What shows up on a North Carolina background check
Last updated: May 2026
North Carolina criminal-history records are maintained by North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Whether you are about to apply for a job, an apartment, or a professional license, the most useful thing you can do is understand exactly what an employer or landlord will see — and what changes if you successfully clear your record.
FCRA notice
The background-check services we link to are not consumer reporting agencies as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Reports generated by these services may not be used in whole or in part to make decisions about employment, tenant screening, insurance, credit, or any other purpose that requires FCRA compliance.
ExpungeReady earns a commission on some links on this page. We only recommend services we believe are useful for personal-records research. Always verify your own records directly with the state repository or the FBI before relying on any third-party report.
What North Carolina employers actually see
On a standard private background check ordered through a consumer-reporting agency, a North Carolina employer typically sees:
- Felony and misdemeanor convictions
- Pending charges
- Arrests dismissed without conviction (these may still appear unless expunged)
- PJC (Prayer for Judgment Continued) — which counts as a conviction for most purposes
North Carolina applies the federal FCRA 7-year limit and additionally restricts consumer reports from showing dismissed charges in many circumstances under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145.5.
How to see your own North Carolina record
Official source: North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)
Cost: $14 by mail
Turnaround: 2–4 weeks
Where to start: https://www.ncsbi.gov/Services/SBI-Background-Checks
The official North Carolina record only covers in-state arrests and convictions. If you have lived in multiple states, or want to see what private aggregators have collected about you, run a personal records check first — it shows the same data an out-of-state employer's consumer-reporting agency would pull.
What changes after expungement in North Carolina
An expunction under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145 et seq. removes the record from public view and from most private background-check databases. The applicant may lawfully say "no" to whether they have been arrested or convicted, except when applying for law enforcement positions or certifying truthfulness to the State Bar.
Frequently asked questions
Does a dismissed case show on a North Carolina background check?
Yes, until it is expunged. North Carolina automatically expunges some dismissed charges under "Second Chance Act" provisions in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-146, but coverage is not universal — many dismissed charges still appear on SBI reports and private background checks until the person petitions for expunction.
How do I check my own North Carolina criminal record?
North Carolina maintains its criminal-history records through North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). You can request your own record for $14 by mail; results typically arrive in 2–4 weeks. Pulling your own record before applying for a job is the single most useful step you can take.
Do private background checks show North Carolina sealed or expunged records?
Private consumer-reporting agencies are required to remove sealed or expunged records once notified, but they often retain old copies and may continue to report them by mistake. After your order is granted, request a free annual personal-records report from each major reporting agency and dispute any entries that still show the old data.