Cleveland Employment Screening · Since 1977

Background Check Services in Cleveland, Ohio

Corporate Intelligence Consultants is an FCRA-compliant consumer reporting agency serving Cleveland employers from Perrysburg, Ohio. Since 1977, our reports have been built on court records confirmed at the source and reviewed by a research and QA team before they reach you.

Request a consultation Call (800) 573-2201

1977Family-owned since
24–48hMost checks completed
A+BBB Accredited
100%Human-reviewed reports

Why Cleveland employers choose CIC

Cleveland hiring runs through Cuyahoga County, and Cuyahoga County court records are exactly the kind of local filings that statewide instant checks miss. CIC researches Cuyahoga and the surrounding counties, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit, and Geauga, at the source, plus every other county a candidate’s history touches. Between the healthcare systems, manufacturing base, and professional services firms hiring across Northeast Ohio, Cleveland employers screen a wide range of roles, and each one calls for a different program.

Every report passes through human review by our research and QA team before release, because using a sealed or expunged record in a hiring decision creates real legal exposure, and instant checks routinely surface records that cannot legally be considered.

Employment screening services in Cleveland

Criminal Background ChecksFederal, state, and Ohio county court records, verified at the source.
Employment & Education VerificationPrimary-source verification of credentials and work history.
Drug TestingPre-employment and post-incident with proper chain of custody.
Motor Vehicle RecordsFor drivers and DOT-regulated roles, with Ohio’s 3-year abstract.
Professional License VerificationHealthcare, legal, and licensed trades.
Electronic I-9 + E-VerifyIncluding Ohio’s E-Verify requirements for nonresidential contractors.

The full picture of what goes into an Ohio screening program, including how far back checks go and how BCI fingerprint checks fit in, is in our complete guide to Ohio background checks, and the component list lives on our criminal background checks and court record research page.

Hiring rules that affect Cleveland employers

Cleveland’s new pay transparency and salary history law

Cleveland Ordinance No. 104-2025, effective October 27, 2025, bars employers with 15 or more employees from asking applicants about salary history and requires salary ranges in job postings for covered positions. Hiring workflows for Cleveland roles need to reflect both pieces.

Sealed and expunged records are off-limits statewide

Under Ohio Revised Code 2953.32, sealed, expunged, and pardoned records cannot be asked about or used in hiring decisions anywhere in Ohio. CIC’s human review filters them out before your report is delivered.

Mandatory fingerprint checks for regulated roles

Healthcare, schools, childcare, and direct care positions across Cuyahoga County carry BCI and FBI fingerprint requirements under ORC 109.572. Many regulated employers pair the required fingerprint check with a CIC screening program that covers what the government file does not.

Want to see what a hiring mistake actually costs? Try our free Bad Hire Cost Calculator, or request a consultation and we will walk through the current rules with you.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a background check take in Cleveland?

Most CIC background checks for Cleveland employers complete in 24 to 48 hours, including Cuyahoga County court research. Components requiring in-person courthouse work or third-party verifications can take longer, with status visible in our secure client portal.

What does Cleveland’s 2025 ordinance change for employers?

Ordinance No. 104-2025, effective October 27, 2025, covers employers with 15 or more employees: no salary history questions, and salary ranges required in postings for covered roles. Employers unsure how it applies may want to review the ordinance with legal counsel.

Which court records does a Cleveland background check cover?

CIC researches Cuyahoga County and surrounding county courts, Ohio state records, and federal court records, plus the counties where a candidate previously lived, with findings confirmed at the source before reporting.

Talk to a real person about your screening

Tell us about your hiring in Cleveland, and we will build a screening program that fits it. A conversation, not a sales pitch. Family-owned in Perrysburg since 1977.

Request a complimentary consultation

Free Ohio employer resources

The Ohio background checks guide covers laws, timelines, and BCI requirements statewide, and the Bad Hire Cost Calculator shows what one wrong hire costs.