Emurse

Security clearances are special statuses assigned to people as a method of granting access to sensitive, possibly classified, information. Receiving a United States Security Clearance requires an applicant to clear a formal vetting procedure. Access to specific information is then granted on a need-to-know basis. Only if you have the proper clearance, as well as the need to know, may you access sensitive material.

There are multiple types of security clearances in the United States, each offering higher and higher levels of trust.

Types of Clearances:

• Confidential
• Secret
• Top Secret
• Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)

A confidential clearance is the easiest of the clearances to obtain. Typically taking a few weeks to a couple of months, this clearance requires a “National Agency Check with Local Agency Check and Credit Check,” abbreviated as NACLC. This type of clearance must be renewed every 10 years.

An ordinary secret clearance requires a more thorough background check along with the NACLC. This type of clearance can take a few month to a year to obtain. Bankruptcy, poor credit and criminal charges can lengthen the process. Like a confidential clearance, a secret clearance needs to be renewed every 10 years.

A top secret clearance is a much more difficult clearance is obtain. This type of clearance is required for access to data that affects national security and other sensitive dealings of the U.S. Government. In some select cases, a top secret clearance can take as little as a few months to obtain. Most often these clearances take 6 to 18 months. Top secret clearances require a Single Scope Background Information, otherwise referred to as SSBI. The SSBI involves interviews with friends, neighbors and loved ones. NACLC’s can be ordered on the family members of the applicant. This clearance needs to be renewed every 5 years.

There is also a Sensitive Compartmentalized Information (SCI) clearance. SCI’s are similar to top secret clearances but allow for the separation of different information types. For example, you may have access to data surrounding Cryptography, but not to Nuclear weapons. An SCI clearance requires a similar investigation process to a top secret clearance.

How to Obtain a Security Clearance

You cannot simply ask the federal government to investigate you. Only employers in need-to-know situations can request for a clearance to be given. Investigations are also expensive, which may make a job seeker with prior clearance experience more appealing.

The best bet outside of joining the military is to take a job with a large government contracting outfit. Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Harris, EDS — these companies are examples of corporations who often have large military contracts. Outside of technology, there are a growing number of clearance opportunities in fields like telecommunications, education and financial services.

If you have earned a clearance already in a past position, and would like to move up to a higher level, consider mentioning that you are “Eligible for U.S. Security Clearances” on your resume. This is not advertising the fact that you have a clearance, but simply stating that you have no prior drug use or felonies, and have not lived abroad in any questionable countries.

When you are applying for a new clearance, make sure your answers regarding addresses and previous employers stay the same. It’s important to hold on to copies of your paperwork through the years to maintain consistency.

What Can Prevent Someone from Obtaining a Clearance

Prior felonies, drug use, bad credit, extensive travel overseas, living in frowned upon countries, mental health conditions — these types of things can slow down the investigation process and may prevent you from receiving a clearance altogether.

For some agencies, you may even have to take a polygraph test. If a lifestyle review is conducted, your ability to answer truthfully to legal questions is taken into account. Personal conduct, sexual behavior, alcohol consumption, foreign preference (dual citizenships), outside activities and associations are all topics that are fair game.

How Can a Security Clearance Help My Career?

Security clearances are a measure of trust. They are also difficult and expensive to obtain. A candidate applying to a position while holding an active clearance can often earn significantly more than their non-cleared counterparts. The company savings in both time and money can be passed on to the clearance holder.

Tips, comments, suggestions, corrections? Join the conversation in the comments below!

Search for Security Clearance Jobs, Create a professional online resume, or search for candidates with security clearances.