What Do Background Check Statuses Mean?

The short answer

Background check status words are not universal.

“Pending,” “Clear,” “Consider,” “Eligible,” and “Decisional” can have specific meanings inside a particular screening provider’s system. The safest way to interpret a status is to identify the provider that issued it and use that provider’s official documentation.

Two of the most searched examples illustrate why:

• Checkr uses “Clear” and “Consider” as report-result terms.
• First Advantage uses “Eligible” and “Decisional” in candidate status information.

A “Consider” or “Decisional” status does not automatically mean you failed a background check.

QUICK STATUS TABLE

Always verify the provider-specific definition.

What Does “Pending” Mean on a Background Check?

In Checkr’s current documentation, Pending means the report is processing and the searches in the package are still running.

For a candidate, that generally means:

• the background check is not finished;
• no final result should be inferred from the status alone; and
• no action may be required unless the provider contacts you.

Pending can last longer when a source requires manual work or a verification has not completed.

Read the background-check delay guide for related guidance.

IMPORTANT: A portal status of Pending is not the same thing as “pending criminal charges.”

They are completely different concepts.

What Does “Clear” Mean on a Background Check?

Checkr describes a Clear result as a completed report with no items listed that require consideration under the report result.

That does not mean:

• the candidate is guaranteed to be hired;
• every employer uses the same criteria;
• every screening company uses “Clear” the same way; or
• the screening company made the hiring decision.

The employer controls the employment decision.

Checkr explicitly states that it does not make the final hiring determination for its customers.

What Does “Consider” Mean on a Background Check?

Checkr uses Consider to indicate that a completed report contains information that may require review.

That does not automatically mean:

• failed;
• rejected;
• disqualified; or
• adverse action has already occurred.

The employer still reviews the information under its policy and applicable law.

A Consider result can arise from a variety of report findings or verification outcomes, so the word alone does not tell you what the underlying issue is.

The correct next step is to review the report and provider instructions.

Is “Consider” Bad?

It means additional review may be needed, so it is different from Clear.

But “bad” is too simplistic.

The report may contain information that:

• the employer considers irrelevant;
• requires context;
• needs a dispute because it is inaccurate;
• triggers an individualized review; or
• falls within the employer’s screening rules.

Do not assume the status tells you the final employment outcome.

What Does “Decisional” Mean on a Background Check?

First Advantage explains that “Decisional” means its customer configured the background-check result to require additional review by the employer.

This is a highly important distinction.

DECISIONAL DOES NOT MEAN: “First Advantage rejected you.”

It means the employer’s criteria have routed the report or result for further employer review.

First Advantage states that it does not determine or control the customer’s hiring criteria.

Does Decisional Mean Failed Background Check?

No—not by itself.

A Decisional status means additional review is required under the First Advantage customer’s configured criteria.

The employer has not necessarily completed its decision.

If you see Decisional, review:

• the candidate portal;
• any copy of the report available to you;
• employer communications; and
• any request for information or adverse-action notice.

If you believe the report contains inaccurate or incomplete information, use the reporting company’s official dispute process.

What Does “Eligible” Mean on First Advantage?

First Advantage says Eligible means the consumer report meets the employer’s configured criteria for hiring or housing.

That is favorable within the screening workflow, but it should not be marketed or described as a guarantee that the employer must hire the person.

The employer can have other hiring requirements unrelated to the background report.

What Does “Suspended” Mean?

Checkr uses Suspended when report processing has stopped because an exception has not been resolved or required information is missing.

For candidates, that typically means you should check the Candidate Portal and provider communications for a request.

Examples might include missing information or a search that cannot proceed without clarification.

Do not ignore a suspended status.

What Does “Complete” Mean?

“Complete” generally means processing has finished.

But Complete does not necessarily equal “pass.”

Some systems separate:

STATUS Is the report still processing or finished?

RESULT / ASSESSMENT Does the report contain information requiring review?

That is why a completed report can still have a result such as Consider or Decisional.

Why Do Background Check Companies Use Different Statuses?

Screening platforms are built for employers with different policies and workflows.

One provider may display:

• Pending;
• Clear;
• Consider.

Another may display:

• Eligible;
• Decisional.

Another employer’s applicant tracking system may translate those statuses into:

• In Progress;
• Review Needed;
• Complete;
• On Hold.

The label you see may come from:

1. the background screening company;
2. the employer’s applicant tracking system;
3. an integration between the two; or
4. the employer’s own adjudication workflow.

That is why internet answers that define one word universally can be misleading.

Background Check Status vs. Background Check Result

These are not always the same thing.

STATUS answers: Where is the report in the process?

Examples: Pending Complete Suspended

RESULT answers: What did the completed report return under the provider’s framework?

Examples: Clear Consider Eligible Decisional

ASSESSMENT or EMPLOYER REVIEW can be another layer.

Checkr’s API documentation, for example, distinguishes report status from result and from certain assessment fields.

Understanding that separation can make confusing portal language much easier to interpret.

What Should You Do When Your Status Changes to Consider or Decisional?

Use a records-first process.

Step 1: Identify the provider

Do not rely on a generic definition.

Step 2: Read the report

If a report copy is available, identify the item that triggered review.

Step 3: Check accuracy

Compare the information with authoritative records.

Step 4: Follow provider instructions

If the report is inaccurate or incomplete, use the reporting company’s official dispute process.

Step 5: Watch for employer notices

If an employer plans to take adverse action based on a consumer report, federal law generally requires specific notices and a copy of the report before the final action.

Step 6: Do not manipulate documents

If the information is accurate, do not alter records to make the status disappear.

Read the background-check error guide for related guidance.

What If the Status Is Pending for Too Long?

If the provider publishes an estimated completion date:

1. compare the current date with the estimate;
2. verify that you completed all requested actions;
3. check email and candidate portal messages;
4. contact official candidate support if the estimate has passed.

Do not assume a long Pending status is equivalent to Consider or Decisional.

Read the background-check delay guide for related guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Consider mean on a background check?

In Checkr’s system, Consider indicates that the completed report contains information that may require employer review. It does not automatically mean rejection.

What does Decisional mean on a background check?

First Advantage says Decisional means the customer configured the result to require additional review by the employer.

Does Decisional mean failed background check?

No. It indicates an employer-review step, not an automatic failed outcome.

What does Pending mean?

In many systems, Pending means the report is still being processed. Check the provider’s own definition.

What does Clear mean?

In Checkr’s framework, Clear means the completed report has no items requiring consideration under that result. The employer still makes the hiring decision.

What does Eligible mean?

First Advantage says Eligible means the consumer report meets the employer/customer criteria configured for the screening.

What does Complete Consider mean?

In a system that separates status from result, Complete may mean processing is finished while Consider means the result contains information requiring review. Confirm the specific provider.

Your next step

Use the Background Check Prep Packet to organize the facts, questions and supporting records relevant to your situation.