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

Why Run a Self Background Check in Tennessee?

Tennessee's TORIS database is fed from 95 counties and dozens of municipal courts, which means disposition gaps are a real risk. Running a $29 self-check on yourself is the cheapest way to know exactly what shows up before an employer or licensing board sees it.

1. Find and Fix Errors Before Employers See Them

Common Tennessee record errors: cases that were dismissed in General Sessions Court but never closed at the TBI level, judicial diversion cases that completed successfully but weren't expunged, and identity matches with similar names. A $29 self-check catches these quickly and the TBI has a formal correction process.

2. Confirm Your Expungement Was Processed

Tennessee expungement orders from circuit, criminal, or general sessions courts need to make their way to the TBI to actually remove the record from TORIS. The process isn't automatic. Running a self-check 60–90 days after the court grants expungement confirms the record was actually cleared statewide.

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

Tennessee's major employers, HCA, Vanderbilt, FedEx, Nissan, Volkswagen, all run thorough background checks. The state's licensed professions (nursing, medicine, real estate, security) require fingerprint-based TBI + FBI checks. Knowing what's on your record beforehand lets you address concerns proactively.

4. Tenant Screening in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga

Tennessee's growth markets, particularly Nashville, depend heavily on commercial screening reports that aggregate TBI and court data. Errors flow downstream into those reports. Fixing them at the source is the only durable solution.

What Shows Up on a Personal Background Check in Tennessee?

Felony and Misdemeanor Convictions

Felony convictions and most misdemeanor convictions processed in Tennessee criminal, circuit, and general sessions courts appear on the TORIS record unless expunged. The report shows offense, court, conviction date, and sentence.

Arrests

Arrest records, including arrests not leading to conviction, appear on the TORIS record. Under TCA 40-32-101(a)(3), nolle prosequi cases and dismissed cases are eligible for expungement.

Judicial Diversion Cases

Tennessee's judicial diversion program (TCA 40-35-313) allows certain first-time offenders to complete probation without a formal conviction. Successfully completed diversion cases are eligible for expungement, but the expungement isn't automatic.

Pending Charges

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

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 TBI system. A complete personal check usually combines the state report with federal and multi-state sources.

How to Check Your Own Background in Tennessee

Option 1: TBI TORIS Online ($29)

The fastest official route is the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's TORIS portal Pay $29 by credit card, enter the subject's name, date of birth, race, and sex, and receive results electronically. Anyone can request a TORIS check on anyone, no special authorization required.

Option 2: TBI Fingerprint-Based Check (State + FBI)

For licensed professions and the most accurate record, schedule a fingerprint appointment through IdentoGO. The state portion runs roughly $35 plus fingerprinting fees. The combined TBI + FBI check is what most employers in regulated industries actually use.

Option 3: Search Tennessee Court Records

Tennessee counties run their own court record systems. Larger jurisdictions like Davidson County (Nashville) and Shelby County (Memphis) offer free online case searches. This catches case histories that may not yet be in TORIS.

Option 4: FBI Identity History Summary ($18)

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

Tennessee Background Check Laws You Should Know

TCA 40-32-101 (Expungement)

Tennessee's expungement statute has been overhauled multiple times since 2012. Current eligibility includes:

• Dismissed cases, nolle prosequi cases, and no-true-bill cases, eligible immediately
• Successfully completed judicial diversion cases, eligible after the diversion period
• Most Class E felonies and most misdemeanors, eligible 5 years after sentence completion
• Up to two convictions can be expunged under the current multi-conviction provisions

The expungement filing fee was reduced from $180 to $100 effective July 1, 2019, and dismissed cases now have no filing fee at all. Excluded offenses include violent felonies, sex offenses, DUI, and offenses involving serious bodily injury.

TCA 40-35-313 (Judicial Diversion)

Allows first-time offenders charged with eligible felonies or misdemeanors to be placed on probation without a formal conviction being entered. After successful completion, the case is dismissed and the record is eligible for expungement under TCA 40-32-101.

Senate Bill 2440 (2016), Public Sector Ban the Box

Enacted in 2016, SB 2440 directs state agencies to remove criminal-history questions from initial applications for state executive-branch jobs. The question can be asked later in the hiring process. Private employers in Tennessee can still ask on initial applications.

Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act

Third-party background checks in Tennessee 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.

Tennessee Human Rights Act

The THRA does not specifically protect criminal history, but the Tennessee Human Rights Commission follows EEOC individualized-assessment guidance for employer use of conviction records.

Should You Check Your Background Before Applying in Tennessee?

For $29 with electronic results, the answer is yes, particularly if you have any judicial diversion case, any dismissed or nolle-prosequi case you assumed was cleared, or any older conviction that may now be eligible for expungement under TCA 40-32-101. The cost is minimal compared to the value of knowing exactly what employers and licensing boards will see.

FAQs: Self Background Check in Tennessee

How do I run a self background check in Tennessee?

The fastest route is the TBI TORIS online portal: $29, electronic delivery, no fingerprints required. For deeper coverage, run a fingerprint-based TBI + FBI check through IdentoGO, search county court records, or use a professional multi-state service.

How far back do background checks go in Tennessee?

Tennessee 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. Expunged records are removed entirely.

Will expunged records show up on a Tennessee background check?

Records expunged under TCA 40-32-101 should be removed from the TBI database and should not appear on FCRA-compliant employer background reports. Because Tennessee expungements aren't automatic, verify yours was processed by running a TORIS check after the court order.

How much does a background check cost in Tennessee?

TBI TORIS name-based: $29. TBI fingerprint-based (state + FBI): approximately $50–$80 depending on vendor. Expungement filing fee: $100 (or $0 for dismissed cases). FBI Identity History Summary: $18. Professional comprehensive multi-state checks: $20 to $80.

Do Tennessee 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. State agencies covered by SB 2440 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.