Child Care Background Checks: What Parents Should Verify

Nothing is more important than your child's safety. Background checks are one of the essential safeguards in child care, screening out individuals with histories that could put children at risk. But what do background checks actually cover? What's required by law versus what's optional? And how can you verify that thorough screening has actually been done?

This guide explains the child care background check landscape, what you should expect from different care providers, and how to take matters into your own hands when needed.

Why Background Checks Matter

What Background Checks Can Reveal

Comprehensive background checks can uncover:

Criminal history:

Felony convictions
Misdemeanor convictions
Pending charges
Arrests (depending on state)
Conviction details (charges, dates, sentences)

Sex offender status:

Registration on sex offender registry
Details of offenses
Location and tier level

Child abuse history:

Substantiated child abuse reports
Child abuse registry inclusion
Neglect findings

Driving record (if applicable):

License validity
Moving violations
DUI/DWI history
Accidents

Other verifications:

Identity confirmation (SSN verification)
Previous addresses
Education and credential verification
Employment history verification

What Background Checks Cannot Tell You

Background checks are limited:

Only documented history: Cannot reveal unreported incidents
Jurisdictional gaps: May miss records from other countries or states
Time delays: Recent events may not yet appear
Quality of care: Doesn't indicate caregiving ability
Character: Doesn't assess warmth, patience, or judgment

Important: Background checks are necessary but not sufficient. They're one component of a thorough evaluation—not a guarantee of safety.

Background Check Requirements by Care Type

Licensed Daycare Centers

Federal requirements (Child Care Development Block Grant Act): Since 2017, all states receiving federal child care funding must conduct:

FBI fingerprint check
National Crime Information Center check
National Sex Offender Registry check
State criminal history check
State sex offender registry check
State child abuse and neglect registry check

Who must be checked:

All staff with unsupervised access to children
Owners and directors
Substitutes and volunteers (in most states)
Anyone living in facility (rare for centers)

When checks are done:

Before employment/hire
Every 5 years for ongoing employees
For new staff, provisional hire while checks complete (supervision required)

Licensed Family Daycare

Same federal requirements apply: Family daycare providers must complete the same six background checks as center staff.

Additional for home-based care:

All adults living in the home
Any regular visitors or helpers
Driver if transportation provided

Nannies (Private Hire)

No legal requirements in most cases. When you hire a nanny directly, background checks are:

Your responsibility
Not required by law
Strongly recommended
Paid for by you

Exception: Some states require background checks if you use certain subsidies.

Au Pairs

Regulated by State Department: Sponsoring agencies must:

Verify identity documents
Conduct criminal background check (U.S. and home country)
Verify references
Complete in-person interview
Obtain medical clearance

Babysitters

Generally no requirements:

Casual babysitters are unregulated
No mandatory background checks
Your responsibility to screen

Types of Background Checks

Criminal Background Check

What it includes:

| Level | What It Covers | Reliability | |-------|---------------|-------------| | County criminal | Records from one county | Most detailed for that county | | State criminal | All counties in one state | Varies by state database quality | | Federal criminal | Federal crimes only | Limited scope | | National database | Aggregated multi-state records | Faster but may have gaps | | FBI fingerprint | Most comprehensive | Gold standard, slowest |

Why multiple levels matter: Not all criminal records are in centralized databases. A nationwide database search might miss records that a county-level search would find. The FBI fingerprint check is most comprehensive because it checks fingerprints against federal records.

Sex Offender Registry Check

What it covers:

National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW)
State-specific registries
Tier level and offense details
Current registration status

You can check yourself: The National Sex Offender Public Website (nsopw.gov) is free and public. Search anyone by name.

Child Abuse Registry Check

What it covers:

Substantiated abuse or neglect findings
Date and nature of finding
Some states include specific details

Access limitations: Unlike sex offender registries, child abuse registries are not public. Only licensing agencies and authorized employers can access them for employment purposes.

Identity Verification

What it confirms:

Social Security Number is valid and matches name
Current and previous addresses
May include credit header information (not full credit report)
Alias and name variations

Why it matters: Criminals may use aliases or variations of their name. Identity verification ensures you're checking the right person and finding all their records.

Driving Record Check

Essential if provider will drive your children:

Current license status
Violations and points
DUI/DWI history
Accidents on record
License suspensions

Education and Credential Verification

Confirms:

Degrees claimed actually earned
CPR and first aid certifications current
Professional credentials valid
Specialized training completed

How to Verify Your Provider

For Licensed Daycare (Center or Home)

Step 1: Verify license status

Search state licensing database
Confirm current/active license
Review any violations

Step 2: Ask about background checks

"Are all staff fingerprinted and background checked?"
"When was the last check on my child's teachers?"
"Are volunteers and substitutes checked?"

Step 3: Request proof if desired You may not be able to see actual results (privacy), but you can ask:

"Do you have documentation that all checks were completed?"
"When are staff due for rechecks?"

What to look for in records:

Completion dates on required checks
Fingerprint-based FBI check (not just name-based)
All six federal checks completed

For Private Hire (Nanny/Babysitter)

You are responsible for conducting checks. Here's how:

Option 1: Use a background check service

Care.com, Sittercity include checks in premium membership
Standalone services: Checkr, GoodHire, Sterling
Cost: $30-$100+ per check

What to request:

Criminal history (multi-state)
Sex offender registry
SSN verification
Driving record (if they'll drive)

Option 2: Free public checks

National Sex Offender Registry (nsopw.gov)
State criminal record search (some states have free public access)
Local court records (often searchable online)

Option 3: Use an agency Nanny agencies typically conduct background checks as part of their placement service.

For Au Pairs

Trust but verify:

Ask sponsoring agency what checks were done
Request written confirmation
Review the specific searches completed

You can supplement:

Run your own criminal check on the au pair
Check sex offender registry yourself
Verify references independently

Conducting Your Own Background Check

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Get consent You must have written consent to run a background check on someone. Most background check services provide consent forms. This is legally required.

Step 2: Collect information You'll need from the candidate:

Full legal name (and any previous names)
Date of birth
Social Security Number
Current and previous addresses
Driver's license number (if checking driving)

Step 3: Choose your service | Service | Cost | Features | |---------|------|----------| | Care.com Background Check | $59 | Criminal, sex offender, SSN | | Checkr | $35-$80 | Criminal, verification options | | GoodHire | $30-$100+ | Criminal, driving, verification | | Sterling | $50-$150+ | Comprehensive, employer-grade | | BeenVerified | $20-$50 | Basic criminal, addresses |

Step 4: Wait for results

Database searches: 1-3 days
County searches: 3-7 days
FBI fingerprint: 1-3 weeks

Step 5: Review and interpret

Look for any criminal history related to violence, abuse, theft
Check sex offender status (immediate disqualifier)
Verify identity matches
Consider context (old minor offense vs. recent serious crime)

What Disqualifies Someone?

Automatic disqualifiers (for most parents):

Any sex offense
Any crime against a child
Violent felonies
Recent drug-related convictions
Currently on probation/parole for concerning offenses

Use judgment:

Very old minor offenses (consider context)
Non-violent offenses unrelated to children
Juvenile offenses (often sealed anyway)
Driving offenses (if not driving your children)

Have a conversation: If something appears on a check, you can give the candidate a chance to explain. Context matters—a 20-year-old minor shoplifting charge is different from a recent assault conviction.

Common Questions About Background Checks

"Why wasn't something on the background check?"

Records may not appear due to:

Different name/alias not searched
Records in county not covered by search
Recent offense not yet in database
Record sealed or expunged
Out-of-country offense

"Is it legal for me to run a background check?"

Yes, with written consent from the individual. You cannot run a background check without permission. The consent form typically explains what will be searched and their rights.

"What if I find something concerning?"

You are not obligated to hire anyone. If you choose not to hire based on background check results, most states require you to:

Provide a copy of the report
Give them a chance to dispute inaccuracies
Follow Fair Credit Reporting Act requirements if using a third-party service

"How often should checks be redone?"

For licensed care: Typically every 5 years (per federal law)
For private hire: Consider rechecking every 2-3 years, or after any extended absence
For driving: Annually if they drive your children

Red Flags Beyond Background Checks

Background checks can miss concerning behavior. Also watch for:

During hiring:

Reluctant to provide references
Gaps in employment history with no explanation
Stories that don't add up
Unwilling to consent to background check
Bad-mouthing previous employers extensively

After hiring:

Unexplained injuries on your child
Your child's behavior changes
Provider is secretive or defensive
Discrepancies between what they report and what you observe
Other parents express concerns

Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, investigate further.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I see my childcare center's actual background check results?

A: Generally no. Background check results are confidential employment records. You can ask for confirmation that checks were completed and are current, but not view the actual reports.

Q: Is a database background check as good as FBI fingerprinting?

A: No. FBI fingerprint checks are more comprehensive because they match fingerprints against federal records, catching people who use aliases. Database checks are faster and cheaper but may have gaps.

Q: Do I really need to background check a trusted family friend?

A: It's your call, but consider: most child abuse is committed by someone known to the family. A background check takes an hour and provides peace of mind.

Q: What if my state doesn't require background checks for family daycare?

A: Even if not required, you can ask if the provider has had checks done voluntarily, or offer to pay for checks yourself. A provider who refuses raises red flags.

Q: How do I background check an au pair from another country?

A: The sponsoring agency is required to conduct checks in their home country. You can also run U.S.-based checks once they arrive. International criminal checks are limited—trust the agency process but verify what you can.

Conclusion

Background checks are essential—but they're one tool, not a complete solution. To protect your child:

Verify that required checks were done for any licensed care provider
Conduct your own checks when hiring privately (nanny, babysitter)
Check sex offender registry for free yourself (nsopw.gov)
Understand limitations—background checks don't reveal everything
Trust your instincts and stay observant after hiring

The goal is layers of protection: background checks, references, observation, and ongoing vigilance. No single screening catches everything, but together they dramatically reduce risk.

Want to learn more about child care safety? Check out our guides on daycare safety checklist, child care licensing, how to hire a nanny, and choosing the right daycare.