time it takes for b-ground checks

[studentcj]

I've heard that if applying for a federal agency that checks can take anywhere from 9 months to even 2years. What about for a local dept. How long does most background checks take for city,county, or state?

[knucklehead]

Most of the time it is not the background check that takes so long it is waiting on the eligibility list to be assigned a background investigator....

Most of the time it is not what you know or what you have done but "who" you know that will get it done quicker.


For the city I am applying to, from the time I met with my background investigator for the first time until completion was 8 weeks...however it could have been done quicker but they know I don't get out of the military until the end of November so they were working on other applicants first...

[Charlie]

studentcj-

It simply depends on the department...but generally, I would say you're looking at several months...
--
Charlie

[Jcrazy]

I was told about two months, give or take.

[txinvestigator1]

Mine took 4 months. And I was only 21 and never drank, did drugs, etc.

[KimberlySF]

I think it depends a lot on when the academy date is. If they start a year out then they will most likely take their time, if they are getting down to the wire then it will be much quicker. My background only took about 5-6 wks (city dep.). I also had just gotten out of the military so that makes it a little easier.
Also what Knucklehead said about the eligibility list is very true. I waited about 4 months for my name to come up.