We put together an A-Z list of different job roles and the type of DBS check (criminal record check) they require.
Sector/Industry |
Job role |
Likely Level of DBS Check |
| Animal | RSPCA | Standard |
| Animal | Veterinary surgeon | Standard |
| Aviation | Airport staff | Basic |
| Aviation | Pilot | Basic |
| Charity | National Trust executive | Basic |
| Construction | Agricultural labourer | Basic |
| Construction | Construction manager | Basic |
| Education | Driving instructor | Enhanced |
| Education | Martial arts instructor | Enhanced |
| Education | School – non teaching | Enhanced |
| Education | School Governor | Enhanced |
| Education | Teacher | Enhanced and barring |
| Education | Teaching assistant | Enhanced and barring |
| Emergency Services | Fire Service | Basic |
| Emergency Services | Police Constables | Security Vetting |
| Energy | Miner | Basic |
| Energy | Oil/Gas extraction | Basic |
| Engineering | Civil engineer | Basic |
| Engineering | Engineering construction | Basic |
| Engineering | Engineering designer | Basic |
| Entertainment | Actor/Actress | Basic |
| Entertainment | Model (e.g. fashion) | Basic |
| Entertainment | Musician | Basic |
| Entertainment | Radio broadcaster | Basic |
| Entertainment | Television presenter | Basic |
| Farming | Farmer | Basic |
| Finance | Accountant (Chartered/Certified) | Standard |
| Finance | Bank clerk | Basic |
| Finance | Bank manager | Standard |
| Finance | Banking | Standard |
| Finance | Book-keeper | Basic |
| Finance | Building society | Standard |
| Finance | Credit management | Standard |
| Finance | FCA Approved Person | Standard |
| Finance | Insurance | Standard |
| Finance | Mortgage advisor | Standard |
| Finance/Compliance | Actuary | Standard |
| Food & Drink | Baker | Basic |
| Food & Drink | Butcher | Basic |
| Food & Drink | Chef | Basic |
| Food & Drink | Chef – in a school or care premises | Enhanced and barring |
| Government | Civil servant | Basic (+ BPSS) |
| Government | Council administrator | Basic (+ BPSS) |
| Government | Councillor | Basic (+ BPSS) |
| Government | Government legal services | Standard (+ BPSS) |
| Government | Member of Parliament | Basic (+ BPSS) |
| Government | Trading standards officer | Basic (+ BPSS) |
| Healthcare | Acupuncturist | Standard |
| Healthcare | Ambulance service* | Enhanced and barring |
| Healthcare | Carer | Enhanced and barring |
| Healthcare | Childminder | Enhanced and barring |
| Healthcare | Chiropodist | Enhanced and barring |
| Healthcare | Chiropractor (registered) | Enhanced and barring |
| Healthcare | Dentist/Hygienist/Auxilliary | Enhanced and barring |
| Healthcare | Doctor | Enhanced and barring |
| Healthcare | Fitness trainer/Instructor | Basic |
| Healthcare | Home inspector for care homes* | Enhanced |
| Healthcare | Medical practitioner | Enhanced and barring |
| Healthcare | NHS administration roles | Enhanced |
| Healthcare | Nurse/Midwife | Enhanced and barring |
| Healthcare | Optician – dispensing | Enhanced and barring |
| Healthcare | Osteopath – registered | Enhanced and barring |
| Healthcare | Pharmaceutical chemist* | Enhanced |
| Healthcare | Physicist | Basic |
| Healthcare | Physiotherapist* | Enhanced and barring |
| Healthcare | Podiatrist* | Enhanced and barring |
| Healthcare | Psychologist (chartered) | Enhanced and barring |
| Healthcare | Psychotherapist | Enhanced and barring |
| Healthcare | Social worker* | Enhanced and barring |
| Healthcare | Surgeon | Enhanced and barring |
| Hospitality | Bar staff | Basic |
| Hospitality | Barrister | Standard |
| Hospitality | Hospitality | Basic |
| Hospitality | Public house manager/licenced trade | Basic |
| Hospitality | Waiter/Waitress | Basic |
| IT | Information technology | Basic |
| Journalism | Journalist | Basic |
| Legal | Clerks and officers of Law Courts | Standard |
| Legal | Crown Prosecution Service | Standard |
| Legal | Judicial appointment | Standard |
| Legal | Justices executive/clerk/assistant | Standard |
| Legal | Lawyer/Solicitor | Standard |
| Legal | Legal executive | Standard |
| Legal | Paralegal | Basic |
| Legal | Solicitor | Standard |
| Military | Army | Basic |
| Military | Merchant Navy | Basic |
| Military | Ministry of Defence | N/A |
| Military | Royal Air Force | Basic/Standard/Enhanced |
| Military | Royal Navy | Basic |
| Military | Royal Navy – Medical branch | Enhanced and barring |
| Other | Architect | Basic |
| Other | Beauty therapist | Basic |
| Other | Blacksmith | Basic |
| Other | Call centre worker | Basic |
| Other | Careers advisor | Basic or Enhanced |
| Other | Forester/Tree surgeon | Basic |
| Other | Funeral director | Basic |
| Other | Locksmith | Standard |
| Other | Market stall trader | Basic |
| Other | Milkman | Basic |
| Other | Personnel | Basic |
| Other | Photographer | Basic |
| Other | Postman/woman | Basic |
| Other | Printer | Basic |
| Other | Prison visitors (IMB) | Security Vetting |
| Other | Private investigator | Standard |
| Other | Publisher | Basic |
| Other | Quarrying | Basic |
| Other | Scrap metal dealer | Basic |
| Other | Secretary | Basic |
| Other | Statistician | Basic |
| Other | Taxidermist | Basic |
| Other | Toilet attendant | Basic |
| Other | Traffic warden | Standard |
| Other | Undertaker | Basic |
| Other | Welder/Fabricator | Basic |
| Other | Woodworker | Basic |
| Other | Youth worker | Enhanced and barring |
| Other | Zoo keeper | Basic |
| Personal Service | Hairdresser | Basic |
| Personal Service | Landscape architect/Gardener | Basic |
| Personal Service | Personal assistant | Basic |
| Politics | Mayor | Basic |
| Property | Estate agent | Basic |
| Property | Licensed conveyancer | Standard |
| Property | Surveyor (Chartered) | Basic |
| Public Service | Librarian | Enhanced |
| Public Service | Probation officer | Enhanced |
| Religious Services | Minister of Religion | Enhanced |
| Rescue | Lifeguard | Enhanced |
| Rescue | Mountain rescue | Enhanced |
| Retail | Bookseller | Basic |
| Retail | Shop assistant | Basic |
| Sales | Sales respresentative | Basic |
| Sales | Telesales executive | Basic |
| Science & Medicine | Forensic scientist | Enhanced |
| Security | Bodyguard | Standard |
| Security | Detention centre (immigration) officer | Enhanced |
| Security | Doorman/Bouncer | Standard |
| Security | Prison officer | Security Vetting |
| Security | Security guard | Standard |
| Sports | Football steward | Standard |
| Sports | Sports referee/Umpire/Official | Enhanced and barring |
| Sports | Sportsman/woman | Basic |
| Trades | Building/Contractor | Basic |
| Trades | Draughtsman | Basic |
| Trades | Electrician | Basic |
| Trades | Painter/decorator | Basic |
| Trades | Plumber | Basic |
| Trades | Roofer | Basic |
| Trades | Scaffolder | Basic |
| Transport | Bus/coach driver – not a school bus | Basic |
| Transport | Bus/coach driver – school bus | Enhanced and barring |
| Transport | Courier | Basic |
| Transport | Lorry driver | Basic |
| Transport | Mechanic | Basic |
| Transport | Railway worker | Basic |
| Transport | Road safety officer | Enhanced and barring |
| Transport | Taxi driver | Enhanced |
| Transport | Train driver | Basic |
| Transport | Tram driver | Basic |
| Travel | Travel agent | Basic |
| Utilities | Cleaner | Basic or Enhanced |
| Utilities | Game keeper | Basic |
| Utilities | Grounds keeper | Basic |
*These roles are regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
If you are unsure what type of DBS check a specific job role requires, send us an email to adam@ebcglobal.co.uk
If you are looking for work, then please read on….
A big problem recruiters and employers have is checking you are ready to work.
They must check you have the legal right to work, fill in forms, collect your personal data, take copies of documents, work history, address history, get a consent form, references and then apply for background checks. It costs them a lot of time and money.
To stand out, you can help employers by securely sharing your data and documents (including a DBS check).
Employers are impressed by candidates who do this, and the process is quick and easy. Employment Check App is free to download and it will help you get noticed (and hired faster).
Further Reading
Criminal Record Check | Frequently Asked Questions
Employment Check Pro | Background Check Software for Employers