FCRA-Compliant Background Screening

Employee Background Checks for Employers

Different roles carry different risks. Catapult delivers fast, accurate, FCRA-compliant background checks — with most reports ready in 1-3 business days — so you can hire with total confidence.

Why Catapult

Background Checks Done Right — Fast, Accurate, and Compliant

A bad hire costs an average of 30% of a first-year salary. Professional employee background checks are your first line of defense — catching misrepresented credentials, undisclosed criminal history, and eligibility issues before they become your problem.

As a licensed consumer reporting agency (CRA) and PBSA member, Catapult runs background checks that are legally defensible, FCRA-compliant, and built around your specific roles and industries.

Why Employers Choose Catapult

FCRA-Compliant From Start to Finish
Every background check follows federal and state compliance requirements — protecting you from adverse action liability
1-3 Business Day Turnaround
Fast results without sacrificing accuracy — most reports completed within 72 hours
PBSA-Accredited Member
Held to the highest industry accuracy and consumer protection standards
Custom Packages — No Overpaying
Tailored screening combinations that match your role requirements and industry regulations

How Our Background Check Process Works

Simple, transparent, and designed to keep your hiring moving forward — not stuck waiting on paperwork.

1
Submit Request
Authorize screening via secure online portal with candidate consent
2
We Screen
FCRA-compliant searches across criminal, employment, and other selected databases
3
Receive Report
Clear, comprehensive background check results in 1-3 business days
4
Ongoing Support
Adverse action guidance and compliance support from our team whenever you need it

Types of Background Checks We Offer

Every package is customizable — combine screening types to match the risk profile of the role.

Criminal Background Checks

Federal, state, and county criminal record searches for felony and misdemeanor convictions, sex offender registries, and global watchlists. The foundation of every employee background check.

Employment Verification

Confirm previous employment dates, job titles, and responsibilities directly with former employers. Uncover resume misrepresentation before it becomes a liability.

Education Verification

Verify claimed degrees, diplomas, and professional certifications directly with accredited institutions. Essential for roles requiring specific educational credentials.

Drug Screening

Urine, hair, and oral fluid drug testing options. Pre-employment, random, post-incident, and return-to-duty programs available for safety-sensitive and regulated industries.

Driving Records (MVR)

Motor Vehicle Record searches revealing license status, violations, accidents, and suspensions. Required for any role involving company vehicles or transportation responsibilities.

Credit History Checks

Soft credit inquiries for positions involving financial responsibility or access to sensitive assets. Conducted in strict compliance with FCRA and applicable state credit check laws.

Sanctions & Watchlist Screening

Screen against OFAC, OIG exclusion lists, terrorist watchlists, domestic and international sanctions databases, and regulatory enforcement records.

Professional Reference Checks

Structured interviews with professional references to assess skills, reliability, cultural fit, and work quality — providing insight beyond what resumes and interviews reveal.

Continuous Monitoring

Post-hire criminal record and MVR monitoring that alerts you to new activity in real time — so your workforce background check doesn’t expire on day one of employment.

Legal & Compliance

FCRA-Compliant Background Checks — What That Means for You

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) governs how consumer reporting agencies — and the employers who use them — must conduct and act on background checks. Non-compliance exposes employers to class action lawsuits, statutory damages, and state regulatory penalties.

Catapult handles the compliance burden for you: proper disclosure and authorization forms, individualized adverse action procedures, dispute rights notifications, and records retention. Every background check we run follows both federal FCRA requirements and applicable state-level regulations including ban-the-box, salary history, and fair chance hiring laws.

We also stay current on North Carolina and multi-state employer requirements, so you’re not navigating a patchwork of local ordinances on your own.

Compliance Coverage

Federal FCRA
Full compliance with disclosure, authorization, adverse action, and dispute procedures
Ban-the-Box & Fair Chance Laws
State and local restrictions on criminal history inquiry timing and use
EEOC Guidance
Individualized assessment processes to avoid disparate impact liability
NC Private Protective Services Board
Licensed investigative agency in NC (License BPN 001473P11M) with active regulatory oversight

Background Check Services Across Every Industry

Screening requirements vary significantly by sector — we build packages that reflect your industry’s specific risk profile and regulatory environment.

Healthcare
OIG exclusions, license verification, abuse registry
Financial Services
Credit checks, FINRA BrokerCheck, sanctions screening
Government & Defense
Clearance support, ITAR compliance, watchlist screening
Nonprofits & Education
Volunteer screening, sex offender registry, child safety checks
Manufacturing & Logistics
Drug screening programs, MVR checks, safety compliance
Retail & Hospitality
High-volume screening, theft prevention, fast turnaround
Technology & SaaS
Data access risk, IP protection, education verification
Small to Enterprise
Scalable packages from 10 to 10,000+ annual hires

What Employers Say About Our Background Check Services

“Catapult’s background checking team is five times faster than our previous provider. The reports are thorough and the compliance support has been invaluable.”

Gabriel Johnson, HR Payroll Administrator

“I can always rely on Catapult for quick turnaround times. Every background check comes back clean and documented. Every time I leave a meeting with them, I am much more informed and confident.”

Liz Fry, Team Advocate

Background Check FAQs

Common questions from employers about background check services, FCRA compliance, and what screening can uncover.

What types of background checks do you offer?
We offer criminal background checks (federal, state, and county), employment verification, education verification, reference checks, motor vehicle records (MVR), drug screening (urine, hair, oral fluid), credit checks, sanctions and watchlist screening, SSN verification, and continuous post-hire monitoring.
How long does a background check take?
Most background check reports are completed within 1-3 business days. Criminal county searches and international verifications may take additional time depending on the jurisdiction. We work to minimize delays without compromising the accuracy or compliance of the report.
What shows up on an employee background check?
Depending on the package ordered, a background check can reveal criminal convictions (felonies and misdemeanors), employment history discrepancies, unverified degree claims, driving record violations, credit history (for eligible roles), sex offender registry status, and presence on government sanctions or exclusion lists. State laws govern how far back records can be searched and what can be used in hiring decisions.
Are your background check services FCRA compliant?
Yes — fully. Catapult Services Corporation is a licensed consumer reporting agency (CRA) under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. This means we are legally required to follow strict standards for disclosure, candidate authorization, accuracy, adverse action procedures, and dispute rights — protecting both employers and applicants.
What is ban-the-box and does it apply to my business?
Ban-the-box laws restrict when during the hiring process you can ask about or run criminal background checks — typically requiring a conditional job offer before screening. Laws vary significantly by state and city, and cover different employer sizes. Catapult’s compliance team tracks applicable requirements for your locations so your background check process remains legally defensible.
Can I customize my background check package?
Yes. We build packages based on your industry, roles, and volume. A financial services firm needs different screening than a healthcare employer or a warehouse operation. Custom packages mean you only pay for what your positions actually require.
How much does a background check cost?
Background check pricing depends on the specific combination of searches included in your package and your annual screening volume. Contact us for a free consultation — we’ll recommend the right package for your roles and provide transparent, volume-based pricing.
What is a consumer reporting agency (CRA)?
A consumer reporting agency (CRA) is a company licensed under the FCRA to compile and report background information for employment purposes. Using a licensed CRA like Catapult — rather than running background checks informally — protects employers from legal liability and ensures candidates’ rights are upheld throughout the process. Catapult Services Corporation holds NC Agency License BPN 001473P11M.
PBSA Member — Professional Background Screening Association
PBSA Accredited Member
Catapult is a proud member of the Professional Background Screening Association — the industry’s gold standard for background check accuracy, compliance, and consumer protection. PBSA membership means independent oversight of our screening practices and a commitment to the highest ethical standards in employment background screening.

*Catapult Services Corporation is an investigative agency licensed by the Private Protective Services Board of the State of North Carolina specializing in corporate pre-employment background screening. Our corporate agency license is BPN 001473P11M, Qualify Agent, Kevin von der Lippe, PI, 2891. Catapult Services Corporation is a consumer reporting agency that supplies applicant screening services for employment, volunteer and student screening, to authorized organizations under the conditions of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Human Trafficking

If you feel you are a victim of Human Trafficking, click on this link to learn more about your rights as it relates to your background screening report.

Personal Information Disclosure: United States or Overseas

Personal information submitted to Catapult Services Corporation for background screening is not transferred to third parties outside of the United States or its territories unless the completion of a background report about the person requires gathering information about that person from outside the United States (ex. international criminal check, verification of employment records outside the United States or verification of education records outside the United States.) All personal information will be transmitted and stored in a secure manner in accordance with the terms of this Privacy Policy.

Run Background Checks the Right Way

Fast, FCRA-compliant employee background checks — delivered by a licensed consumer reporting agency with decades of employer experience. Let’s build your screening program.

Request a Free Consultation