Background checks are essential for anything that requires background screening. The most common reason for running a background check on someone is for employment purposes. Among the many components that can go into a background check, one thing remains the same across pretty much all, and that is a criminal background check.

Employers include a criminal background check as part of the screening to know whether someone has been convicted of criminal offenses in the past. The same goes for background checks for professional licenses, firearm purchases, tenant screening, adoption, immigration – pretty much any background check you can think of.

This can make someone wonder whether they will pass a background check if they have a criminal record, particularly a misdemeanor. If you’re asking yourself, “Will I pass a background check with a misdemeanor?” read to the end to get your answers. We will cover everything those with a misdemeanor on their criminal record should know about passing a background check.

Do Background Checks Look for Misdemeanors?

First and foremost, let’s answer whether background checks look for misdemeanors.

Background checks look for misdemeanor offenses as part of the criminal records investigation. Whether the misdemeanor on the person’s record is petty theft, public intoxication, traffic violation, or any other, it will appear on the background check results.

However, there are also other factors that go into whether a background check reveals misdemeanor information. A basic employment check might only include convictions from the last seven years for select states, particularly if the job pays under a certain amount.

For federal job screening and government security clearances, however, these don’t apply. Background checks for these show misdemeanors by reviewing the person’s entire criminal record regardless of time.

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Will I Pass a Background Check With a Misdemeanor on My Record?

Contrary to popular belief, having a criminal record doesn’t mean you will automatically fail a background check. It depends on why you’re undergoing a background check and why you’ve had a misdemeanor.

In most cases, before you fail a background check because of a misdemeanor (or any other criminal offense, for that matter), the employer, landlord, or the agency conducting the background check will consider the nature of the offense, when it happened, and whether it is relevant to the position or responsibility. Some might also accept evidence of a clear record, since the misdemeanor would allow you to pass the background check.

For example, someone with a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct from five years ago may still be hired for a retail job, but a recent misdemeanor involving theft might raise a red flag, as the job will involve handling money or inventory at the very least.

Will I Pass a Background Check With a Misdemeanor From 10 Years Ago?

Given the seven-year rule, a misdemeanor from ten years ago is less likely to impact your background check results negatively, especially if you have kept a clean record since. Most background checks for employment and housing look for criminal records for the past seven years. This, however, as mentioned above, depends on the job and whether the background check is conducted by the federal government.

Additionally, if a misdemeanor is sealed or expunged from the records, it won’t appear in the background check, no matter how long ago it was. Therefore, you won’t need to worry if you would pass a background check with a misdemeanor or not, if it was sealed or expunged.

What Happens if You Fail a Background Check?

Failing a background check is concerning for many, but it doesn’t mean that you won’t get the job you want or be able to rent the property you want to rent. If you fail a background check because of a misdemeanor that happened long ago, it might not affect the employer’s decision, especially if you were upfront about it in the first place.

The same goes for housing, though you might need to submit additional documentation to prove rehabilitation or appeals for professional licenses. Therefore, having a misdemeanor appear on your background check doesn’t mean the end of the world.

Will I Pass a Background Check with a Misdemeanor? Find Out Today

While there are many ways to check your criminal history, running a free background check on yourself remains the best option. We recommend using freepeoplesearch.com to look up your own background check.

Enter your name, city, and state to get a search started and discover if a misdemeanor appears on your record. After running a search on yourself, you can be better prepared about what comes next in case a past misdemeanor appears on your record.