So the primary background check is done by the FBI then? This is what I had initially thought, but then I heard that they use third party vendors to soley perform checks.

I'm still not entirely sure of how the background check process is completed, beginning to end.

I know they require 10 years of history, but only the last 7 will be checked for employment purposes. Based on law, it appears that if a 3rd party company (i.e., ChoicePoint) does the check, they are limited to the last 7 years of reported history and can only report back on felonies and misdemeanors. Although if done directly through the FBI, an unlimited time period may be used.

This is what Im unsure of.

How are the two sources utilized and shouldn't it be possible to definatively determine what will or won't show up on a check.

The weird thing is that on my FBI check which I performed myself ($18 and prints mailed to FBI) showed two things from well over 10 years ago, but the report from the vendor showed nothing.