National Coordinated Criminal History Check vs. State Police Check: What's the Difference?

Jobseekers applying for positions or licences or volunteer opportunities in Australia may need to provide evidence of their police background through police check systems which include either a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check or a State Police Check.

Note: The product provided by Australian National Character Check is the Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) and not a state based police check.

This guide compares Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks (NCCHC) to State Police Checks by explaining their distinctions for proper identification of suitable background check types.

Australian National Character Check (ANCC) provides background checks to individuals and approved businesses.

Do you work in HR in an Australian organization and need background checks for workers? Australian National Character Check (ANCC) provides a streamlined solution for background check via our business portal.

Please apply for your background check via the individual portal here.

Businesses seeking bulk background checks can apply for access to the ANCC Business Portal.

The NCCHC serves as an accepted criminal background check across every state and territory throughout Australia. This search mechanism, run by the national police checking service and police agencies, looks for DCOs from the national database for convictions and charges via Australian courts.

Key Features of the NCCHC:

• National Scope: Covers disclosable criminal records from all states and territories.
• Common Uses: Employment, Licence, Commonwealth and Probity.
• Validity: Technically, no expiry date as it is a point-in-time check, but most employers require checks issued within the last 3 months. ANCC's portal also makes checks available for only three months from the date of issue.
• Processing Time: 70% of checks are completed within 24 hours when applied through accredited providers like the Australian National Character Check (ANCC), while manual reviews may take up to 15 days or longer.
• Cost: An employment check starts at $52.90 + GST for individuals.

The NCCHC is ideal for common employment roles requiring a nationwide check of an individual's disclosable criminal history.

A State-Based Police Check is conducted by a specific state or territory's police force (e.g., Victoria Police or SA Police). While it also reveals DCOs sourced nationally, its scope is generally limited to applications from those applicants who are residing in the state or territory where it's issued.

Key Features of State Police Checks:

• Local Focus: Primarily used for roles or licences regulated by state laws
• Common Uses: Usually for specific purposes (e.g. Visa).
• Validity: Some organisations may prefer a state-based check.
• Processing Time: Varies by state
• Cost: Varies depending on the state based agency.

While both checks aim to disclose criminal history, here's how they differ:

For Nationwide Roles or Standard Employment:

• Use the NCCHC if you're applying for jobs or licences in multiple states or if you are applying for a standard employment role. Its national recognition saves time and costs for employers.

For Immigration or Visa or Fingerprint Checks:

• Opt for a State-Based Police Check.

For speed and customer support:

• NCCHC providers like ANCC generally offer faster processing times and readily available customer support. At the same time, state-based checks may take longer and may not specialise in outstanding customer support services.

National Coordinated Criminal History Check (via ANCC):

1. Complete the online form at https://www.australiannationalcharactercheck.com.au/customer/Police-Check-Application
2. Submit the acceptable ID documents
3. Receive results via email or opt in to receive a hard copy.

State-Based Police Check

1. Visit the state police website or a local station.
2. Provide the required ID
3. Wait the required number of days for processing.

Ready to apply for your NCCHC? Visit Australian National Character Check today for a fast, reliable, and Australia-wide criminal history check.