Background Check

Mercor’s background check process ensures every contractor meets the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and compliance through thorough global identity, credential, and criminal history verification.

Mercor background check requirements

Ensuring integrity and excellence across our global talent network.

At Mercor, trust and professionalism are at the core of every engagement. Because our contractors partner with top-tier customers across many fields, including engineering, medicine, law, and investment banking, we conduct comprehensive background checks to help ensure the integrity, expertise, and reliability of every professional in our network.

Our goal is simple: to protect both customers and contractors by maintaining the highest global standards for ethical and professional conduct.

1. Professional identity and education verification

We begin by confirming that each candidate’s professional and academic background is accurate and verifiable.

Our checks typically include:

• Identity verification (legal name, date of birth, and government-issued ID).
• Education and degree verification through accredited institutions.
• Employment history confirmation, ensuring listed roles and dates align with verifiable records.
• Professional license or certification verification, where applicable (for example: legal bar admission, FINRA registration, or engineering certification).

This helps ensure that every Mercor contractor presents their credentials honestly and meets the standards our clients expect.

2. Criminal history

Mercor conducts criminal background and regulatory checks designed to protect both our customers and the broader professional community.  Depending on your location and area, these may include:

• Criminal record checks (local, national, and, if applicable, international databases).
• Regulatory compliance checks for roles in finance and legal services, including sanctions lists (OFAC, SEC, FCA, etc.) and professional disciplinary databases.
• Civil litigation checks for patterns of fraud, malpractice, or other conduct relevant to professional reliability.
• Global watchlist screenings for any disqualifying or high-risk flags (e.g., terrorism, money laundering).

Certain serious offences, such as fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, violent crimes, or professional misconduct, may result in disqualification from the Mercor network.

• Local regulations may require individual assessment, including consideration of rehabilitation, time elapsed since the offence, or evidence of good character.
• The criteria may differ depending on your location and the role you are applying for.

3.  How the process works

Once you’re matched or begin onboarding:

• You’ll receive a secure background check link from our third-party screening provider.
• You’ll be asked to provide basic identifying information and consent to the background check.
• Most checks are completed within 3–7 business days, depending on your location and the scope of verification.
• You’ll be notified once your screening is complete.
• In situations where additional documents are required, please keep an eye on your email to make sure the background check is processed quickly.

If any discrepancies arise, you’ll have the opportunity to review or dispute the results directly with our background check provider. To check your background check provider, please refer to the FAQ.

If Certn conducted your background check, please visit this page.

If Zinc performed your background check, please visit the FAQs here and the disputes here.

4. What you can do to help things go smoothly

• Make sure your application includes accurate personal information (name, date of birth, address, driver’s license number, etc.).
• If you have a complex driving or criminal history, you may wish to review your records ahead of applying (so you can explain or provide documentation if needed).
• Please respond quickly to any requests from us or our screening partner for additional documentation or verification.
• Know that background-check timelines can vary by location and application volume.

5. Data privacy and fairness

Mercor is committed to protecting your data and ensuring fair evaluation throughout the process.

• We don’t share your background information outside the scope of our vetting process.
• All screenings comply with applicable privacy and employment laws, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) in the U.S. and GDPR in the EU.
• Background results are reviewed in context, considering factors such as the time elapsed, relevance to professional duties, and evidence of rehabilitation.

6. Why do we do this

Our clients rely on Mercor to connect them with trusted experts who can contract independently on sensitive, high-impact projects. Background checks help us:

• Maintain a trusted global talent network.
• Protect client data, finances, and legal interests.
• Uphold professional and ethical standards across industries.

By joining Mercor as a contractor, you become part of a community built on integrity, accountability, and excellence—values that define how we collaborate and with whom we partner.

FAQ

How can I determine which background check provider is handling my screening?

You can check your background check using the Project Dashboard by expanding the “Background check” section, as shown in the screenshot.

The Certn/Zinc link isn’t working, or I can’t upload my documents. What should I do?

If you’re facing issues accessing the Certn or Zinc portal, uploading your documents, or haven’t received an email from the provider, please reach out directly to the respective provider’s support team for assistance.

• Certn Support: https://portal.certn.co/hc/en-us/articles/27989303355155-How-to-get-support
• Zinc Support: https://zincwork.com/contact

They’ll be able to help troubleshoot portal access issues, upload errors, or missing document requests.

My background check shows “Under Review,” but I’ve already received a completion email from Certn. Why hasn’t my dashboard updated?

If you see multiple line items for your background check (for example, two entries under Certn/Zinc), this means two separate checks are being processed — typically a Criminal Background Check and an Adverse Media Check.

Your dashboard will only update once both checks are complete. If you’ve received a completion email for one of them, please check your inbox (and spam/junk folders) for another email from Certn/Zinc regarding the second check and complete that as well.

How long does a Zinc background check take?

The turnaround time (TAT) for Zinc background checks varies depending on the country where the verification is being conducted.

You can find the most up-to-date average processing times for each country on Zinc’s official turnaround time page here: https://zincwork.com/turnaround-times/criminal

Please note that while many checks are completed within a few business days, certain verifications may take longer due to local regulations, public record access times, or additional documentation requirements.