RALEIGH, N.C. & LONDON — The Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) has officially announced the expansion and rollout of its internationally recognized Accreditation Programme across the United Kingdom and Europe. Following long-standing success in the United States, the programme's European expansion addresses growing international demand for consistent, transparent, and high-quality screening benchmarks across global labor markets.

The PBSA Accreditation Programme—officially known as the Background Screening Agency Accreditation Program (BSAAP)—evaluates background screening organizations against rigorous, independently audited operational standards. Designed to promote professional integrity, legal compliance, and data subject protection, the accreditation distinguishes organizations that demonstrate best-in-class performance across six core pillars of policies and operational execution.

To achieve accreditation, background screening firms must undergo a comprehensive evaluation process conducted by an independent auditing firm, consisting of both an in-depth desk audit and an on-site operational assessment.

The programme explicitly accounts for regional legal frameworks by distinguishing between screening environments:

  • General Standard: Applies to screening conducted outside the United States, placing primary emphasis on global privacy principles, GDPR adherence, and international data subject protections.
  • United States Standard: Tailored to U.S. domestic screening governed by federal statutes such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA).

"The expansion of our Accreditation Programme into the UK and Europe represents an important step toward harmonising screening standards globally," said Melissa Sorenson, Executive Director of the PBSA. "Our mission is to advance excellence in the screening profession, and accreditation plays a vital role in that by promoting thoughtful industry practices, strengthening legal compliance, and protecting data subjects. Organisations that achieve accreditation demonstrate not only operational reliability and consistent quality, but also a clear commitment to professionalism, data subject protection, and continuous improvement."

As employment verification faces increasing scrutiny due to cross-border hiring complexities, candidate misrepresentation, and strict data privacy regulations, the PBSA accreditation serves as a trusted benchmark for employers and Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs) seeking vetted, compliant screening partners.

About the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA)

Founded in 2003 as a non-profit trade association, the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA)—formerly known as the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS)—represents background screening companies globally. Representing hundreds of member organizations ranging from local specialist providers to multinational screening firms, the PBSA advances ethical practices, compliance, and excellence across employment and tenant screening. For more information on accreditation standards and membership, visit www.thepbsa.org.

Media Contact:

PBSA Communications Desk

Professional Background Screening Association

Email: media@thepbsa.org

Website: www.thepbsa.org