What shows up on a Washington background check
Last updated: May 2026
Washington criminal-history records are maintained by Washington State Patrol (WSP) Criminal History Section. 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 Washington employers actually see
On a standard private background check ordered through a consumer-reporting agency, a Washington employer typically sees:
- Felony and misdemeanor convictions
- Pending charges
- Non-conviction arrests within the 7-year window
- Convictions for which the court has not yet issued an order vacating the conviction
Ban-the-box notice: Washington restricts when private employers can ask about criminal history. Most employers cannot ask on the initial application or run a background check until after determining the applicant is otherwise qualified.
Washington applies a 7-year limit on non-conviction information and additionally restricts the reporting of conviction information beyond 7 years for jobs paying under the state's consumer-reporting threshold (RCW 19.182).
How to see your own Washington record
Official source: Washington State Patrol (WSP) Criminal History Section
Cost: $11 via WATCH (Washington Access to Criminal History)
Turnaround: Immediate (online)
Where to start: https://watch.wsp.wa.gov/
The official Washington 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 Washington
A successful order vacating a conviction under RCW 9.94A.640 or 9.96.060 removes the case from public criminal-history reports and authorizes the person to answer "no" to whether they have been convicted of the vacated offense (except when applying for law enforcement or law-related positions). Marijuana possession convictions are eligible for vacate without the standard waiting period.
Frequently asked questions
Does Washington have ban-the-box for private employers?
Yes. Washington's Fair Chance Act (RCW 49.94) prohibits most private employers from asking about criminal history on initial job applications and from running a background check until after the employer has determined the candidate is otherwise qualified. Employers in fewer than 15 jobs per year, and certain regulated positions, are exempt.
How do I check my own Washington criminal record?
Washington maintains its criminal-history records through Washington State Patrol (WSP) Criminal History Section. You can request your own record for $11 via WATCH (Washington Access to Criminal History); results typically arrive in Immediate (online). Pulling your own record before applying for a job is the single most useful step you can take.
Do private background checks show Washington 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.