pay per report. You can create an account and order the searches above in one request.

FAQ

Does a locksmith background check show a driving record?

Only if you order a motor vehicle record. An MVR shows license status, violations and suspensions as reported by the state. Order it when the locksmith drives a company vehicle.

How far back does a locksmith background check go?

It depends on the search and state law. Federal law limits reporting of non-conviction arrests beyond seven years, and some states limit more. Confirm the rule for the work state.

Can I reject a locksmith candidate for a conviction?

Possibly, if the record is job-related and you follow the EEOC's individualized assessment guidance. You must also complete the FCRA pre-adverse and adverse action steps.

Is drug testing part of a locksmith background check?

No. Drug testing is a separate service. Reveal Background coordinates it through American Screening Corp when your hiring policy requires it.

Sources

• FTC: Background Checks: What Employers Need to Know
• EEOC: Enforcement Guidance on the Consideration of Arrest and Conviction Records in Employment Decisions
• FTC: Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681)

This article is general information, not legal or medical advice; consult counsel before taking adverse action based on a background report.