Self Background Check in Pennsylvania (2026): How to See What Employers See

Why Run a Self Background Check in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania pioneered automatic record sealing with the original Clean Slate Act in 2018, and the law has been expanded twice since. Millions of records have been sealed automatically, but plenty of older records haven't been processed yet, and plenty more are eligible for petition-based sealing. A self-check is the only way to know exactly where your record stands.

1. Find and Fix Errors Before Employers See Them

PATCH data is fed from 67 counties, the Unified Judicial System, and dozens of police departments. Common errors include cases listed as "open" long after dismissal, ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) cases that weren't closed at the state level, and identity mismatches with common Pennsylvania surnames. The $22 PATCH check catches these quickly.

2. Confirm Clean Slate Sealing Took Effect

Clean Slate is automatic in principle, but with millions of eligible records the rollout has been gradual. Verify your eligible records were actually sealed by running a personal PATCH check. If something that should be sealed still appears, the Pennsylvania State Police has a correction process.

3. Prepare for Healthcare, Energy, and Licensed Profession Reviews

Pennsylvania healthcare networks, the Department of Education for teaching licenses, the Department of State for professional licenses, and the natural-gas employers in the Marcellus region all run thorough background checks. Many require both PATCH and FBI fingerprint-based results. Knowing what's on your record beforehand is essential.

4. Tenant Screening in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Statewide

Landlords across Pennsylvania use commercial screening services that aggregate PATCH and UJS court data. Philadelphia's Renters' Access Act limits how criminal records can be used in tenant screening, but errors in the underlying data still cause denials. Fixing them at the source is the only durable solution.

What Shows Up on a Personal Background Check in Pennsylvania?

Felony and Misdemeanor Convictions

Felony convictions and most misdemeanor convictions processed in Pennsylvania Common Pleas, Magisterial District, and Municipal Courts appear on PATCH unless sealed under Clean Slate or by court order. The report shows offense, court, conviction date, and sentence.

Summary Offenses

Summary offenses (the lowest level of criminal offense in Pennsylvania) appear on PATCH if there is a conviction. Under Clean Slate, summary convictions are automatically sealed after 10 years without subsequent offense.

Arrests and ARD Cases

Arrest records and Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) cases, a common first-offender diversion program in Pennsylvania, appear on PATCH. Successfully completed ARD cases are eligible for expungement, but the expungement order must be filed with the court.

Pending Charges

Open and pending charges appear on PATCH. If a case was dismissed and the disposition wasn't transmitted to PSP, the record may still show "open" until corrected.

Sealed Records

Records sealed under Clean Slate or by court order should not appear on PATCH responses to most requesters. Law enforcement and certain regulated industries retain access under specific statutory authority.

What's Not Included

Federal court records, out-of-state convictions, juvenile records (sealed by default), most traffic offenses (excluding DUI), and civil cases fall outside the PATCH system. A complete personal check usually combines PATCH with federal and multi-state sources.

How to Check Your Own Background in Pennsylvania

Option 1: PATCH Online ($22 + 2% Credit Card Fee)

The fastest official route is the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History portal. Create an account, enter your name and date of birth, pay $22 by credit card (note: 2% transaction fee applies starting April 2026), and receive results electronically, usually within minutes. You can also save and print a "No Record" certificate if applicable.

Option 2: Mail-In SP4-164 Form ($22)

For a paper trail, download Form SP4-164 from the PSP website and mail it with $22 by check or money order to the State Police Central Repository in Harrisburg. Notarization is available for an additional $5. Turnaround is 2–4 weeks.

Option 3: UJS Web Portal, Court Dockets (Free)

The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal provides free public access to criminal court dockets for the entire state. This catches case histories that may not yet be in PATCH and shows full case progressions.

Option 4: Fingerprint-Based PSP + FBI Check

For licensed professions and the most accurate record, schedule a fingerprint appointment through IdentoGO. The check pulls both PSP and FBI records. Fees vary by purpose.

Option 5: FBI Identity History Summary ($18)

For nationwide coverage based on fingerprints, request an Identity History Summary directly from the FBI.

Pennsylvania Background Check Laws You Should Know

Clean Slate Act (18 Pa.C.S.A. § 9122.2)

Signed June 28, 2018, Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Act was the country's first automated record-sealing law. It has been expanded multiple times:

• Clean Slate 1.0 (2018), Automatic sealing of summary offenses after 10 years, certain second-degree and third-degree misdemeanors after 10 years
• Clean Slate 2.0 (2020), Expanded to include certain first-degree misdemeanors with sentence under 2 years
• Clean Slate 3.0 (2023), Extended to certain low-level drug felonies (typically Felony 3) after 10 years without subsequent misdemeanor or felony conviction

Sealing is automated through the Pennsylvania State Police on a quarterly basis. Sealed records remain accessible to law enforcement, courts, and certain regulated industries (firearms licensing, work involving children and vulnerable adults).

Petition-Based Expungement

For records not automatically sealed by Clean Slate, Pennsylvania allows petition-based expungement under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 9122 for:

• Charges that did not result in conviction
• Summary offenses after 5 years without subsequent arrest
• ARD cases after successful completion
• Records of individuals over age 70 with 10 years of no contact with the criminal justice system
• Records of deceased individuals (upon family petition)

Philadelphia Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards (FCRSSO)

Philadelphia's local Ban the Box law goes further than state law and was amended again in 2026. Key requirements:

• Employers cannot inquire about criminal history before a conditional job offer
• Mandatory individualized assessment of any conviction-based denial
• Specific notice requirements before adverse action

Pittsburgh Fair Chance Hiring Ordinance

Similar to Philadelphia's ordinance, Pittsburgh prohibits criminal-history inquiries on initial applications for most private employers.

Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act

Third-party background checks in Pennsylvania are governed by the FCRA: written consent required, pre-adverse-action notice required, right to dispute errors, and 7-year cap on non-conviction reporting.

Should You Check Your Background Before Applying in Pennsylvania?

Yes, particularly given the complexity of Clean Slate and the rolling nature of automatic sealing. If you have any conviction from before 2014, it may already be sealed (or eligible for sealing). If you have any ARD case, summary offense, or older misdemeanor, running a $22 PATCH check tells you exactly what employers will see. Combine with a free UJS docket search for the most complete picture.

FAQs: Self Background Check in Pennsylvania

How do I run a self background check in Pennsylvania?

The fastest official route is PATCH online: $22, near-instant electronic results. For free court searches, use the UJS Web Portal. For broader coverage, request a fingerprint-based PSP + FBI check, an FBI Identity History Summary, or use a professional multi-state service.

How far back do background checks go in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania has no state cap on conviction reporting. The federal FCRA caps non-conviction records (arrests not leading to conviction) at 7 years on third-party employment reports. Clean Slate sealing removes most eligible records after 10 years from the public-facing PATCH responses.

Will sealed records show up on a Pennsylvania background check?

Records sealed under Clean Slate or by court order should not appear on standard PATCH responses or FCRA-compliant employer background reports. They remain accessible to law enforcement, courts, and certain regulated industries.

How much does a background check cost in Pennsylvania?

PATCH name-based check: $22 + 2% credit card surcharge. UJS court records: free. PSP fingerprint-based + FBI: varies by purpose. FBI Identity History Summary: $18. Professional comprehensive multi-state checks: $20 to $80.

Do Pennsylvania employers need my permission to run a background check?

Yes, when they use a third-party background check company, the federal FCRA requires written authorization. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh employers covered by local Ban-the-Box rules cannot ask about criminal history on initial applications. You always have the right to see any report used in a hiring decision and dispute inaccuracies.