As introduced by the January 2025 memo, important changes are coming to Archdiocesan safe environment background check (BGC) packages and pricing.
What Is Changing?
Effective March 8, 2025, all credentialed individuals will undergo the same criteria for background check. There will no longer be a difference between the base package in the BGCs for clergy, parish, and school employees, and volunteers.
Note: Volunteers hired as employees no longer need a new background check if an existing BGC code starts with ARCHE (old employee BGC) or ARCH.
What Differences Will SECs Notice?
In VIRTUS and McDowell, SECs will see a streamlined list of BGC codes.
- There will be a single background check code “ARCH”.
- “ARCHE” and “ARCHV” designations are no longer necessary.
- Differentiators of ST (standard / initial check) or RE (recheck of existing) will still be applicable.
- Add-ons of M (motor vehicle) and/or C (credit) will still be applicable.
See the table below for the mapping of previous codes to the new:
|
OLD Background Check Codes
|
NEW
Background Check Codes effective 3/8/2025 |
Description |
| ARCHE ST & ARCHV ST | ARCH ST | Initial check |
| ARCHE STC & ARCHV STC | ARCH STC | Initial check + credit |
| ARCHE STM & ARCHV STM | ARCH STM | Initial check + motor vehicle |
| ARCHE STMC & ARCHV STMC | ARCH STMC | Initial check + motor vehicle + credit |
| ARCHE RE & ARCHV RE | ARCH RE | Recheck |
| ARCHE REC & ARCHV REC | ARCH REC | Recheck + credit |
| ARCHE REM & ARCHV REM | ARCH REM | Recheck + motor vehicle |
| ARCHE REMC & ARCHV REMC | ARCH REMC | Recheck + motor vehicle + credit |
What To Know Moving Forward:
- Use the new BGC codes as mapped in the table.
- Previously completed BGCs and those submitted before March 8, 2025 will maintain the old BGC codes so it is clear what type of check was performed.
- Rely on the codes in the system to know what type of check has been performed.
- VIRTUS Master Report ‘Preferred Report’ and custom ‘Saved Report’ settings were updated to include the current codes – no action needed to update reports.
Questions?
Call or email your OPCY Program Liaison, email the OPCY team or log a request with Mission Support.
We are here to help simplify this transition!
