An accreditation program for background screening agencies created by The National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®) – a nonprofit trade association representing the background screening industry founded in 2003 – is helping to promote ethical business practices and establish standards for background screening firms performing employment background checks in the following areas: consumer protection, legal compliance, client education, product standards, service standards, and general business practices.

The NAPBS launched the Background Screening Agency Accreditation Program (BSAAP) in April 2009 in conjunction with the 2009 NAPBS Annual Conference. The NAPBS also formed a governing body for the accreditation program – the Background Screening Credentialing Council (BSCC) – to ensure firms seeking accreditation would meet a measurable standard of competence in the areas of integrity, security, consumer privacy, and legal compliance. Beta testing for the BSAAP was completed in May 2010.

The BSAAP advances professionalism in the employment background screening industry with promotion of best practices, awareness of legal compliance, and development of better consumer protection standards. Governed by a strict set of professional standards, the BSAAP recognizes a commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards, and continued institutional improvement. To become accredited, background screening firms must pass a rigorous audit of policies and procedures related to six critical areas:

  • Consumer protection,
  • Legal compliance,
  • Client education,
  • Product standards,
  • Service standards, and
  • General business practices.

The NAPBS Background Screening Credentialing Council oversees the application process and ensures that all organizations seeking accreditation meet or exceed a measurable standard of competence in these six areas. The voluntary accreditation program is open to any U.S.-based employment screening company and the process takes approximately six months from submission to completion. Companies are accredited for five years and the program also includes an interim surveillance audit after three years.

The NAPBS Background Screening Credentialing Council (BSCC) has formally recognized Employment Screening Resources (ESR) as BSCC Accredited for successfully proving compliance with the Background Screening Agency Accreditation Program (BSAAP). For more information, visit https://www.esrcheck.com/ESR-NAPBS-Accreditation.php.

About Employment Screening Resources (ESR): Founded in 1997 in the San Francisco area with a mission to help employers and employees maintain safe workplaces, Employment Screening Resources (ESR) is accredited by The National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®) and provides industry leading technology, legal compliance, service, turnaround, and accuracy. ESR also wrote the book on background checks with ‘The Safe Hiring Manual’ by founder and President Lester Rosen. For more information, visit https://www.esrcheck.com.

Sources:
http://www.napbs.com/files/public/Learn_More/Press%20Releases/NAPBs_Launch_Accredidtation.pdf.
http://www.napbs.com/files/public/Learn_More/Press%20Releases/2010_NAPBS_Accreditation_Release_v4_2_.pdf.
http://www.napbs.com/files/public/Learn_More/Press%20Releases/NAPBS_Accredited_Companies_FINAL.pdf.

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