What does consider mean on a background check? It means something in the report matched a rule the employer set for review, such as a court record or a date that did not match, so a person at the company has to look at it before deciding; it is not a rejection. Many reports that say consider still end in a hire.
Screening companies and employers use their own words for results, so the labels below are common terms, not legal ones. When in doubt, the notice letter or HR contact is the place to ask what a label means for you.
Quick answers
Consider
Something needs human review. Not a decision yet.Clear
Nothing matched the employer's review rules.Eligible / ineligible
The employer's own rules were applied to the report.Unperformable
A search could not be done, often due to missing details.Pending
The report is not finished yet.If it goes against you
You must get a copy and your rights summary before a final decision.
What does consider mean on a background check?
Employers set up rules with the screening company, such as "flag any felony in the last seven years" or "flag employment dates that do not match". When an item hits a rule, the result shows consider, needs review or review required. That is the screening system's way of saying a person must decide.
What happens next depends on the employer. Many look at the item, decide it does not matter for the job, and move you forward. If the employer leans toward saying no, federal law requires a pre adverse action notice, which includes the report and the official rights summary. The FTC explains this on its background check rights page. The failed check guide covers how to reply.
Is considered bad on a background check? Not by itself. It only means review. Errors often trigger it too, for example a record that belongs to someone with a similar name, which you can dispute.
Common background check results and what they mean
| Label | Usual meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Clear | No items matched the employer's review rules | Nothing; wait for HR |
| Consider / needs review | An item needs a person to review it | Wait, or ask HR if they need anything from you |
| Eligible | The report met the employer's standards | Nothing; next step is usually onboarding |
| Ineligible / not eligible | The employer's rules were not met | Look for the pre adverse action notice and respond |
| Complete | All searches have finished; says nothing about the content | Wait for the employer's decision |
| Pending / in progress | At least one search is still running | Give it a few business days |
| Unperformable | A search could not be run | Send the missing detail, such as a former name |
| Decisional | Often means a decision by the employer is needed on an item | Treat it like consider |
| Canceled | The order was stopped, often by the employer | Ask HR |
For timing questions, see how long a check takes and why it is taking so long.
Clear vs complete: not the same thing
Complete only means every search in the package has finished. Clear describes what was found, nothing that needs a closer look. So a report can be complete and clear, or complete and consider. If your portal says complete and you have heard nothing for a few days, the employer is probably reviewing or simply has not logged in yet.
"All clear" or "clear check" in an email from HR usually means you passed the screening part and can expect start date paperwork.
Court terms on the report
- Disposition: how a court case ended, such as convicted, dismissed, acquitted or deferred.
- Disposition date: the date the case reached that outcome, not the arrest date.
- Deferred disposition or deferred adjudication: the court delayed a finding while you completed conditions. Completing them often means no conviction is entered.
- Record found: a court file matched your identifiers. It still needs to be read to see what it is.
- Alias: another name linked to you, such as a maiden name or a spelling variation. Records are searched under these names too.
- Adjudication: the employer's review of a record against its policy.
If any of these lines are wrong, follow the steps for fixing errors in a report.
Discrepancy, no discrepancy and verification labels
| Label | Meaning |
|---|---|
| No discrepancy | What you wrote on the application matched what the school or employer confirmed |
| Discrepancy | Something differed, such as dates, a job title or a degree name |
| Unable to verify | The source did not answer, closed or had no record |
| Not eligible for rehire | A past employer said it would not hire you again; it does not say why |
A discrepancy is often a small thing, like a start date off by a month. Send a pay stub or diploma to clear it up quickly. More on education verification.
IA required and other fair chance labels
Some employers and screening systems use labels such as "IA required". IA usually stands for individualized assessment: a closer look at a record that balances the offense against its age and the duties involved. The EEOC's resource page on arrest and conviction records describes those factors, and some state and city fair chance laws add their own review steps before an offer is withdrawn.
If you see a label you do not recognize, ask HR what it means. You have a right to know what is in your report, and labels vary from one company to the next.
How to check your background check status
The screening company usually emails you a link to its applicant portal when the order starts. The portal shows each search and its status. If you cannot find that email, check your spam folder for the company named on your consent form. The consent form guide shows where that name appears.
HR can also tell you where things stand. A short, polite note after about a week is normal. These are everyday industry terms, explained in general. If a label on your own report is hurting your chances, a legal aid clinic can help you work out next steps.
Questions people ask
What does eligible mean on a background check?
The report met the standards the employer set. It is usually the last step before onboarding, though the employer still makes the final hiring call.
What does unperformable mean on a background check?
A search could not be completed, often because a detail was missing or a court would not release a record without more identifiers. Send the screening company what it asks for.
What does disposition mean on a background check?
The outcome of a court case: guilty, dismissed, acquitted or deferred. The disposition date is when that outcome was entered.
Is consider bad on a background check?
No, not by itself. It means a person needs to review something. Many consider results end in a hire, and some are triggered by errors you can fix.
What does alias mean on a background check?
An alias is any other name tied to you, such as a former last name or a nickname. Searches run under those names too, so list them on the consent form.
How do I check my background check status?
Use the screening company's applicant portal link from your email, or ask the recruiter. Status words vary between companies.