DBS Eligibility Guidance: Which DBS Check Can You Request?
The level of DBS check an organisation can request depends on the role and the duties the applicant will carry out. It is not simply a case of choosing Basic, Standard or Enhanced.
Use this guide to understand when Standard and Enhanced DBS checks can be requested, when Barred List checks can be included and what to consider before submitting an application.
The duties of the role determine DBS eligibility
A job title or workplace does not automatically decide which DBS check can be requested.
Basic DBS checks
Can be requested for any lawful purpose and do not require the role to meet specific occupational eligibility rules.
Standard and Enhanced DBS checks
The role must meet the relevant legal eligibility requirements before either level can be requested.
Barred List checks
These can only be included where the role meets the additional Children’s or Adults’ Barred List eligibility requirements.
How do you know which DBS check a role is eligible for?
The answer comes down to what the applicant will actually be doing. For Standard, Enhanced and Barred List checks, the role must meet specific legal eligibility requirements.
Start with the duties of the role, not the job title
Two people with the same job title may be eligible for different DBS checks if their duties are different. Where they work can also be relevant, but simply working in a school, hospital, care home or other sensitive setting does not automatically determine the level of check.
If the role does not meet the legal criteria for a higher-level check, a Basic DBS check can usually still be requested.
Basic checks can be requested for any lawful purpose and show unspent convictions and conditional cautions.
The role must fall within one of the positions or activities that is legally eligible for a Standard DBS check.
This includes certain professions, licences and other positions specifically covered by legislation. We explain Standard DBS eligibility in more detail further down this page.
The role must meet the separate eligibility requirements for an Enhanced DBS check.
This commonly includes certain work with children or adults, as well as other specified roles and activities. Eligibility depends on the nature of the work, not simply the sector.
An Enhanced DBS check does not automatically include a Barred List check.
Barred List checks are generally available where the person will be carrying out regulated activity with children or adults, along with a small number of other specified positions.
The aim is to request the highest level the role is legally entitled to, not simply the highest level available
Organisations should establish the duties and responsibilities of the position first, then use the relevant eligibility rules to determine whether the role qualifies for Basic, Standard, Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred List(s).
Who is eligible for a Standard DBS check?
A Standard DBS check cannot be requested for every job. The role must fall within a position, profession, licence or activity that is legally eligible for this level of criminal record check.
Eligibility is based on the applicant’s actual role and responsibilities. The organisation should consider what the person will be doing and whether those duties fall within the relevant eligibility legislation.
In simple terms: if the role is specifically covered by the Standard DBS eligibility rules, a Standard check can be requested. If it is not, the organisation cannot choose a Standard check simply because it would like to see more criminal record information.
Roles that may be eligible for a Standard DBS check include:
- Certain legal professions
- Some financial and accountancy roles
- Certain court and judicial positions
- Some security and licensing roles
- Certain regulated professions
- Specified positions of trust
- Some roles connected with regulated industries
- Other positions specifically covered by legislation
These examples do not mean that every role within these sectors automatically qualifies. The exact duties and legislative wording must be considered before requesting a Standard DBS check.
What if the role is not eligible?
If a position does not qualify for a Standard or Enhanced DBS check, the organisation can usually request a Basic DBS check instead. Basic checks can be requested for any lawful purpose and show unspent convictions and conditional cautions.
Who is eligible for an Enhanced DBS check?
Enhanced DBS checks are only available where the role meets specific eligibility requirements. The level of check is determined by the applicant’s actual duties, who they will be working with and the circumstances in which the work is carried out.
Enhanced DBS eligibility commonly applies to certain roles involving children, adults receiving particular types of care or support, regulated activity and other positions specifically covered by legislation.
Simply working in a school, hospital, care home or other sensitive setting does not automatically make a role eligible. The organisation must consider what the applicant will actually be doing.
In simple terms: an Enhanced DBS check can only be requested where the duties of the role fall within the relevant eligibility rules. The workforce category and the activities being carried out are important when deciding the correct check.
Roles that may qualify for an Enhanced DBS check include:
- Teachers and education staff
- Childcare workers
- Healthcare professionals
- Care and support workers
- Foster carers and certain adoption roles
- Eligible volunteer positions
- Certain licensing applications
- Other specified positions of trust
These are examples only. A job title by itself does not confirm eligibility. The applicant’s duties must be considered against the relevant eligibility wording.
What is regulated activity?
Regulated activity is work that a person who is barred must not carry out. It is particularly important when deciding whether an Enhanced DBS check can include a Children’s Barred List check, Adults’ Barred List check, or both.
Regulated activity with children
Regulated activity with children can depend on what the person does, how often they do it, where the work takes place and, in some circumstances, the supervision arrangements.
Activities that can form regulated activity with children include certain forms of:
- Teaching, training or instructing children
- Caring for or supervising children
- Providing certain advice or guidance to children
- Providing healthcare or personal care to children
- Driving a vehicle specifically for children in qualifying circumstances
- Working in certain specified establishments where the relevant conditions are met
- Day-to-day management of somebody carrying out regulated activity with children
Frequency can matter. For a number of child-workforce activities, the period condition is met where the activity takes place on more than 3 days in any 30-day period, or in certain cases once overnight between 2am and 6am with the opportunity for face-to-face contact.
Regulated activity with adults
Regulated activity with adults works differently. It is based mainly on the activity being carried out rather than the setting or a general description of the person as vulnerable.
A person only needs to carry out a qualifying activity once for it to be regulated activity with adults.
- Providing healthcare in the circumstances set out by the legislation
- Providing qualifying personal care
- Providing social work to an adult who is a client or potential client
- Assisting with certain day-to-day household financial matters
- Providing certain assistance in the conduct of an adult’s own affairs
- Conveying certain adults to, from or between healthcare, personal care or social work services
- Regular day-to-day management or supervision of somebody carrying out qualifying regulated activities
The location alone does not make the work regulated activity. For example, simply working in a care home or hospital does not automatically mean somebody is carrying out regulated activity with adults. The duties they actually perform must meet the relevant definition.
Child Workforce change from 1 September 2026
From 1 September 2026, the supervision exemption for certain people carrying out regulated activity with children is being removed. This particularly affects supervised volunteers carrying out activities such as teaching, training, instructing, caring for or supervising children where the relevant frequency or period conditions are met. Until 31 August 2026, the current supervision rules continue to apply.
What DBS check do common job roles need?
The examples below show the appropriate DBS level for some of the roles and applications we are most commonly asked about. Where particular duties or circumstances are important to eligibility, we have stated them clearly.
| Role | DBS check | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Carer providing personal care to adults | Enhanced DBS + Adults’ Barred List | Providing qualifying personal care is regulated activity with adults. A person carrying out regulated activity with adults is eligible for an Enhanced DBS check with the Adults’ Barred List. |
| Adult social worker | Enhanced DBS + Adults’ Barred List | Providing qualifying social work to adults is regulated activity with adults and qualifies for the Adults’ Barred List. |
| Nurse providing healthcare to adults | Enhanced DBS + Adults’ Barred List | Qualifying healthcare provided by, or under the direction or supervision of, a regulated healthcare professional is regulated activity with adults. |
| Teacher carrying out regulated activity with children | Enhanced DBS + Children’s Barred List | Teaching children where the regulated activity requirements are met qualifies for an Enhanced DBS check with the Children’s Barred List. |
| Childcare worker or childminder carrying out regulated activity | Enhanced DBS + Children’s Barred List | Qualifying childcare activity can constitute regulated activity with children and therefore qualify for the Children’s Barred List. |
| Foster carer | Enhanced DBS + Children’s Barred List | Foster care falls within regulated activity with children and is eligible for an Enhanced DBS check with the Children’s Barred List. |
| Applying for an SIA licence | Standard DBS | Applications for licences granted under section 8 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 are specifically included within Standard DBS eligibility. |
| Solicitor or barrister entering the profession | Standard DBS | Entry to the profession of solicitor or barrister in England and Wales is specifically eligible. The application must be submitted by or on behalf of the appropriate professional regulator. |
| Chartered or certified accountant entering the profession | Standard DBS | Entry to the profession of chartered accountant or certified accountant is specifically included within Standard DBS eligibility and must be submitted through the appropriate professional regulator. |
| Veterinary surgeon entering the profession | Standard DBS | Entry to the profession of veterinary surgeon is specifically listed as eligible for a Standard DBS check through the appropriate professional regulator. |
| FCA, PRA or Bank of England regulated position | Standard DBS | Certain financial-services positions where the FCA, Prudential Regulation Authority or Bank of England is entitled to ask exempted questions are eligible for Standard DBS checks. These are commonly described as approved person, senior manager or controlled-function roles. |
| Football steward | Standard DBS | Certain football stewards, supervisors and managers being assessed by or on behalf of the relevant football authorities are specifically covered by Standard DBS eligibility. |
| Applying for membership of the Master Locksmiths Association | Standard DBS | A Standard DBS check can be requested by or on behalf of the Master Locksmiths Association when assessing someone who has applied for membership. |
| Traffic officer appointed under the Traffic Management Act 2004 | Standard DBS | Traffic officers appointed under section 2 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 are specifically listed within Standard DBS eligibility. |
| Fire and Rescue Authority employee | Standard DBS | Fire and Rescue Authority employees are specifically included within the current Standard DBS eligibility guidance. |
| Court or tribunal security officer | Standard DBS | Court security officers and tribunal security officers are specifically listed as eligible for Standard DBS checks. |
| Taxi or private hire driver | Enhanced DBS | Taxi and private hire driver licensing is eligible for an Enhanced DBS check. The precise information that can be requested depends on the licensing circumstances. |
| General office or administrative worker | Basic DBS | Where the role does not meet the legal eligibility requirements for a Standard or Enhanced check, a Basic DBS check can be requested for any lawful purpose. |
| Retail worker | Basic DBS | General retail duties do not normally fall within Standard or Enhanced eligibility legislation, so a Basic DBS check is the appropriate level for general pre-employment screening. |
| Hospitality or catering worker | Basic DBS | General catering and hospitality duties do not normally qualify for a higher-level check. A Basic DBS check can be requested as part of pre-employment screening. |
Always consider the exact role and circumstances. Some Standard DBS eligibility is very specific. For example, eligibility for solicitors, barristers, accountants and veterinary surgeons relates to entry to the profession through the appropriate regulator. Similarly, financial-services eligibility only applies to positions covered by the relevant regulatory provisions. If the circumstances change, the correct level of DBS check can change too.
Applying for a DBS for Someone Who Has Lived Overseas
The DBS cannot access criminal records held overseas. If an applicant has lived or spent time abroad, a DBS check may not provide a complete view of an applicant’s criminal record. It is an employer’s responsibility to make sure they have access to all the information available to them to make a safer recruitment decision.
If you have an applicant with an extensive overseas address history, Aaron’s Department offers a comprehensive selection of international background checks.
Know who you’re hiring, safeguard your staff & customers, and ensure the security of your operations.
Click to find out more about international checks.
DBS Eligibility Guidance with Aaron’s Department
If you have any DBS eligibility guidance questions, we’re the experts! No matter your question, we will be more than happy to help to ensure you and your staff get the right DBS check – even if you’re not a customer (yet!).
Our cost-effective online system enables you to quickly register and set up candidate accounts. This allows the individual to easily complete the information themselves, providing a smooth and stress-free application.
All of our countersignatories are all registered with the DBS and will handle your application with the utmost care and attention to ensure they are correct.
Visit our DBS checks advice page to see if we’ve got an answer to your question, or give us a call/email using the details below.
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