--- title: "FBI vs State Background Check | Differences" description: "Compare FBI national background checks with state-level criminal record searches. Learn which you need, what each covers, and when to order both." lang: en json-ld: | { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "FBI Background Check vs State Background Check", "description": "Compare FBI national background checks with state-level criminal record searches. Learn which you need, what each covers, and when to order both.", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "1SkipTrace" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "1SkipTrace", "url": "https://1skiptrace.com" }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://1skiptrace.com/guides/compare/fbi-background-check-vs-state-check" } --- [ 1 SkipTrace Skip Trace Services ](/) - [](/about)About - [](/how-it-works)How It Works - Services - [](/coverage)Coverage - [](/who-we-serve)Who We Serve - [](/resources)Resources - [](/faq)FAQ - [](/contact)Contact [Order Skip Trace](/order)[(844) 791-9800](tel:844-791-9800) [Guides](/guides)Comparison # FBI Background Check vs State Background Check Compare FBI national background checks with state-level criminal record searches. Learn which you need, what each covers, and when to order both. ## Federal vs State Scope An FBI background check searches the national criminal database (NCIC/III) maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, covering federal offenses across all jurisdictions. A state background check searches criminal records within a specific state's court system. Neither search is a complete substitute for the other. Federal offenses may not appear in state databases, and some state-level offenses may not be reported to the FBI database. ## When You Need an FBI Check FBI background checks are typically required for government employment, positions of trust (childcare, education), professional licensing (healthcare, finance), security clearances, and immigration proceedings. They're also valuable when you need nationwide coverage and the subject has lived in multiple states, as searching each state individually would be time-consuming and expensive. ## When a State Check Suffices For many employment screening and tenant verification purposes, a state-level check is sufficient and faster — especially if the subject has lived primarily in one state. State checks also tend to include more detail on local offenses. For comprehensive due diligence, we recommend combining both: an FBI check for national coverage plus state checks in the subject's primary states of residence for maximum detail. Feature FBI Background Check State Background Check Coverage All 50 states + federal Single state Federal Crimes ✓ Included ✗ Not included Local Detail Less detailed More detailed Turnaround 5-7 business days 1-3 business days Price $195 $50-75 Required For Government, licensing Employment, tenant screening ## More Comparisons [ ### Skip Trace vs People Search: What's the Difference? Compare skip tracing and people search services. Learn which service you need, h… ](/guides/compare/skip-trace-vs-people-search)[ ### Comprehensive vs Basic Skip Trace: Which Do You Need? Compare comprehensive and basic skip trace services. Learn what's included in ea… ](/guides/compare/comprehensive-vs-basic-skip-trace)[ ### Skip Tracing vs Background Check: Key Differences Skip tracing and background checks serve different purposes. Learn when you need… ](/guides/compare/skip-tracing-vs-background-check)[ ### Asset Search vs Property Search: What's Included? Understand the difference between asset searches and property searches. Learn wh… ](/guides/compare/asset-search-vs-property-search) ## Ready to Get Started? 95%+ success rate. Money-back guarantee. [Place Your Order](/order) [(844) 791-9800](tel:+18447919800) [ 1 SkipTrace Skip Trace Services ](/) Professional, compliant skip tracing services for attorneys, real estate professionals, debt collectors, and investigators. 95%+ success rate, nationwide coverage. 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