How long a background check takes in Ohio depends on which check you’re running and what’s in your history. An electronic Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) check typically comes back in about a week. An FBI check runs on a similar timeline. If the search turns up a criminal record, or if anything about the submission needs manual review, results can take 30 to 45 days.
Typical Timelines for BCI and FBI Checks
Ohio’s official background checks run through two channels. The BCI, part of the Ohio Attorney General’s office, searches the state’s criminal history database. The FBI check searches federal and nationwide records. Many jobs and professional licenses require both, especially positions involving children, older adults, patient care, or law enforcement.
When fingerprints are submitted electronically at a WebCheck location, a clean BCI check often returns in roughly one week. The Attorney General’s office processes about 1.5 million background checks a year through this system.1Ohio Attorney General. WebCheck FBI results tend to arrive on a similar or slightly longer schedule.
The moment the system flags a possible record match, the timeline changes. Analysts have to pull fingerprint matches against underlying court records and confirm the details by hand. That review typically pushes results to 30 to 45 days.
What Can Push the Wait Longer
If your results are running past the baseline, the cause is almost always one of these factors rather than a general backlog:
- A criminal history on file. Any record triggers manual review by BCI or FBI analysts, and manual review takes time.
- A common name. If your name matches many records in the system, analysts have to sort through them individually to identify the right person.
- Records in other states. When your history includes out-of-state arrests or convictions, BCI has to coordinate with those jurisdictions. Counties that still keep paper records rather than digital systems are especially slow to respond.
- Rejected fingerprints. Poor-quality prints get kicked back, and you’ll need to return to a WebCheck location to submit again. This happens more often than people expect, particularly for older applicants and anyone whose prints have worn from manual labor.
- Incomplete applications. Missing information or errors on the submission form stall processing while the agency asks for clarification.
Electronic Submission vs. Mailed Fingerprint Cards
Nearly all BCI and FBI checks require electronic fingerprint submission at a WebCheck site. WebCheck locations include sheriff’s offices, police departments, and private vendors across Ohio. You can search for one by county or ZIP code on the Attorney General’s website. Calling ahead is a good idea. BCI recently upgraded its system to meet FBI standards, and not every location’s equipment may be current.
Mailed fingerprint cards are accepted only in limited circumstances, such as when an applicant lives far from any WebCheck location. Paper submissions take significantly longer than electronic ones, so if speed matters, get to a WebCheck site.
Private Screening Companies Run on a Different Clock
Some employers use a private screening company instead of, or alongside, the official BCI and FBI checks. Those vendors report their own timelines. Industry averages for comprehensive packages that bundle criminal history, identity verification, and employment or education checks run seven to ten business days. Some vendors deliver faster, in the three- to five-day range, depending on the scope of the search and how many jurisdictions are involved.
If your employer told you they’re using a background check company rather than sending you to WebCheck, the BCI timelines above don’t apply. The vendor’s own turnaround controls, and it depends heavily on how deep the search goes.
What Shows Up When the Check Comes Back
An official BCI or FBI report details your criminal history: arrests, charges, whether those charges led to misdemeanor or felony convictions, and the outcome of each case. Reports include offense dates, disposition dates, and sentencing details. Drug screening results are not part of a criminal background check and require separate authorization from the employer.
What the Checks Cost
A BCI-only check runs roughly $37 to $38. The combined BCI and FBI check runs approximately $62. WebCheck locations may charge a separate fingerprinting fee on top of that. Fees are paid at the time of fingerprinting, and many employers or licensing agencies either cover the cost or reimburse you.
If Your Results Are Taking Too Long
Before assuming something has gone wrong, check your submission date against the timelines above. A week isn’t a delay. Three weeks with no result usually means a record match triggered manual review, not that anything is broken. If you know you have a criminal history, or if you have a common name or out-of-state records, plan for the 30 to 45 day range rather than the one-week baseline.
Rejected fingerprints are one of the few delays you can act on directly. If the WebCheck operator tells you the prints were low quality, or if you’re notified that the submission was rejected, go back and resubmit as soon as you can. The clock starts over each time.
Getting a Copy of Your Own BCI Check
If a BCI check was run on you within the past year, you can request a copy. The request is free if made within 30 days of the original check. After 30 days, the fee is $8. Either way, you need to submit the request within 11 months of your original fingerprinting date so there’s enough processing time before the check expires.2Ohio Attorney General. Request for Copy of Ohio BCI Check
You can submit the request by mail, email, or fax to BCI’s Civilian Unit. Payment can be made electronically through the state’s e-Payment website or by money order, certified check, business check, or personal check payable to the Treasurer, State of Ohio.2Ohio Attorney General. Request for Copy of Ohio BCI Check
This option covers only the Ohio BCI check. FBI results cannot be re-sent to a different address than the one given with the original submission. If you need an updated FBI result, you have to submit a new FBI background check with new fingerprints.2Ohio Attorney General. Request for Copy of Ohio BCI Check