How Often Should DBS Checks Be Renewed?

If you are working in a regulated field or hiring staff in roles involving children or vulnerable people, one of the questions that often comes up is how often a DBS should be renewed. In this post, I want to talk through the idea of renewal, common practice, what affects the timing, and how to set up a policy that works for your organisation or your own career.

Table of Contents

What DBS Checks Are and Why Renewal Matters?

A DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service check) is a criminal record check used in England and Wales. It helps employers see if someone has relevant convictions, cautions, or barred list information. There are levels: basic, standard, and enhanced (and enhanced with barred lists in certain cases).

One key point is that once you get a DBS certificate, it reflects your record at the time the check is done. Over time, that record can change (new convictions, cautions, etc.). So a certificate becomes less current as time passes. That is why many organisations consider renewing the check.

So the question “Should DBS be renewed?” is less about legal demand and more about risk management, safeguarding, and trust.

Is There a Legal Requirement to Renew DBS Checks?

The short answer is: no. There is no statutory rule that forces DBS checks to be renewed at set intervals. Many authoritative sources note that DBS checks do not expire in the legal sense.

Employers may choose to require renewal, but that is a matter of organisational policy, sector norms, or regulatory guidelines. Because of that, a lot of the decision comes down to best practice and tailoring the approach to risk.

Common Patterns: 1 to 3 Years as a Rule of Thumb

Since there is no fixed legal timeline, many institutions adopt a renewal cycle of 1 to 3 years. That is considered reasonable in many sectors.

Here’s a rough guide:

Renewal Interval	Where You Might See It	Why It Makes Sense
Every year	Roles with high safeguarding risk (healthcare, childcare)	Keep things very fresh and reduces the risk of missed changes
Every 2 years	Medium risk roles	Moderate balance between cost and safety
Every 3 years	Many standard roles	Often accepted as good practice
Longer (4-5 years)	Lower risk roles, remote work, occasional roles	Less overhead, but possibly higher risk if record changes

Some sources suggest renewal every 3 to 5 years in places like schools or less sensitive environments.

In some sectors, renewal every 3 years is seen as a default. But organisations sometimes insist on one every year or two in stricter environments.

So, common practice is to see DBS check renewal every 1 to 3 years, though this is not set in stone.

What Affects How Often You Should Renew

The interval you choose should depend on several factors:

Risk level of the role: More contact with children, vulnerable adults, or sensitive data calls for shorter intervals.
Regulatory standards: Some sectors or regulatory bodies may have expectations or guidelines.
Organisational policy and culture: The board or leadership may decide on a particular schedule.
History and confidence in past checks: If someone has had clean records for many years, you might feel safer with longer intervals.
Use of the DBS Update Service: If you use the update service and the person is subscribed, you can sometimes reduce full rechecks.
Change in role or responsibilities: If someone moves into a role with a higher risk, a new check may be needed immediately.

The DBS Update Service and Renewal

A key tool in managing renewals is the DBS Update Service. This service lets someone keep their DBS certificate “live” and allows employers to check the status rather than requesting full rechecks all the time.

Some important details:

You must register within 30 days of when the certificate was issued.
Subscription is renewed annually.
It works for standard and enhanced checks (not basic).
Employers with consent can carry out status checks.

Because of the Update Service, many organisations use it as a complement to renewal policies. It can reduce the need for full repeat applications.

When You Should Definitely Renew (Not Just Wait)

There are times when a fresh DBS check should be required, even if it’s not yet “due” under policy. Some triggers include:

An employee moves to a position with more responsibility or risk
They transfer to a different department with more safeguarding exposure.
They take a long break or leave their role for a period.
The organisation’s risk assessment changes (new rules, new clients)
The person fails to maintain their subscription to the Update Service.
There is reason to believe their record might have changed.

In those cases, a new check is the safest path.

Best Practice Advice for Organisations and Individuals

Here are some recommendations:

Set a clear policy: Decide your renewal intervals and state them in your work policies.
Use risk categories: Not all roles have equal risk. Use shorter intervals for higher risk roles.
Encourage Update Service subscription: It will help reduce repeated full applications.
Track issue dates: Keep records of when DBS checks were done so you can plan renewals.
Be consistent and transparent: Staff should know when they will be asked to renew.
Review periodically: As laws, sector norms, or risk change, revisit the policy.

With that, renewal becomes predictable and manageable rather than haphazard.

My Take on a Reasonable Renewal Cycle

If I were advising a mid-sized organisation with roles of varying risk, I would suggest something like:

High-risk roles: renew every 1 or 2 years
Medium risk roles: renew every 2 to 3 years
Lower risk roles: renew every 3 to 5 years
Always use the Update Service when possible.
Insist on a fresh DBS if a role changes significantly.

That balances practicality and safety. At this point, you probably have a sense of how often a DBS should be renewed for different roles.

Conclusion

In short, there is no legal requirement that DBS checks must be renewed at fixed intervals, but renewal is often wise for safeguarding and compliance. Many organisations set their own DBS check renewal rules, most commonly in a 1 to 3-year window. Use the DBS Update Service where you can, track your issue dates, and plan renewals based on role risk and change.

If you need expert guidance on subscriptions, renewals, or integrating DBS check in your existing systems into your vetting process, BPSS Check’s online team is ready to assist. Contact us today to streamline your compliance and security screening!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many years do DBS checks last?

A DBS check does not have an official expiry date. However, many employers and organisations choose to renew them every one to three years. The idea is to make sure that the information remains accurate and that no changes have occurred since the original check was completed. If you want to learn more, the team at BPSS Check can assist you!

Q: Is a DBS check for life?

Technically, a DBS check shows your criminal record status on the day it was issued. It does not automatically update, so it cannot be considered valid for life. If your circumstances or record change after the certificate is issued, it will no longer reflect your current status. Many people stay up to date through the DBS Update Service, which helps maintain ongoing validity.

Q: Do I need to renew my DBS every year?

You do not have to renew your DBS check every year by law. Still, some sectors like healthcare, education, or social work prefer annual renewals because of the higher level of safeguarding involved. It depends on your role and your employer’s policy. Using the Update Service can also reduce how often full rechecks are needed.

Q: How often does DBS need to be done?

Most organisations repeat DBS checks every one to three years as part of their internal policy. Roles that involve direct contact with children or vulnerable adults usually follow a shorter cycle. The DBS certificate does not expire automatically, but periodic renewal is considered best practice to maintain trust and compliance.