What are security clearance levels? They can be a requirement for military members, federal employees, contractors, and others who must access sensitive materials, classified information, etc.
Security clearances are the federal government’s way of vetting its employees. Is an individual trustworthy enough to permit access to controlled information?
Clearances are not granted to all applicants. Each person must be investigated and approved for the right clearance. Security clearances are granted only for the level needed to perform specific duties–they are not intended to allow all access to all information at the appropriate level.
Getting Started: Interim Security Clearances
In some workplaces, a military member or civilian may need access to classified materials or work centers sooner than the clearance process can permit. In such cases an interim clearance may be possible, or even required.
Interim clearances are exactly what the name implies: temporary approval to access the information or facilities permitted by the proposed clearance level the employee or military member is being investigated for.
They are often granted conditionally upon the receipt of the applicant’s completed security clearance questionnaire. While there may be a demand for interim clearances, they are not meant to be issued as part of “business as usual”. They are generally approved as exceptions only, depending on circ*mstances and mission requirements.
Can I Request A Security Clearance?
No applicant may initiate the clearance process. It must be initiated by the agency requiring the clearances (see below).
Security Clearance Levels For Military Members
Military members are required to apply for security clearances for specific needs. The three security clearance levels military people may be approved to hold are, from lowest to highest:
- Confidential
- Secret
- Top Secret
When applying for a Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret Clearance as a member of the uniformed services, fingerprints and other materials may (or may not) have already been gathered as part of the enlistment process. Military members may have an easier time with the mechanics of the investigation process than those who are applying for a federal job and who haven’t been fingerprinted, etc.
If you are an officer or an enlisted member with a Secret or Top Secret clearance, depending on your job you may also need access to material controlled by Special Access Programs, which are described as “enforced” need-to-know levels of clearance. We’ll explore these programs below.
Security Clearances For Non-Military Federal Employees
The Department of State official site lists three federal clearances from lowest to highest. They are, respectively, Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret.
Some who are approved for access to Secret or Top Secret material may also be required to apply for access to Special Access Programs or SAP. One or both of these allow those with access to work with, handle, and use restricted data (at the appropriate level of clearance) as well as for information with lower classifications. But as mentioned above, all access is predicated on an as-needed basis.
Special Access Programs
Special Access Programs (SAP) may be offered to some employees and troops. The command or agency determines the need, and initiates the process of vetting the applicant based on specific need in the workplace. SAP access is not granted simply because you carry the appropriate level of clearance. A nomination is required. In general, your most recent security clearance investigation must have taken place in the last five years.
In addition to that, the following also applies:
- Applicants must take a random polygraph examination
- Applicant is required to sign a DoD-approved SAP program indoctrination
- Applicants must sign a non-disclosure agreement
- Applicants must acknowledge that violations of the NDA may lead to termination of access, removal from a position of special confidence, and prosecution
SAP approval is dependent on a “favorable” clearance procedure. You must have submitted your most current SF 86 within the past 12 months. You may submit an updated version if the SF 86 is older than 12 months.
Once approved for SAP, you may be required to submit work for security review. You may be required to submit if any reports or other communication includes controlled SAP details, information, etc.
Things That Are Not Security Clearance Levels
Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) is not a clearance designation in the same way there are Secret or Top Secret materials. It represents a level of control including identifying information that may be illegal to freely distribute. This is controlled information that is restricted by or in cooperation with applicable law, regulations, and government-wide policies. However, CUI is not classified under Executive Order 13526 or the Atomic Energy Act.
Public Trust Position
Public Trust involves a type of background investigation but one that does not result in issuance of a security clearance. Certain employees may require access to sensitive information that is not necessarily classified. They must obtain a Public Trust Position designation through a background check.
Mechanics Of A Security Clearance Investigation
Investigations can take approximately 120 days or longer depending on the nature of the investigation. Some of this processing time depends greatly on how accurate and complete the information provided by the applicant may be.
Those who have done extensive overseas travel may find their process takes longer due to the need to verify such activities.
All clearance applications require filling out a form with extensive detail including your past addresses for ten years, descriptions of all foreign travel, disclosing associations with foreign companies, etc. This paperwork can, in some cases, wind up being more than 100 pages of information.
The questionnaire is basically a prelude to a background investigation which may include a personal interview. The background check will use your answers to inform the background investigation.
But the applicant-supplied data is not the only information that will be reviewed. With that in mind, applicants should know there may be serious penalties for falsifying or knowingly omitting details required on the forms. Investigators will review any criminal records, credit reports, employment histories, and college transcripts. They will also contact law enforcement agencies to review any applicable information on their records.
FAQs
The four main types of security clearances for national security positions are: confidential, secret, top secret and sensitive compartmented information. This type of security clearance provides access to information that could cause damage to national security if disclosed without authorization.
Which security clearance is higher? ›
The federal government provides three levels of clearance: confidential, secret, and top secret. Top secret clearance is the highest security clearance level anyone can get.
What does Level 3 security clearance mean? ›
Tiers Three and Four – Secret Security Clearance & High Risk Public Trust. This clearance tier means that you are allowed access to information or material that could cause grave danger to the security of the United States if it were disclosed. Tiers 3 and 4 are included under this category.
What is level 10 clearance? ›
Level 10 is the access level held by the Director. As Director, they have access not only to all S.H.I.E.L.D. files, but to the world's most important files and secrets. The only known person that had Level 10 Clearance was Nick Fury.
What level of clearance do FBI agents have? ›
Therefore, all FBI positions require at least a Top Secret Clearance; special agents must be able to obtain a Top Secret SCI Clearance.
What is a Level 1 security clearance? ›
Security Clearance Level 1: Top Secret
Top Secret clearance holders have access to information or material that could be expected to cause significant damage to national security if released with proper authorization.
What's higher than top secret? ›
Information "above Top Secret," a phrase used by the media, means either Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) or Special Access Program (SAP). It is not truly "above" Top Secret, since there is no clearance higher than Top Secret.
What is the lowest security clearance? ›
There are three security clearance levels: confidential, secret, and top secret. Confidential is the lowest level of security clearance, and top secret is the highest.
What level of clearance Does CIA have? ›
To get a CIA security clearance, you'll undergo either a confidential, secret or top-secret clearance check, according to Go Government, although nearly all CIA jobs require a top-secret clearance, according to Clearance Jobs.
How much is a Top Secret clearance worth? ›
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $169,000 and as low as $31,500, the majority of Top Secret Clearance salaries currently range between $73,500 (25th percentile) to $130,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $155,500 annually across the United States.
The highest levels of clearance can lead to even higher salaries. The Human Resource Association of the National Capital Area also reported that employees with top secret security clearance could earn up to 60% more than those without top secret clearance in certain jobs.
What is level 6 clearance? ›
Level 6 clearance is exclusively granted to the Administrator, the O5 Council, and key members of the Ethics Committee. This clearance grants knowledge to anything that the Foundation has information on.
How long does a Level 2 security clearance last? ›
How often is a security clearance renewed? An individual is normally subject to reinvestigation approximately every five years for a Secret or Top Secret clearance.
What is a Yankee White clearance? ›
A yankee white clearance isn't as much a separate background investigation as it is an administrative nickname for security clearances issued for specific offices serving the president and vice president. Think of it as a special suitability designation, rather than a separate security clearance.
What shield level is black widow? ›
Natasha Romanova (Black Widow) – First known Black Widow. Was a level 10 agent before S.H.I.E.L.D. was restructured. One of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top agents.
How many people have Top Secret clearance? ›
The 1.3 million individuals with Top Secret clearances are supporting a wide variety of missions, from the CIA to the Department of Commerce. Just because you have a Top Secret clearance doesn't mean you have access to any information out there that's classified Top Secret.
What level of clearance do Navy SEALs have? ›
Both SWCC and SEAL operators are required to maintain a minimum security clearance of Secret.
Do Navy SEALs get Top Secret clearance? ›
SEALs candidates must be a male U.S. citizen under the age of 28 and able to get a Top Secret security clearance. Your vision must be able to be corrected to at least 20/25.
What clearance do you need for NSA? ›
Working with the NSA is a noble undertaking and one which will require a national security clearance, most likely at the Top Secret level.
What is the level 2 of clearance? ›
Levels Of Clearance
Level II is titled Secret. The highest level is referred to as Top Secret. The employer consults government officials to determine an appropriate clearance.
Tier 2 is the investigation for non-sensitive positions designated as moderate risk public trust positions. Tier 2 investigations are requested using the SF 85P.
What is Level II clearance? ›
Level 2 screening is a comprehensive criminal background screening that includes fingerprint-based check for statewide criminal history records through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and national criminal history records through the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
What color is Top Secret? ›
Two labels may be required on each medium: a color coded security classification label, i.e., orange Standard Form 706 (Top Secret label), red SF 707 (Secret label), blue SF 708 (Confidential label), purple SF 709 (Classified label), green SF 710 (Unclassified label); and a white SF 711 (Data Descriptor label).
Does Top Secret require polygraph? ›
Polygraph tests accompany some Top Secret or TS/SCI clearances; however, they are not required to obtain either type of clearance and are not part of the clearance background investigation.
Is it hard to get a TS SCI? ›
Obtaining a top secret clearance is a lengthy process that involves an in-depth background check. Denial of a clearance can occur for a variety of reasons, including financial problems, mental disorders and criminal violations.
What disqualifies you from security clearance? ›
You were dishonorably discharged from the military. You are currently involved in illegal drug use. You have been judged as mentally incompetent or mentally incapacitated by a mental health professional. You have had a clearance revoked for security reasons.
Are security clearance jobs worth it? ›
However, once you have a clearance, you have some distinct advantages in the job marketplace. A security clearance is a valuable job market commodity. Experts predict that a clearance can increase your salary from $5,000 to $15,000 or more.
Do they tell you why you fail security clearance? ›
Presidential Executive Order 12968 requires that denied applicants be provided with a written explanation of their denial and a chance to request a review.
Can family members affect security clearance? ›
Hardly. Previous questions have included if a spouse being listed on the sex offender registry for a decade-old arrest or if a jail stint would affect the applicant's security clearance. Those issues would likely only be an issue of the applicant was involved in some way.
What will disqualify you from CIA? ›
Recent involvement in criminal or unethical behavior can disqualify you from getting a clearance. This includes pending criminal charges, felony convictions, and a dishonorable discharge. In addition, crimes like illegal downloading of copyrighted material can also be an issue.
A government security clearance requires a periodic reinvestigation every 15 years for a “confidential” clearance, every 10 years for “secret,” and every 5 years for “top secret.” When a clearance is inactivated (because of switching jobs or leaving the military), it can be fairly easy to reinstate within the first 24 ...
Can you tell people you have a clearance? ›
The fact that you have a security clearance is not classified, so there's no reason you can't tell someone you have a security clearance. In fact, the State Department and other government agencies advise applicants who have a clearance to include this information on their resumes.
Does a security clearance increase your salary? ›
Based on survey data, on average, a security clearance generates 10-20% salary premium with higher clearances commanding the largest increases.
Does FBI require top secret clearance? ›
The background investigation and records checks for Secret and Top Secret security clearance are mandated by Presidential Executive Order (EO). The EO requires these procedures in order for a security clearance to be granted; the FBI does not have the ability to waive them.
Is a secret clearance good for 10 years? ›
Periodic reinvestigations for Top Secret Page 2 2 security clearances are due every 5 years and Secret security clearances periodic reinvestigations are due every 10 years. 3.
Does security clearance check IRS? ›
Section 26 of the SF-86 application for federal security clearances specifically asks applicants if they have failed to file federal, state or other taxes in the past seven years.
What percentage of people fail security clearance? ›
myth #1: Many security clearances are denied.
Less than 1% of security clearances investigations result in denial. Individuals may not be eligible for an interim clearance, and they may have significant issues that need to be mitigated.
What is higher than Top Secret? ›
Information "above Top Secret," a phrase used by the media, means either Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) or Special Access Program (SAP). It is not truly "above" Top Secret, since there is no clearance higher than Top Secret.
How long is a Tier 5 clearance good for? ›
DCSA guidance continued: Special Note: Due to the personnel security investigations backlog, DoD extended Tier 3 (10 years) and Tier 5 (six years) reinvestigation with DNI endorsem*nt.
What disqualifies from top security clearance? ›
You were dishonorably discharged from the military. You are currently involved in illegal drug use. You have been judged as mentally incompetent or mentally incapacitated by a mental health professional. You have had a clearance revoked for security reasons.
As of Jan 19, 2023, the average annual pay for a TS SCI Clearance in the United States is $119,507 a year.
What security clearance goes back 7 years? ›
The SF-86 form requests information back 7 years for employment and residence; however, to comply with the investigative standards, 10 years is required.
What is a Tier 1 security clearance? ›
Tier 1 is the investigation for positions designated as low-risk, non-sensitive. It is also the minimum level of investigation for a final credentialing determination for physical and logical access.
What are red flags for security clearance? ›
For example, an inability or unwillingness to satisfy debts is a red flag. Financial problems that are related to gambling, alcoholism, or drug abuse also are security concerns.
What can ruin a security clearance? ›
top five reasons for security clearance denial
- Financial considerations. Almost half of all denials are due to financial issues. ...
- Personal conduct. ...
- Foreign influence. ...
- Drug use. ...
- Criminal conduct.
Security Clearance Adjudicative Process
The clearance process for Secret level access uses an investigation called the National Agency Check with Law and Credit that goes back five years, while the clearance process for Top Secret uses a Single Scope Background Investigation that goes back ten years.
