Fast, compliant background checks for Michigan employers.

AccuSourceHR is PBSA-certified. Get accurate Michigan background checks fast, without exposing your company to FCRA compliance risk.

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What is a Michigan background check?

A Michigan background check is not one-size-fits-all. Most employers run a commercial, name-based criminal history search through a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) like AccuSourceHR. That search covers criminal court records and public databases across Michigan and beyond. However, employers in regulated industries, such as healthcare organizations with staff who have direct access to patients, face an additional layer of requirements. Under Michigan's Workforce Background Check program, administered by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and its Bureau of Community and Health Systems, those employers must obtain state and federal fingerprint-based criminal history checks through Livescan fingerprinting while AccuSourceHR currently does not conduct or facilitate fingerprinting or fingerprint-based searches. The state fingerprint check runs through the Michigan State Police (MSP) Criminal History Records unit, while the federal check runs through the FBI.

Navigating Michigan screening requires managing both federal and state requirements simultaneously. The FCRA governs every employer that uses a third-party CRA, requiring a standalone written disclosure, written consent before screening begins, and a defined adverse action process when a report influences a hiring decision. EEOC guidance adds another obligation: individualized assessment before you deny employment based on criminal history. Knowing which framework applies to your organization, and when MSP Livescan fingerprinting is required versus a commercial name-based check, is where many Michigan employers run into compliance risk. AccuSourceHR builds every screening program to current federal and Michigan-specific requirements, so you can hire faster without cutting compliance corners.

Explore the screening package

OIG LEIE Exclusion Check

Mandatory for employers participating in federally funded healthcare programs; searches the OIG List of Excluded Individuals and Entities before hire.

Criminal History Search

(Name-Based, Multi-Jurisdictional)

Searches criminal records, court records, and public databases across Michigan and beyond; industry best practice for most employers.

SSN Trace and Identity Verification

Confirms candidate identity and surfaces aliases and prior addresses to ensure your criminal search is scoped correctly from the start.

Employment History Verification

Cross-checks job titles and dates of employment directly with former employers to confirm what the candidate has reported on their application.

Education Verification

Confirms degrees and credentials through primary-source contact with institutions, catching the discrepancies that frequently surface during screening.

Professional License Verification

Confirms that state-issued licenses, such as nursing or medical credentials, are active and in good standing through the relevant Michigan licensing board.

Sex Offender Registry Check

Searches the National Sex Offender Registry, to which the Michigan sex offender registry reports, to identify registered offenders. Especially relevant for roles involving contact with minors or vulnerable adults.

Motor Vehicle Records (MVR)

Searches Michigan DMV records for license validity, violations, and suspensions; recommended for any role involving driving responsibilities.

Credit Report

Searches credit history for roles with financial responsibilities; requires FCRA permissible purpose documentation and written candidate consent before ordering.

Calls answered live by a U.S.-based specialist

hrs

First reply on every support request

days

Typical Michigan criminal search turnaround

+ yrs

Screening employees since 1999

BAN-THE-BOX

There is no statewide ban-the-box law for private employers in Michigan. Austin’s Fair Chance Hiring Ordinance restricts conviction inquiries for private employers with 15 or more employees, and state agencies have removed the conviction question from job applications.

Ban The Box Laws

REPORTING LIMITS

Michigan follows the federal FCRA. Non-conviction records (such as arrests not resulting in conviction) generally cannot be reported after seven years for roles paying under $75,000; convictions may be reported without a time limit.

WHERE RECORDS COME FROM

AccuSourceHR pulls Michigan criminal records from the Michigan State Police through ICHAT, the state's public criminal history database, and pairs that statewide check with direct searches at the county and district courts where records actually originate.

SOC 2 Type II Certification

Audited for security, availability & data privacy

PBSA Founding Member

Among the accredited 5% of screeners

Overall Enterprise Pre-Employment Screening Leaders

HRO Baker’s Dozen

Top-rated enterprise screening provider

BackgroundCheck_HighPerformer_Enterprise_HighPerformer

G2 High Performer

Consistently named a G2 High Performer

I appreciate that AccuSourceHR, Inc. consolidates all the information in one spot and does the research for us. The detailed reports make it very easy to review and decide, and it's easy to find people and their attempts to complete their portions. I also find it helpful that you can search either by person or by order type. The initial setup was very simple, and the customer care team was very helpful and informative.

Arij V.

★★★★☆

The ability to check the status within the AccuSourceHR portal. It shows exactly when the ETA is and which counties/cities are still pending. Customer Service is always prompt, efficient and very helpful!

Laurie L.

★★★★★

What does a background check show in Michigan?

A commercial background check in Michigan typically covers criminal records from state and county courts, multi-jurisdictional criminal databases, SSN trace and identity verification, employment history, education credentials, motor vehicle records for driving roles, and credit reports for financially sensitive positions. For regulated roles in healthcare and similar settings, the Michigan State Police Criminal History Records Unit and the FBI can also return criminal history results that go beyond what a name-based commercial search returns. AccuSourceHR also offers a non-fingerprinting-based State Criminal search through ICHAT, which should always be accompanied by county-level criminal court searches for complete coverage. The specific checks included in your package depend on the role, your industry, and any applicable regulatory requirements.
How long does a background check take in Michigan?

Turnaround time in Michigan depends heavily on the checks your package includes and how responsive third parties are. Criminal history searches close quickly in most cases, but employment and education verifications can slow down when former employers are unresponsive or school registrar offices are understaffed. It is also worth noting that due to Michigan's Clean Slate Law enacted in 2023, county-level searches can take longer as certain information has been removed from public access. Fingerprint-based checks through the Michigan State Police or FBI, required for regulated roles under the LARA Workforce Background Check program, move on their own processing timelines outside of what a commercial CRA controls. AccuSourceHR tracks every open order and follows up proactively so delays get surfaced to you early, not after a start date has already passed.
How much does a Michigan background check cost?
What is an SSN trace and why does it matter for Michigan background checks?

An SSN trace uses your candidate's Social Security number to help identify jurisdictions to search for criminal records. It is important to understand that the SSN address history is not a validation product and the data is not included in the final report; it functions as a pointer tool to help determine where criminal record searches should be conducted. This can be discussed further with your AccuSourceHR representative. This is especially useful in Michigan where a candidate may have lived in multiple locations before relocating for your open role. Without an SSN trace, a name-based criminal search may only run against the address a candidate lists on their application, potentially missing records tied to prior names or past addresses.
What happens if I skip a required step in the Michigan background check process?

If you use a third-party CRA to conduct background checks, the FCRA requires a specific sequence: standalone written disclosure, written authorization from the candidate, and then, if a report contributes to a negative hiring decision, a two-step adverse action process that includes a pre-adverse action notice with a copy of the report and the Summary of Rights, followed by a final adverse action notice. Skipping or combining any of these steps exposes your organization to FCRA claims.

Fast, compliant background checks for Michigan employers.

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What is a Michigan background check?

Build the right Michigan background screening package

OIG LEIE Exclusion Check

Criminal History Search

(Name-Based, Multi-Jurisdictional)

SSN Trace and Identity Verification

Employment History Verification

Education Verification

Professional License Verification

Sex Offender Registry Check

Motor Vehicle Records (MVR)

Credit Report

Drug Testing

Stay compliant with Michigan screening rules

BAN-THE-BOX

REPORTING LIMITS

WHERE RECORDS COME FROM

Every county in Michigan

Michigan background checks don't have to be this complicated.

Michigan screening programs built for your industry

Healthcare

Staffing

Transportation

Government

Education

Manufacturing

Hospitality

Small Business

Connects to the ATS & HRIS you already use

More than a vendor, a true screening partner

SOC 2 Type II Certification

PBSA Founding Member

HRO Baker’s Dozen

G2 High Performer

Trusted by employers who hire at scale

Arij V.

Laurie L.

Michigan background check questions

What does a background check show in Michigan?

How long does a background check take in Michigan?

How much does a Michigan background check cost?

What is an SSN trace and why does it matter for Michigan background checks?

What happens if I skip a required step in the Michigan background check process?

Ready to run faster, compliant background checks in Michigan?