Tier 5 or Tier 3, Which One Applies to Me? How To Understand the Security Clearance Tiers (2024)

FAQs

What is a Tier 5 security clearance? ›

Tier 5 – Top Secret Security Clearance

As the highest level of security clearance, applicants can expect a more rigorous examination. If approved, this clearance gives cleared personnel access to information or material that could cause disastrous damage to national security.

T3 is the investigation required for positions designated as non-critical sensitive and/or requiring eligibility for "L" access or access to Confidential or Secret information.

To determine the current status of your security clearance, please contact the agency's personnel security office that granted your clearance. If you are a contract employee, your company's facility security officer may also be able to assist you.

The T3 Investigation

The new T3 Investigation is a combination of the old ANACI (civilians) and NACLC (military and contractors) investigations for Secret Eligibility. The New T3 is now all the same for military, civilian and contractor positions. The new scope is the last 5 years.

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.

In October 2016 the Tier 5 investigation replaced the SSBI (Single Scope Background Investigation). The Tier 5 investigation uses ARC, but also uses interviews and record checks conducted by field investigators, including an Enhanced Subject Interview (ESI) of the clearance applicant.

The current average OPM processing time for a Tier 3/5 investigation from submission to being closed complete is 163 days for a Tier 3 and 383 days for a Tier 5.

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.

The security features governing the security of an identity can be divided into three levels of security, i.e. Level 1 Security (L1S) (Overt), Level 2 Security (L2S) (Covert) and Level 3 Security (L3S) (Forensic).

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.

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.

There are three basic levels of security clearance: Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret. Each clearance level is granted based on the sensitivity of the position and the need-to-know. If your position only requires access to basic systems or facilities, you may only need a Confidential clearance.

At Tier 3, these students receive more intensive, individualized support to improve their behavioral and academic outcomes. Tier 3 strategies work for students with developmental disabilities, autism, emotional and behavioral disorders, and students with no diagnostic label at all.

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.

But qualifying for a clearance goes beyond just a single individual. Your spouse or partner is intimately involved in the process, from being included on your SF-86 background investigation paperwork to being interviewed to, in some cases, tanking your chances of obtaining or keeping a clearance.

A Tier 5 (Top Secret) clearance investigation costs $5,410, and a Tier 3 (Secret) investigation costs $420. DCSA also updated the cost for taking advantage of its continuous vetting services, so agencies can be in compliance with the Trusted Workforce 2.0 reform effort.

T4 is the investigation required for positions solely designated as high risk public trust. The T4R is the reinvestigation product required for the same positions. The Standard Form (SF) 8SP is used to conduct these investigations.

After leaving the military, most often a security clearance is good for 24 months or 2 years. In some cases, it might be less than 24 months if the periodic investigation window of time will expire in less than two years from the time of separation from the military.

Scientists use different methods of investigation in different circ*mstances. These methods include (in no particular order) fair testing, identifying and classifying, modelling, pattern seeking, and researching.

INVESTIGATION DEFINED: The collection of facts to accomplish a three-fold aim: a. to identify the guilty party; b. to locate the guilty party; and c. to provide evidence of his guilt.

What is Level 4 security clearance? ›

Security Clearance Level 4: Q Clearance

Q Clearance allows the individual access to sensitive information up to and including Top Secret information. The level comes with the special designation “Restricted Data” and includes special Q-cleared security areas.

Your spouse being behind on debt payments does not have to kill your chances of obtaining a security clearance. If none of the accounts in your own name show a poor credit history or delinquency, then your spouse's poor credit will not likely affect your security clearance application.

After your eQIP account has been initiated, you will receive an email notification from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) containing your eQIP Registration Code (14 characters). You can then access the eQIP website and register.

The background investigator will check your bank accounts. Bad checks is a reason to deny a clearance. Yes they check everything about you, they are done by a third party.

A Level 6 security clearance, sometimes called a Level 6 authorization clearance, granted the holder access to information about the OSI's bionic program.

Much like clearance level 1 and clearance level 2, you'll receive the clearance level 3 pass as you complete the main narrative. At the end of the third mission, return to the Board Room in the Executive area after lifting the lockdown in the Maintenance Sector and speak to Emily Pope.

What Is Tier 2? Tier 2 companies are the suppliers who, although no less vital to the supply chain, are usually limited in what they can produce. These companies are usually smaller and have less technical advantages than Tier 1 companies.

For this reason, school-specific terms for these levels of support were developed: Tier 1 = Universal or core instruction. Tier 2 = Targeted or strategic instruction/intervention. Tier 3 = Intensive instruction/intervention.

Tier 1 Security Limited is a security consultancy providing expert advice on risk assessment, risk mitigation, counter terrorism, counter crime, crowded places security, physical and personnel security.

How do you answer a security clearance question? ›

ClearanceJobs always recommends answering the question that is being asked of you fully and truthfully. If one misdemeanor is all you have on your record from a few years ago, remember that time passed and positive patterns in terms of behavior are mitigating factors.

Therefore, all FBI positions require at least a Top Secret Clearance; special agents must be able to obtain a Top Secret SCI Clearance.

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.

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.

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.

Although security clearance background checks can be intensely thorough, the government can't view your emails, Internet browsing history, hard drive data, and other virtual assets without a subpoena or warrant.

Like the first four passes, you'll obtain clearance level 5 as you pursue the main narrative, though unlike passes 2-4, you do not receive it from a supporting character. During Mission 5, Threshold, you'll head into the Maintenance Sector in search of Dr. Darling's Black Rob Lab.

There are three levels of security clearance: confidential, secret, and top secret.