What is portability?
Portability means you can use a previous Background Check Unit (BCU) approval for a new job or placement.
- If you already passed a BCU background check, you may be able to use that approval again for other jobs or placements that require the same type of background check.
- With portability, once a new employer submits a background check request in ORCHARDS and sees that you are already approved, you can be hired or placed right away.
Questions? Email bcu.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov
Who can get portability?
Specific positions and care settings
- Nursing facilities and skilled nursing facilities
- Assisted living facilities and residential care facilities
- Adult day service centers
- Adult foster homes licensed in Oregon for:
- Seniors and individuals with physical disabilities through ODHS Aging and People with Disabilities
- Adults with developmental disabilities through ODHS Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services
- Adults with behavioral health disorders through OHA Health Services Division, Behavioral Services
- Homecare workers and personal support workers for seniors, developmental disabilities clients, and behavioral health clientso
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Homecare workers have background checks through a local Oregon Department of Human Services or AAA office
- Personal support workers have background checks through community DD programs and DD brokerages
- Mental Health personal support workers/personal care attendants have background checks through the Oregon Health Authority Behavioral Health Division
- All developmental disability (DD) adult and child residential facilities, organizations and providers (but not employees and volunteers at community DD programs and DD brokerages and child foster homes)
Requirements for a portability background check
- You must have a job offer in a care setting or for one of the eligible positions listed above.
- Your employer will need to verify your identity by looking at your photo ID.
- Your employer will enter your name, any other names you’ve used, and your contact information (address, email, and phone).
- You will need to tell your employer which cities you have lived in and the dates you lived there for the past five years.
- If fingerprints are required, you may have to pay a fee to get them taken. The usual cost is about $12.50 through Fieldprint vendors. It may be higher at a police or sheriff’s office.
- You must respond on time. There are deadlines for different steps, and you need to meet each deadline to keep your background check active.
BCU approves over 96% of the background checks we complete. For more information about the background check and what we look for, see the
Frequently Asked Questions page.
Process for getting your first background check
1. Job offer
- An employer offers you a position to work or volunteer.
2. Employer starts Your background check
- They enter your information into ORCHARDS.
3. ORCHARDS emails you
4. Complete Authorization and Disclosure
- You open the ORCHARDS link and fill out the authorization and disclosure survey. You can download or print any documents linked to the survey.
5. BCU begins the checks
- The Background Check Unit (BCU) runs criminal history and abuse checks.
6. Fingerprints (if needed)
- Your employer will tell you if fingerprinting is required for a national check.
7. Additional information (if needed)
- BCU may send you a letter requesting more information.
8. BCU makes a decision
- They review all materials and make a final fitness determination.
9. If approved
- Employer receives a clearance letter
- Employer gives you a copy
- Letter shows your expiration date (when you need a new background check)
10. If not approved
- BCU mails you a letter explaining the decision
- BCU emails the employer (no details)
Using portability
If you change jobs or get a different employer, the steps are easier with portability:
1. Job offer
- You’re offered a position.
2. Employer starts your background check
- They enter your information into ORCHARDS (just like starting a new application).
3. ORCHARDS tells your employer you already have approval.
- Employer receives a clearance letter
- Employer gives you a copy
- Letter shows your expiration date (the date will match the previous clearance letters)
Rechecks
- Your clearance letter shows your expiration date. For any background check completed before June 5, 2026, you have an expiration date of two years (for example, if your approval is May 1, 2025, your expiration date is May 1, 2027).
- Effective June 5, 2026, you need a new background check every three years to continue your probability (for example, if your approval is July 1, 2026, your expiration date is July 1, 2029).
- Renew your background check before it expires!
- ORCHARDS reminds your employers 120 days before your expiration date.
- If needed, ORCHARDS reminds your employers again at 60 days before your expiration date.
- Then you go through a new background check.
1. Employer starts your background check
- They enter your information into ORCHARDS.
- Every employer needs to start a background check in ORCHARDS.
2. ORCHARDS emails you
3. Complete Authorization and Disclosure
- You open the ORCHARDS link and fill out the authorization and disclosure survey. You can download or print any documents linked to the survey.
4. BCU begins the checks
- The Background Check Unit (BCU) runs criminal history and abuse checks. New criminal or abuse events may change the background check decision.
5. Fingerprints (if needed)
- Your employer will tell you if fingerprinting is required for a national check.
6. Additional information (if needed)
- BCU may send you a letter requesting more information.
7. BCU makes a decision
- They review all materials and make a final fitness determination.
8. If approved
- Employer receives a clearance letter
- Employer gives you a copy
- Letter shows your new expiration date (valid for 3 years)
9. If not approved
- BCU mails you a denial letter explaining the decision
- BCU emails the employer (no details)