The AAMC recommends that all U.S. medical schools procure a national background check on you after you receive an initial, conditional acceptance to medical school. The rationale for performing criminal background checks on accepted medical school applicants is based on several reasons, including (1) the need to enhance the safety and well-being of patients and, in so doing, to bolster the public’s continuing trust in the medical profession and (2) to ascertain the ability of accepted applicants eventually to become licensed physicians.
In support of this recommendation, the AAMC facilitates a Criminal Background Check Service, through which Certiphi Screening, Inc., (a Vertical Screen company) procures a national background report on Early Decision Program applicants at the point of acceptance and on all other accepted applicants after Jan. 1. The AAMC has initiated background checks in recognition of medical schools’ desire to procure appropriate national criminal history reports and to prevent you from paying additional fees at each medical school to which you are accepted.
Participating medical schools may require you to undergo a separate national background check if their institutional regulations or applicable state law requires it. Medical schools not participating in the background check service used by the AMCAS program may also require you to undergo a separate national background check process.
Other medical schools you have designated or may later designate may opt to participate in the AAMC-facilitated Criminal Background Check Service at any time.
The criminal background check includes the following criminal history searches:
- Social Security number search: A search of credit report header data to help confirm your identifying information such as name, aliases, address(es), Social Security number, and areas of previous residence.
- County criminal records searches: A direct search of county courthouse records for any felony or misdemeanor criminal history. All records are researched to help ensure positive identification and complete, easy-to-read details.
- Statewide criminal records search: A search conducted through statewide criminal records repositories or court systems for any felony or misdemeanor criminal history.
- Federal criminal records search: A direct search of federal courthouse records for any felony or misdemeanor criminal history. All records are researched to help ensure positive identification and complete, easy-to-read details.
- National Criminal Database search: This search is an instant, multi-jurisdiction private database search covering more than 375 million criminal records collected from across the country. All database “hits” are verified directly through the source of information to ensure records are current.
- National Sexual Offender Database search: A search of a national private database that contains sex offender data collected from across the country. All records are researched to help ensure positive identification.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE) search: A search of the LEIE database, which provides information to the public, health care providers, patients, and others relating to parties excluded from participation in the Medicare, Medicaid, and all other federal health care programs.
- Search for dishonorable discharge from the Armed Forces: Military records are verified through either phone interviews with the subject’s former commander or by obtaining a DD-214 form. Verification generally includes the subject’s name, service number, rank, dates of service, awards and decorations, and place of entrance and separation.
- International screening: International criminal records searches are performed as applicable.