Before a background screen can be processed, certain applicant information may be required in order to log in a request. A good rule of thumb is to follow the chart below which outlines what identifying information is required or merely helpful to process an applicant for screening:
| Required | Helpful | Type of Information | Used For |
| Yes |
| Full Name including Middle | All services |
| Yes | Yes | Date of Birth | Criminal/MVR/Education |
| Yes |
| Social Security Number | All services |
| Yes |
| Address | Credit/criminal/federal/civil |
| Yes |
| Account number | All services |
| Yes | Billing code/PO # | Accounting |
| Yes |
| Signed release | All services |
| Yes | Yes | Maiden name/AKA's | Criminal, employment, education |
| Yes |
| DL#/state of issuance | MVR |
| Yes | Yes | Name of previous employers/addresses/zip code/phone #/supervisor's name/position/wages/dates of employment/reason for leaving/comments | Employment |
| Yes | Yes | Name of schools, branch locations/attendance dates/grad date/major/minor/graduated-YES or NO/comments | Education |
| Yes | Yes | Drug screening type/ location of test/drug testing number | Drug screening |
| Yes | Yes | Name of licensing institution/city and state/license type/license date | Professional license |
| Yes |
| Name of reference/telephone number | Personal reference |
| Yes | Yes | Name of financial reference or trade reference/city and state/phone number/account number | Business report |
| Yes | Yes | Name of business/location/Tax ID#/license # | Business report |
| Yes |
| Name of business/location | Business civil report |
| Yes |
| Mother's maiden name | Puerto Rico criminal or MVR |
| Yes |
| Full name, DOB, last known
Address in that country, passport #/mother's maiden name for Hispanic countries | International criminal history |
