Pre-Employment Background Screening

In an effort to continually provide and maintain a safe environment for the University community at large, Florida Atlantic University requires all new employees (Faculty, AMP, SP, Adjunct, Student,Temporary, and Volunteers) to undergo a pre-employment background check. In addition to first time employees, background checks will be performed on current employees transferring to a new division within the University only if they have not had one within the last year. Individuals converting from student employment positions will be subject to a standard background check. Any former employee with more than 1 year break in service will be required to undergo a new background check prior to re-hire.
 
Pre-employment screenings provide the University with critical information to use in making the best and most informed hiring decisions. The components of the pre-employment screening include:
 
  • Level I Background Check:
    • Federal Criminal History
    • County Criminal History
    • SSN Trace
    • National Sex Offender Registry 
    • Widescreen Plus National Criminal Search
  • Level II FDLE Background Check:
    • Comprehensive, fingerprint based screening
    • Criminal history from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)
    • Criminal history from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
  • Level II Department of Children and Families Check (DCF): 
    • Comprehensive, fingerprint based screening
    • Required for recreational, educational and other enrichment programs operated during the summer and year-round. 
    • All camp personnel must be screened, which includes; owners, operators, employees and volunteers that provide care for children.
    • Volunteers who assist on an occasional basis for less than 10 hours per month do not need to be screened, if a person who meets the screening requirement is always present and has the volunteer in his/her sight. All employees and volunteers under the age of 18 must be screened.
    • All camp personnel must be screened no more than 60 days before they begin employment and must be re-screened annually, unless they continually work in a profession caring for vulnerable populations and are not unemployed for more than a 90 day period, and the Level 2 screening was completed within the last 5 years.
  • Additional screenings and verifications are available based on the position and responsibilities: 
    • Credit history check
    • Motor Vehicle Records check (MVR)
    • International background check
    • Healthcare sanctions screening 
    • Education verification

Additional Information:

FAU colleges and departments may facilitate additional pre-employment screenings as required by law or program accreditation. Additional screenings may include, a Foreign Influence Screening, a Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) screening, drug screening or professional license screening.

Hiring managers are responsible for conducting professional reference checks prior to recommending any applicant for hire.

Checks for credit history and/or driving record will be required for positions having fiduciary or driving responsibilities. 

Level II background check screening is required for FAU employees that provide care, treatment, training, instruction, supervise or have direct contact with the vulnerable population such as children under the age of 18, elderly or those with disabilities. A level II background check screening is also required for positions that have been determined by the President, a Vice President or the Provost to include special trust or responsibility or a sensitive location. 

Some University departments requiring level two background checks as defined by the Jessica Lunsford Act will implement their own investigation, for example, University Police Department, A.D. Henderson University School.