A Basic DBS check is the level an individual can request for themselves. It shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions.
Is Basic the right level?
Check what Basic shows and whether the role points to another eligible route.
Quick takeaways
- CRB is older language; DBS is the current service.
- Different DBS levels exist for different legal purposes.
- Tutors should focus on the route that matches the role.
- A higher level is not automatically appropriate if the role is not eligible.
What a Basic DBS check covers
A Basic DBS check is the simplest level in the system and is the one individuals can request for themselves. It shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions.
That makes it a useful route when someone needs a criminal record certificate but does not have legal entitlement to a Standard or Enhanced check.
- A Basic check can be requested by an individual and shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions.
How the Basic route works
Basic applications can be made through the official route, and the process uses its own online-account tools for tracking and certificate viewing.
This is one of the biggest differences from Standard and Enhanced routes, which are more dependent on employers, registered bodies, or umbrella arrangements.
How to read the word “Basic”
“Basic” describes the disclosure level, not the care taken with the identity check and not the value of the certificate. It answers a deliberately limited question: what unspent convictions and conditional cautions are held at the time of the check?
When showing the certificate, use three details together: the applicant’s identity, the issue date and the level printed on the document. A parent comparing tutors should avoid turning that into a pass/fail badge. The certificate does not describe teaching quality, references, safeguarding training or how the tutor behaves in lessons. Those checks still need their own evidence.
Continue with a Basic application
Apply only when Basic matches the purpose of the request.
What Basic means for tutors
For tutors, a Basic certificate can be helpful in some situations, but it is not a substitute for an eligible Enhanced route where the role and legal basis point in that direction.
That is why families and tutors should treat Basic as one type of evidence, not as a universal answer to every tutoring setup.
Next step
Once you know what a Basic check can and cannot do, the remaining question is whether Basic is actually the right route for the tutoring arrangement you have.
Do not guess: confirm that the role and purpose match a Basic certificate.
Common questions
Is CRB the same thing as DBS?
CRB is the older term. DBS is the current service and the term used in modern official guidance.
Can I just choose the highest DBS level to be safe?
No. The role has to be legally entitled to the level requested.
Which DBS level matters most for tutors?
That depends on how the tutoring is arranged and whether the role is eligible for a higher-level check.
Does having a DBS certificate settle safeguarding on its own?
No. A certificate is one part of safer recruitment, not the whole process.
What to do next
Open the application route after confirming that Basic is appropriate.