All resourcesState guide · TN
Tennessee background check laws
A practitioner-grade reference to Tennessee pre-employment background screening: lookback caps, ban-the-box scope, salary-history limits, cannabis testing rules, and the statutes the SafestHires compliance team applies on every order routed to TN.
The four levers at a glance
| Lookback period | 7 years (FCRA default) |
| Ban-the-Box scope | Public sector (T.C.A. §8-50-112) |
| Salary history | No restriction |
| Cannabis testing | Illegal (limited CBD) |
Lookback period
Tennessee applies FCRA.
Ban-the-Box and Fair Chance rules
State and local public-employer applications may not include a conviction question on the initial application.
Salary history
No statewide salary-history ban.
Cannabis & drug testing
Tennessee permits limited low-THC CBD use; no recreational legalization.
Governing statutes & references
- T.C.A. §8-50-112
- T.C.A. §38-6-109 (TBI access)
SafestHires compliance note
E-Verify is mandatory for Tennessee employers with 35+ workers.