This guide is for Ankored admins whose organization uses NCSI (National Center for Safety Initiatives) as its integrated background check provider. For a provider-agnostic overview of background check levels, writing your screening policy, and FCRA requirements, see Background Checks Guide for Organizations.
Getting your background checks set up
Setting up integrated background checks typically takes 1 to 2 weeks. If you need to get started sooner, setup can be expedited. Timing will be discussed during your conversations with your sales representative and your Ankored implementation team.
As part of setup, Ankored will fill out a form with NCSI on your organization's behalf. This allows NCSI to get the integration set up in Ankored, which typically takes up to 5 business days.
How it works
When a member is assigned a background check requirement, they click Run Background Check in Ankored and complete the NCSI application. This includes signing the consent and disclosure forms, acknowledging the FCRA Summary of Rights, and entering their personal information. Members have 14 days to submit their application once it is assigned.
Once submitted, NCSI runs the check and the result syncs back to Ankored automatically. You do not need to log in to NCSI for checks that come back clear.
If your organization uses NCSI Level 2 Plus, county court fees are already included in the package.
How long background checks take
NCSI reports that screenings are typically completed within 3 to 5 business days. Canadian (CPIC) checks typically take up to 72 hours.
Delays can happen when NCSI needs to verify information with the applicant, such as their date of birth, full legal name, or SSN. NCSI contacts the applicant by email from [email protected], and the check stays on hold until the applicant responds. The applicant has 30 days to respond before the file is closed as incomplete. Encourage members to watch for NCSI emails and add ncsisafe.com to their safe senders list.
NCSI also keeps an up-to-date list of states and counties that are currently experiencing delays on the homepage of your NCSI account.
As a best practice, have members start their background check at least 7 business days before their program deadline.
Background check statuses in Ankored
Here is how a member's background check moves through Ankored, from the moment it is assigned:
Incomplete: the member has been assigned a background check requirement but has not started it yet. Every newly assigned background check starts here.
Completed with an imported date: if you provided the Ankored implementation team with completion dates for members who already had a valid background check, those members come into Ankored with that completion date applied, and their requirement shows as Completed. There is no record of the actual background check report in Ankored for these members, only the completion date. The requirement will come due for renewal based on that date.
Waiting on Applicant: the member started the application but has not submitted it to NCSI. They can log in to Ankored and click Continue Application to pick up where they left off, as long as it is within their 14-day window.
Waiting on Provider: the member submitted their application and NCSI is processing it. No action is needed from the member unless NCSI emails them for more information.
Under Review: the check needs an admin decision. In your Review Requirements queue, the Reason column shows Consider. See the adjudication section below.
Cleared: the background check came back clear, or an admin approved it after review. The requirement shows as Completed, and once the member finishes all of their assigned requirements, their overall status shows as Cleared.
Qualifications Not Met: an adverse action decision was made based on the member's background check. The member cannot log in to your organization in Ankored.
Disqualified: the member was disqualified because they did not provide the documentation needed to complete a requirement. The member cannot log in to your organization in Ankored.
If a Qualifications Not Met or Disqualified decision needs to be reversed, see Resetting a member to Incomplete below. For every status in Ankored, see the Member Status Guide for Ankored Administrators.
NCSI report decisions
Inside your NCSI account, each screening shows a colored status marker:
Green (Clear): the report was completed with a clear decision. No reportable records were found.
Yellow (Pending Verification): NCSI found a discrepancy in the information on the application and needs to confirm it with the applicant. NCSI emails the applicant from [email protected], and the applicant has 30 days to respond before the file is closed as incomplete. If you already have the information NCSI needs, you can call NCSI at 866-996-7412 or leave a client note on the file.
Gray (Cancelled): the screening was cancelled because the applicant did not respond within 30 days of the first verification email. The screening can be reopened if the applicant confirms their information in a timely manner.
Light green (Applicant Disclosed): the applicant disclosed information during the screening application. An admin needs to review the file and update the decision. See the adjudication section below.
Where background check reports are stored
All background check reports are stored in NCSI, not in Ankored. Ankored receives the status and outcome of each check.
Members who want a copy of their own background check report should contact NCSI support at [email protected]. Ankored does not have access to background check reports and cannot send copies.
To find reports in your NCSI account:
Pending reports: hover over Reports on your NCSI dashboard and select Pending Reports to see every screening currently in progress.
Completed reports: hover over Reports and select Completed Reports to see every report completed in the last 90 days. You can view these as a spreadsheet and export them.
Reports older than 90 days: hover over Reports and select Advanced Search. You can filter by decision, date, and other fields, and bookmark your search for easy access.
Exporting a date range: hover over Utilities and select Metadata Report. Enter a date range of up to one year and choose whether to search by Created Date (when the file was ordered) or Completed Date (when the file was completed). Results can be filtered further and exported as an Excel or PDF file. To pull more than one year, run a separate search for each year.
Who can see flagged results
Users with the Admin permission level in Ankored can see that a member has a flagged background check. However, the background check report itself is not visible in Ankored.
To view the actual report, you need your own NCSI admin credentials and login. Make sure every person on your team who reviews flagged checks has their own NCSI login. See Managing your NCSI admin access below.
Reviewing flagged background checks (adjudication)
For NCSI accounts, adjudication happens inside NCSI. When a check needs a decision, it shows Consider in the Reason column of your Review Requirements queue, and the member shows as Under Review in Ankored until a decision is made in NCSI.
Log in to your NCSI account.
Find the file that needs review. Files where the applicant disclosed information show the light green marker.
Review the file against your organization's written adjudication criteria.
Update the decision in NCSI to either (Client) Reviewed – Clear or (Client) Reviewed – Declined. If you intend to decline someone based on their report, you must follow the FCRA adverse action process: send a pre-adverse action notice with a copy of the report and the Summary of Rights, allow time for the member to respond, then send a final adverse action notice if the decision stands.
Your decision syncs back to Ankored.
Tip: Have more than one admin on your NCSI account so flagged checks do not sit unreviewed when someone is out. See Managing your NCSI admin access below.
If a member believes a record on their report is inaccurate, they should contact [email protected]. If the record is accurate but they believe they should still be able to participate, they need to contact your organization directly.
Managing your NCSI admin access
Adding or removing admins: only NCSI can add or remove administrators on your NCSI account. NCSI needs permission from an administrator already listed on the account before making the change. Contact [email protected].
Password resets: contact [email protected] for help resetting your NCSI password.
Email notification settings: the email notifications NCSI sends can be adjusted, but only the NCSI team can change them. You do not have access to these settings in your NCSI account. To make a change, contact NCSI support at [email protected].
Checking on a pending screening: contact NCSI client services at [email protected] or 866-996-7412.
Canadian background checks (CPIC)
When a member selects Canada as their home country during LeagueApps registration, Ankored assigns them the NCSI Canadian Background Check (CPIC) in place of the standard U.S. background check. CPIC stands for the Canadian Police Information Centre, and the check is processed through NCSI. The member's part takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
Before the member starts
Payment is required before the check can begin.
Members do not need a Social Security number. They create a unique 4-digit PIN when signing their disclosures instead.
Members should save their NCSI file number and PIN. They need both to access the NCSI Applicant Portal later.
Members should not use their browser's back button during the process. They can review and edit their information before submitting.
Steps for the member
Start the background check. Log in to Ankored, find the NCSI Canadian Background Check requirement, and click Run Background Check.
Pay at checkout. When the Payment Completed confirmation appears, click Start the Background Check Application.
Begin the NCSI application. Review the NCSI welcome screen, then click Continue.
Complete the consent and disclosure forms, in order:
Electronic Signature Consent: enter your name.
Applicable jurisdictions: for Canada, select Outside the U.S. as your employment state.
Summary of Your Rights Under the FCRA: acknowledge that you have read it.
Acknowledgement and Authorization for Background Check: check the box to receive a copy of your report from NCSI, then agree.
Enter your 4-digit PIN in place of an SSN, then acknowledge.
Parent/Guardian Acknowledgement and Authorization: enter the same PIN.
Disclosure Regarding Background Check Information: enter your name and PIN, then sign the acknowledgement.
Enter applicant information. Enter your legal name exactly as it appears on your driver's license or other government-issued ID (last, first, and middle name, or check the box if you do not have a middle name). Add your date of birth, phone number, and a former name or alias if applicable.
Enter your current address. Confirm Canada as your country, select your province from the dropdown, and complete your street address, city, and postal code.
Review and submit. Review your Application Summary (labeled CPIC Only), use the edit pencils to correct anything that is not right, add application notes if needed, then click Submit.
After the member submits
The application is sent to NCSI for processing. This typically takes up to 72 hours.
To access the NCSI Applicant Portal, the member uses the file number and 4-digit PIN they created.
For help with their PIN, questions about their NCSI screening, or a copy of their report, members can contact [email protected]. For help with their Ankored profile, they can contact [email protected].
Resetting a member to Incomplete
If a member was set to Disqualified or Qualifications Not Met and that decision needs to be reversed, you can reset them yourself without contacting Ankored Support. Customer Admins and Directors can do this.
Go to the program where the member is listed and find the member with the Disqualified or Qualifications Not Met status.
Click the three-dot actions menu at the end of the member's row and select Reset to incomplete.
Confirm the reset.
The requirement that caused the disqualification returns to Incomplete. Any requirements the member already completed stay Completed. The reset applies across every program the member belongs to, and the member can log in again right away.
Frequently asked questions
Does NCSI require a Social Security number?
Yes. NCSI requires a valid Social Security number on the application before it can move forward with a U.S. background screening.
There are circumstances where an applicant may not have an SSN, such as a non-U.S. resident. In those cases, contact NCSI at [email protected] or 866-996-7412 and they can help you decide how to move forward. Canadian applicants use the CPIC check described above, which uses a 4-digit PIN in place of an SSN.
Does NCSI run international background checks?
Yes. NCSI can perform international background screenings. Contact NCSI at [email protected] to set this up for an applicant.
Does an NCSI background check include a credit check?
No. NCSI does not conduct a credit check as part of your Ankored background check, and it does not affect a member's credit score.
Members may notice references to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) in the consent forms they sign. That is because NCSI is a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA), and the FCRA is the federal law that governs all consumer reporting agencies, including background screening companies. NCSI complies with the FCRA, but a credit check is not being conducted.
How can a member get a copy of their background check?
Members should email NCSI support at [email protected] to request a copy of their report. Background check reports are held by NCSI, so Ankored cannot provide a copy.
Can I change the email notifications NCSI sends?
Yes, but only the NCSI team can make the change. NCSI email notifications are adjustable, but admins don't have access to those settings in their NCSI account. Contact NCSI support at [email protected] and let them know which notifications you'd like changed.
What does a yellow status marker mean?
Yellow means Pending Verification. Some of the applicant's information, such as their date of birth, full legal name, or SSN, needs to be verified. NCSI will email the applicant to confirm it. If you already have the information, call NCSI at 866-996-7412 or leave a client note on the file.
A screening has been pending for a while. How do I check on it?
Contact NCSI client services at [email protected] or 866-996-7412. You can also check the list of delayed states and counties on the homepage of your NCSI account.
Contact NCSI
Client services: [email protected]
Phone: 866-996-7412
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern
Website: https://solutions.ncsisafe.com
Copies of background check reports: members can request a copy at [email protected]
Email notification changes: contact [email protected]
Compliance and report accuracy questions: [email protected]
All NCSI verification and platform notifications come from [email protected].
Contact Ankored
For questions about your Ankored account, requirements, or statuses, contact [email protected].