An FBI fingerprint check shows criminal history that law enforcement agencies have reported to the FBI with fingerprints. It does not show your credit, job history or most traffic tickets. Here is what to expect, and what to do if your report isn’t right.
Need this done in the Portland area? PDX Fingerprinting offers FBI background check fingerprinting at our Beaverton, Hillsboro and Lake Oswego offices, plus mobile service across the Portland metro. Book an appointment online.
What usually shows up
- Arrests that were fingerprinted and reported to the FBI
- Charges listed at the time of arrest
- Court outcomes (dispositions), when the court or agency reported them
- Federal arrests and some military records
- Custody, probation or parole entries, if reported
What usually doesn’t show up
- Credit history, debts or bankruptcies
- Employment and education history
- Most traffic tickets and infractions
- Civil lawsuits
- Arrests that were never fingerprinted or reported
- Many sealed or expunged records, once the FBI has been notified
The gap that causes problems: missing outcomes
The most common issue is an arrest that shows no final outcome. If a charge was dismissed but the court never reported it, the FBI report only shows the arrest. Get certified court records and ask for the record to be updated. See how to read and fix your FBI report.
Who sees it
Only you, or an agency authorized by law to receive it with your consent (for example a licensing board or government employer). Private employers usually use name-based checks instead. See FBI vs. regular background checks.
Related questions
- Do pending charges show up?
- Do dismissed charges show up?
- Do expunged records show up?
- Can you fail an FBI background check?
How to check your own FBI record
You can request your own FBI Identity History Summary at any time. It shows exactly what an agency would see in your FBI record. At PDX Fingerprinting, our FBI background check service ($135) handles the fingerprints and the electronic request for you.
- Book a fingerprint appointment.
- Bring a government photo ID.
- We take your prints and submit the request.
- You receive the results directly from the FBI.
If your record is wrong or incomplete
Contact the court or arresting agency to have the outcome reported, or file a challenge with the FBI using certified court records. Read how accurate FBI checks are for details.
How far back does an FBI check go?
An FBI Identity History Summary is not limited to 7 years. It can include arrests from any time in your life that were reported to the FBI with fingerprints. Name-based employer checks are different, and some are limited by law in how far back they can report certain information.
What employers and boards actually look at
- The type of offense and whether it relates to the job
- How long ago it happened
- Whether there was a conviction or the case was dismissed
- What you have done since, such as completed sentences, education or work history
Frequently asked questions
How far back does an FBI check go?
There is generally no 7-year cutoff for FBI Identity History Summaries; reported records can go back decades.
Does a DUI show up?
A DUI arrest that was fingerprinted and reported usually appears.
Can I see my own report first?
Yes. We can take your prints and submit your own FBI check. Book an appointment.
