Universal Background Screening Review
Universal Background Screening is a PBSA-accredited screening firm in Phoenix offering criminal, verification, driving record and drug testing services with ATS integrations, priced on request.
Best for
- Employers that want an assigned client service team rather than self-serve ordering
- Healthcare, education, staffing and retail employers that want an industry screening program
- Organizations that screen volunteers, vendors and students as well as hires
Not ideal for
- Buyers who want to compare published per-check prices before talking to sales
How we evaluated Universal Background Screening
This review rests on the 13 facts this page shows, each checked against the source listed under “Sources”, most recently on . We did not test the product hands-on: the score uses only those verified facts, as our methodology explains; third-party ratings, where we quote them, never count in the score.
Our verdict
Universal Background Screening is a PBSA-accredited screening firm from Phoenix that builds quoted packages around industry programs, with an assigned client service team, criminal, verification, driving and drug testing services and ATS integrations. It states criminal searches average under two days. It is less suited to buyers who want a published per-check price list.
Strengths
Assigned client service team
Each client gets a service team that knows the account and screening program.
Evidence
Key features: Client service team assigned to each account, Web-based client portal for ordering and real-time status 24x7, Online candidate entry, Electronic signature of disclosure forms, HR-XML certified ATS and HRIS integrations, Extended workforce screening (vendors, volunteers, students)3
Industry screening programs
Dedicated programs for education, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, nonprofits, retail, staffing and transportation.
Evidence
Industry focus: Education, Energy production and utilities, Financial services, Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing and wholesale, Nonprofits, Retail, Staffing agencies, Transportation1
Screening plus drug testing
Criminal, verification and driving record searches sit next to drug testing, physicals and Form I-9 services.
Evidence
Modules: Criminal record searches (county, statewide, federal), Criminal databases (USA CriminalSearch), Sex offender registry search (USA OffenderSearch), Employment, education and license verification, Motor vehicle records, Drug testing, Employment physical exams, Form I-9 and E-Verify, Employee re-screening, International screening2
PBSA accredited
Accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.
Evidence: PBSA accredited: Yes3
Weaknesses
Price at a glance
Pricing model
Quote only2
Quick answers
- How much does Universal Background Screening cost?
- Universal Background Screening does not publish prices: each employer requests pricing for a package built around its roles and industry, so ask for the per-check price and any court fees in writing.Based on Pricing model: Quote only2
- How long does a Universal Background Screening check take?
- Universal states average turnaround under two days for criminal searches and under three days for verifications; its candidate FAQ says most checks finish in 3-5 business days.Based on Turnaround time: Under 2 days on average for criminal searches and under 3 days for verifications (vendor-stated)2
- Is Universal Background Screening PBSA accredited?
- Yes. Universal is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association and says it was a founding member of the trade association.Based on PBSA accredited: Yes3
- Who owns Universal Background Screening?
- Universal Background Screening is a portfolio company of SNH Capital Partners, a private investment firm, and is based in Phoenix, Arizona.Based on Ownership: Private equity-backed5
Coverage of core background check services capabilities
Each core capability we evaluate in Background Check Services, checked against Universal Background Screening’s own documentation. “Not verified yet” means we have not confirmed it either way, not that it is missing.
10 verified of 13 core capabilities
Background Check Services
- FCRA disclosure and consent4
- Identity and SSN trace2
- County criminal search2
- National criminal database6
- Sex offender registry search7
- Employment and education verification2
- Motor vehicle records8
- Drug and health screening9
- Adverse action workflow · not verified yet
- Individualized assessment support · not verified yet
- Dispute and reinvestigation10
- State and local rule handling · not verified yet
- ATS and onboarding integration4
Specifications
Pricing
- Price transparency
- Quote only2
Fit
- Industry focus
- Education, Energy production and utilities, Financial services, Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing and wholesale, Nonprofits, Retail, Staffing agencies, Transportation1
Product
- Modules
- Criminal record searches (county, statewide, federal), Criminal databases (USA CriminalSearch), Sex offender registry search (USA OffenderSearch), Employment, education and license verification, Motor vehicle records, Drug testing, Employment physical exams, Form I-9 and E-Verify, Employee re-screening, International screening2
Support
- Support channels
- Phone, email, dedicated account team11
Universal Background Screening integrations
Native integrations: A–J
Native integrations: J–W
Named by the vendor
- Oracle Taleo Business Edition
Universal Background Screening integration coverage
The 10 apps that background check services products document most often, and whether Universal Background Screening documents each.
8 of the 10 most-connected apps documented by Universal Background Screening; median of the 21 products compared: 5
- Workday · documented by 18 of 21
- iCIMS · documented by 16 of 21
- Greenhouse · documented by 15 of 21
- Bullhorn · documented by 12 of 21
- ADP · documented by 10 of 21
- Lever · documented by 10 of 21
- SmartRecruiters · documented by 9 of 21
- BambooHR · documented by 8 of 21
- Dayforce · documented by 7 of 21
- SAP SuccessFactors · documented by 7 of 21
Integrations each vendor documents (native, marketplace, Zapier, API or named by the vendor), 21 live background check services products. Not documented does not mean not possible.
Universal Background Screening alternatives
About Universal Background Screening
Official profiles
Universal Background Screening: frequently asked questions
Does Universal Background Screening integrate with my ATS?
Often, yes. It is HR-XML certified and pre-integrated with HealthcareSource, Oracle Taleo Business Edition and PeopleSoft; its partner page also shows Workday, iCIMS, Greenhouse, BambooHR and Bullhorn.
Does Universal Background Screening do drug testing?
Yes. It offers pre-employment and ongoing drug tests, including DOT tests, through Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp and Concentra collection sites, plus employment physicals.
Can Universal Background Screening check volunteers and vendors?
Yes. Besides job candidates it screens vendors, temporary staff, consultants, volunteers and students, and runs re-screening of current employees.
What is Universal Background Screening used for?
Universal Background Screening is a background check services product built for small businesses, mid-market companies, and enterprises. Its modules include Criminal record searches, Criminal databases, Sex offender registry search, Employment, education and license verification, and 6 more.
What are the best alternatives to Universal Background Screening?
In our background check services ranking, the highest-scored products other than Universal Background Screening are Checkr, Certn, and Turn. Compared side by side, by reason to switch: Universal Background Screening alternatives.
What are the pros and cons of Universal Background Screening?
Strengths documented on the vendor’s own pages: assigned client service team, industry screening programs, and screening plus drug testing. It is less suited to buyers who want to compare published per-check prices before talking to sales.
How this page was made
What it is built from
13 verified facts, each checked against the vendor's own pages or another primary source, most recently on Oct 23, 2026.
Method
Scored and compared with the LeadChange methodology, version 1.5. Read the methodology
Independent review
Not reviewed yet by our independent reviewer. How we review
Hands-on testing
We have not tested Universal Background Screening hands-on: this page uses public information only.
Who made it
The LeadChange Research Team, following a written research process. No named expert has reviewed this page. About us
Independence and errors
Who pays us never changes a score or a rank. If something here is wrong, tell us and we correct it publicly. Request a correction
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How we make money
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Universal Background Screening
Sources
The 11 pages this page's facts come from, with the day we last checked each one. The numbers beside the figures above link here.
Quotes from the sources
- Universal Background Screening universalbackground.com/solution“Universal Background Screening works with organizations in virtually every industry, including: Education Energy Production and Utilities Enterprise and Fortune 500 Financial Services Healthcare Hospitality Manufacturing and Wholesale Non-profit organizations Small businesses” “Education Energy Production and Utilities Enterprise and Fortune 500 Financial Services Healthcare Hospitality Manufacturing and Wholesale Non-profit organizations Small businesses Retail Employers Staffing, Payroll & PEO firms”
- Universal Background Screening universalbackground.com/services/employment-background-checks“Contact us for additional information, request pricing or learn more about our employment screening services” “Our services include county, statewide, and federal criminal record searches, as well as alias and address tracing using our proprietary SSNsight™ tool.”
- Universal Background Screening universalbackground.com“As a client, you are assigned a client service team knowledgeable about your account and screening program.” “Universal is one of a small percentage of screening firms accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.”
- Universal Background Screening universalbackground.com/about-us/universal-background-screening-technology“Universal Background Screening’s services are pre-integrated with HealthcareSource , Oracle Taleo Business Edition Cloud Service , Oracle PeopleSoft Human Capital Management , and others.”
- Universal Background Screening universalbackground.com/2023/11/27/universal-background-screening-awarded-1-enterprise-background-screening-firm-by-hro-today-2023“Universal Background Screening, an SNH Capital Partners portfolio company, is an industry-leading provider of employment background screening solutions”
- Universal Background Screening universalbackground.com/criminal-research/usa-criminalsearch
- Universal Background Screening universalbackground.com/criminal-research/usa-offendersearch
- Universal Background Screening universalbackground.com/driving/motor-vehicle-driving-records
- Universal Background Screening universalbackground.com/services/employment-drug-testing
- Universal Background Screening universalbackground.com/about-us/faqs
- Universal Background Screening universalbackground.com/about-us/about-universal-background-screening“877-263-8033 toll free” “Universal Background Screening 7720 North 16th Street, Suite 450 Phoenix, AZ 85020”
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