Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon Department of Human Services Search Site

Background Checks

Background check services

The Background Check Unit (BCU) does background checks for the Oregon Department of Human Services and Oregon Health Authority. We screen applicants, employees, contractors, vendors and volunteers. We check criminal history and abuse records according to Oregon rules and policies.

Contact us


Latest news

BCU filed new provider rules effective 2/1/2023. For details, see:


You can sign up to get email updates when rules or requirements change.

How it works

We use a system called ORCHARDS to do background checks. Only qualified entities and current job applicants can use ORCHARDS.

FAQ for job applicants

Who we serve

BCU provides services to:

  • Oregon Department Human Services (ODHS) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA).
  • Businesses regulated by ODHS or OHA.
  • Businesses not regulated by the state that meet criteria to use the BCU Clearinghouse.