Employees of companies, non-profit organizations, think tanks, and research organizations with federal contracts or grants may need to undergo this background investigation.Īgencies that deal with the intelligence community, federal law enforcement, diplomacy, and military often require higher levels of clearance. In addition to federal agencies, those working for private organizations that have contracts with the government require a security clearance.
They also vary according to your position, responsibilities, and the systems you use in your role. Clearance levels must be at or higher than the level of information you will handle. These roles may include librarians, IT system administrators, and more. This includes people in federal government and military jobs, from executive-level roles to non-sensitive positions in custodial staff. Īnyone who works in a job that requires access to national security information requires clearance. This clearance level is granted to very few individuals. Special access programs involve highly sensitive projects, usually established by the DoD for programs such as new military technology. This clearance is typically granted only after rigorous SSBI and adjudication processes, and only in compartments with their own specific requirements and clearances. Sensitive compartmented information involves intelligence-related methods and sources. There are two types of classified information that require additional clearance to access: Access rights are typically determined by the officers who are assigned to the department handling the requested data. Įven when an employee gains a security clearance, the system operates on a need-to-know basis. Typically granted after a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI), for data related to counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and other extremely sensitive information. Must be reinvestigated for continued eligibility every five years. Top secret clearance: This type of security clearance is most restrictive and provides access to information that can cause grave damage to national security if disclosed without authorization. Must be reinvestigated for continued eligibility every 10 years and requires NACLC and a Credit investigation. Secret clearance: Provides access to information that can cause serious damage to national security if disclosed without authorization. Additionally, confidential clearance requires a National Agency Check, Local Agency Check, and Credit Check (NACLC). It must be reinvestigated for continued eligibility every 15 years. It provides access to information that can cause damage to national security if it is disclosed without authorization. Each of the three levels below indicate the maximum level of classified information you can access.Ĭonfidential clearance: This type of security clearance is the least restrictive. National security clearances are organized into a hierarchy. Over four million Americans have national security clearances, with 85 percent of them working with the Department of Defense (DoD). Security clearance must be issued before you can begin working.Įxamples of organizations that require higher tiers of clearance include national security agencies such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This comprehensive process examines your criminal record, credit history, and other personal details to confirm you are “reliable, trustworthy, of good conduct and character, and loyal to the United States”.
It is typically granted to employees working federal government agency jobs and private contractors who work with the government.
What is security clearance?Ī security clearance is a tiered status. It examines the process of obtaining a security clearance, the different types of security clearances that exist, and the jobs that may require them. However, this article focuses on national security clearance in the US.
The security clearance process ensures your ability to securely access, manage, and protect classified information.Ī security clearance is required for many government and cybersecurity roles worldwide. It is required for individuals who are hired for US government jobs or any organization that handles information pertaining to national security. A security clearance is like a background check.
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