Virginia Background Check Guide · 2025
Whether you're applying for a federal contractor role in Northern Virginia, a healthcare position at Sentara or VCU Health, a teaching license through VDOE, a defense-sector job in Hampton Roads, or any of the many licensed professions across the Commonwealth, the employer is pulling your record through the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE). The VSP runs the state's official criminal history repository, and they let you request the same record on yourself for $20.
This guide explains how Virginia's record system works, what shows up, and how the state's record-sealing landscape, which is changing substantially with the July 1, 2026 effective date of automatic sealing under VA Code § 19.2-392.6, affects what employers see.
Virginia is one of the most heavily screened states in the country, driven by the federal government's massive presence in Northern Virginia, the defense industry in Hampton Roads, and the state's robust healthcare and education sectors. The VSP CCRE is the central repository for all those screening events, and running a self-check is the simplest way to know what's actually in your file.
The CCRE pulls in data from 95 counties and dozens of independent cities (Virginia has the unusual structure of independent cities operating separately from counties). With that many feeders, disposition gaps happen. Common errors include cases listed as "active" long after dismissal, identity matches with similar names, and deferred-disposition cases that weren't closed at the state level.
Virginia's automatic sealing law has an effective date of July 1, 2026, meaning many records that will eventually be sealed are still visible today. If you have an older misdemeanor conviction or a marijuana possession case, knowing exactly what's on the CCRE now lets you track when (or whether) automatic sealing applies.
Northern Virginia federal contractor jobs and defense-sector positions in Hampton Roads run thorough background checks that often involve security clearance investigations. Virginia's licensed professions (nursing, medicine, real estate, security) require fingerprint-based VSP + FBI checks. Knowing what's on your record beforehand is essential.
Virginia's tight rental markets, particularly in Northern Virginia, where federal employment drives demand, depend on commercial screening services built on CCRE and court data. Fixing errors at the source produces cleaner reports going forward.
Felony convictions and most misdemeanor convictions processed in Virginia circuit, general district, and juvenile and domestic relations courts appear on the CCRE record. The report shows offense, court, conviction date, and sentence.
Arrest records, including arrests not leading to conviction, appear on the CCRE record. Under VA Code § 19.2-392.2, non-conviction records can be expunged on petition.
Virginia's deferred disposition procedure (typically under VA Code § 18.2-251 for drug cases) lets a defendant complete probation without a formal conviction. Successfully completed deferred dispositions are dismissed but the underlying record appears on CCRE until expunged.
Open and pending charges appear on the CCRE record. If a case was dismissed and the disposition wasn't transmitted to the VSP, the record may still show "pending" until corrected.
Federal court records, out-of-state convictions, juvenile records (sealed by default), most traffic offenses (excluding DUI), and civil cases fall outside the CCRE system. A complete personal check usually combines the state report with federal and multi-state sources.
The official statewide route is Form SP-167 (Criminal History Record Request). Download from vsp.virginia.gov/services/forms, complete and notarize, then mail with $20 to the VSP Central Criminal Records Exchange in Richmond. Turnaround is typically 2–4 weeks.
For a fingerprint-based combined VSP + FBI check, use Form SP-325. This is the version most licensed professions and federal contractors require. Total cost varies based on whether the check is requested through an employer or as a self-check.
The Virginia Judicial System's online case information portal at eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis provides public access to circuit and general district court records. Free for basic searches.
For a single report combining Virginia VSP data with federal courts, multi-state records, and sex offender registries, a professional service is fastest. Background-Check.com consolidates all of this in one report.
For nationwide coverage based on fingerprints, request an Identity History Summary directly from the FBI. Particularly useful for federal contractor and defense-sector jobs.
Virginia's automatic record-sealing law has been delayed multiple times but is now scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026. Once active, it will automatically seal:
Excluded offenses include violent felonies, sex offenses, and offenses requiring sex offender registration. Until the effective date, sealing remains petition-based.
For records eligible under current Virginia law, petition-based expungement is available for:
Under current Virginia law, conviction records (other than the upcoming automatic sealing categories) generally cannot be expunged or sealed, making Virginia one of the more restrictive states until July 2026.
Virginia's Fair Chance Act, enacted in 2020, prohibits state agencies and certain state contractors from asking about criminal history on initial job applications. The question can be asked later in the hiring process. Private employer coverage is more limited.
Third-party background checks in Virginia 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.
The VHRA does not specifically protect criminal history, but the Virginia Office of Civil Rights follows EEOC individualized-assessment guidance for employer use of conviction records.
Yes, particularly given how restrictive Virginia's current expungement law is and how much will change when automatic sealing takes effect July 1, 2026. A $20 SP-167 check shows you exactly what's on your CCRE record today. For federal contractor and defense-sector jobs, an FBI Identity History Summary is also essential to verify the federal-level record that security clearance investigators will see.
For a comprehensive personal report combining Virginia VSP data with federal records, sex offender registries, and out-of-state convictions, run a multi-source check through Background-Check.com.
The official statewide route is VSP Form SP-167: $20 by mail with notarization. For combined state + FBI fingerprint-based coverage, use Form SP-325. For free court searches, use the Virginia Judicial System online case portal. For broader coverage, request an FBI Identity History Summary or use a professional multi-state service.
Virginia 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. Once automatic sealing takes effect July 1, 2026, most eligible misdemeanors will be sealed after waiting periods.
Records expunged under VA Code § 19.2-392.2 should be removed from the CCRE database and should not appear on FCRA-compliant employer background reports. Records sealed under § 19.2-392.6 (effective July 1, 2026) will be hidden from public-facing reports.
VSP SP-167 name-based check: $20. VSP SP-325 combined fingerprint check: additional state and federal fees. FBI Identity History Summary: $18. Professional comprehensive multi-state checks: $20 to $80.
Yes, when they use a third-party background check company, the federal FCRA requires written authorization. State agencies and certain contractors covered by the Virginia Fair Chance Act 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.