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...Home ... Editorial ... Features ..Feature Story Saturday: February 8, 2014


About Those U.S. Government Security Clearances...
U.S. security clearances are one of the most sought after qualifications for security jobs today, but they're also extremely hard to come by. Here's the basic facts about how the process works, as well as scams to watch out for.


by Dian Schaffhauser

3/10/2004 -- You've found a job whose description fits you perfectly except for one small matter: It requires a U.S. security clearance, and you don't have one. As with many things in life, getting this particular position would be a long shot for you, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try anyway.

The fact is that security clearance is something you can't obtain for yourself. Your current or prospective employer has to set the wheels in motion to get it for you. Since the process is costly and time-consuming, organizations won't do it unless it's absolutely essential. Let's review the basics.

You typically need a security clearance when you hold a sensitive position within the federal government or when you work for a government contractor or some other organization that has access to classified information or deal with other restricted information relating to national security. Clearances come in many different flavors, primarily confidential, secret, top secret and sensitive compartmented information (SCI).

Up until the beginning of October 2003, the Department of Defense ran its own security clearance operation. Now that's been handed over to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

Once a person has been offered a position that requires a clearance, the employer opens up a request with the OPM through a federal security officer. The OPM gives the candidate undergoing the clearance check access to an online system called e-Qip, or Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing, a digital version of Standard Form 86.

SF 86 is a 13-page document that asks you to list your vitals-name, social security number, place of birth, etc., and then drills down on your personal history going back at least seven years. (To see a PDF edition of the form, go here). You're expected to list where you've lived for the last seven years, where you went to school, your employment activities -- including titles, supervisor names and supervisor addresses -- people who know you well aside from spouses and relatives, relatives and associates (along with their dates of birth, country of birth and current address), your military history and foreign activities (including travel for business and pleasure), police records, medical records, financial records and delinquencies, use of illegal drugs and alcohol, and groups you associate with that espouse the violent overthrow of the government.

Sound comprehensive? The idea is to weed out those who aren't, according to SF 86, "reliable, trustworthy, of good conduct and character, and loyal to the United States." The same form also warns that your current employer will be contacted and questioned, whether you want them to be or not.

Your form and your fingerprints then go to the Federal Investigations Processing Center, which calls on investigators, both federal employees and contract, to start confirming what you've said on the form. During this phase of the process, investigators review available records (including your presence on the Internet), check with the police, run a credit check on your and talk to people who know you -- those you've listed on the form as well as people in a position to observe you, such as neighbors. Plus, you'll be interviewed yourself.

All the data that's collected ends up in a single file, called "The Report of Investigation," which is sent to the federal agency that asked for the investigation in the first place. At that point, it's up to the federal security officer at the agency of hire to determine your eligibility to have a position with access to secure information. You may get the chance to explain or refute negative or unclear information during this "adjudication phase." Then your clearance is either granted or denied.

If it's granted, the fun doesn't stop there. Depending on what level of clearance you have, you'll have to undergo reinvestigation every five, 10 or 15 years. If you leave that position, the clearance is still active, but it may not be usable by your next employer depending on what type of security clearance the new job requires. Let enough time pass and the clearance will have no merit at all. The next time around you'll have to start at the beginning again. You can't simply request a renewal of your security clearance. You have to be employed in a position in which it's required.

The whole process of obtaining a clearance can take many months -- sometimes longer than a year -- and cost several thousands (even tens of thousands) of dollars. The more sensitive the job, the deeper -- and the costlier and more time-consuming -- the investigation. You can't speed up the effort, nor can you offer to pay the cost. That's why so many jobs listing security clearance as a requirement are anxious to find candidates who already possess a clearance of the right type -- the project may be over by the time somebody new to the process obtains his or her clearance. If you've noticed the propensity of government contractors to intensely recruit ex-military people for open positions, it's because vets frequently come with the security clearance that's needed as part of their portfolio.

Recruiting firms, attorneys or other companies that promise for a fee to obtain a security clearance for you or "pre-approve" you for a security clearance are scams. Don't fall for their antics.

If you don't already have a security clearance but there's a particular organization you're determined to work for, your best approach is to obtain employment that doesn't require the clearance with the agency or firm. Then put in your time and make it clear to your manager that should the right opportunity present itself, you'd be willing to undergo the investigation. But temper your enthusiasm. Too much eagerness to undergo this in-depth exploration into your personal and professional life might be viewed as suspicious behavior.

Originally published in Dec. 2003 as part of "CertCities.com's Security Certificaiton Resource Guide," available for download (PDF format) here.


Dian Schaffhauser is the editorial director of Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine, CertCities.com, TCPMag.com and ENTmag.com. She can be reached at .

There are 1395 CertCities.com user Comments for “About Those U.S. Government Security Clearances...”
Page 1 of 140
3/10/04: mrobinson52 from Florida says: Thank you Dian, for addressing this topic. I have sadly had to turn away from some great sounding jobs due to the requirement of already having a Security Clearance. It is too bad that more companies are not willing to go to the expense of getting otherwise perfect candidates cleared.
3/10/04: Terry Garbo from Lajes Field, the Azores says: Really good information, but one clarification to add. The SF86 is completed using the EPSQ format, which can be found at http://www.dss.mil/epsq/. I have never heard of an E-QUIP, and a search of the DSS website doesn't give a hit either. You can download EPSQ now from the website and start working on it, so in case you do get a call for a job, and don't currently have a clearance, at least you are prepared paperwork-wise. It speeds up the processing, and makes it easier when you have to do your updates (currently every 5 years for a TS, and 10 for a Secret). Terry A.Garbo Network Manager 65th Medical Group A+,Network+,CCA,MCP,MCSA,CCDA,CCNA Lajes Field, the Azores DSN 535-1372 COMM:00351-295-57-1372
3/11/04: ironchef from Fort Worth Texas says: Something to keep in mind here in regards to clearances: I have held a secret in the past and my employer has started the process for me again. For a secret, they'll run a credit check and interview your references at the very least. They'll also verify the accuracy of everything you've written down going back at least 5 years (more for special access or Top Secret), so the key here is HONESTY. Unless you're in debt up to your eyeballs (this is considered risky because there's the potential for bribery) or you have a felony on your record, most clearances will go through IF what the government finds out about you at the end of the investigation matches up pretty closely with what you told them at the beginning. There is a "fudge factor" but not much. If you're thinking about lying or omitting a very important detail that is requested, don't bother. Your application is your consent for the gov't to find out whatever they want about you AND THEY CAN (and they've gotten even more picky and thorough since 9/11). A good rule of thumb here is to not give too much information. By all means be honest and answer honestly but be concise about it.
3/11/04: Decipher says: Hey, don't forget through all of this to be an "American." You need to watch what you say and how you're perceived as well. When holding your clearance, you have to truly back the American way at all times. Hence the reason ex-military fill the ranks of our defense contractor industry. We've been deployed and away from our loved ones. We support the military and are with them every day. When others are away, we support their families. In addition, we don't hide or shy away from our civic duties. That's what 3/4 of holding a clearance is all about. Sounds like rhetoric, but I'm investigating you and I find out from your peers and neighbors that you are always nagging about perceived "poor" US policy, then I would have to question your patriotism and have strong consideration about disqualifying you. Also, "ironchef", don't take it for granted that there is a so-called "fudge factor" as you put it. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Let an investigator find something you conveniently left out of your update and see what happens. Plus, financial difficulty is probably the number one reason people cannot attain, or possibly lose, a clearance. Own your creditors folks, don't let them own you. Decipher
3/11/04: big mo says: I used to have Security Clearance in the U.S Army from 1993 - 1995. Its probably not active so i will have to start over again. but, my question is. Would having prior secret clearance help when appyling for a job that needs clearance? or am I filed with the rest of the non-clearance folks. (hence wasting my time) thanks
3/11/04: dogbert says: Having held DOE "Q", Top Secret (SCI, Crypto, and SAR), along with sigmas for my DOE "Q", I can tell you that having a former clearance does help, since the gov't would already have some background on you from the point of application. Also remember, that if you don't get a security briefing when you LEAVE your last posting, technically, you still hold the clearance (I don't know if this has been changed or not), since it's been 1990 or so since I last worked for Uncle Sam, 3 letter agencies, or contractors, so this may not apply. The way I see it (from best to worst, IMO). Current Clearance with all supporting paperwork Inactive Clearance with all supporting paperwork No Clearance (start from scratch) I also agree with Iron Chief, depending on how far back they want to go (7-10 years is usually enough), it is important that you list EVERY thing that MIGHT be a problem (no matter how small you think it is). The rationale in the investigators mind would be "if they forgot to mention this, what else could they be hiding?" Pay your bills on time, don't run afoul of the law (minor traffic offenses excepted, of course), and be honest are the things I would remember when filling out a SF-86, and associated forms like EPSQ (also make copies of everything and store them in a safe place). Good Luck
3/11/04: bog mo says: thanks dogbert. I did have a run-in with the law in 1996, pleaded guilty and moved on with my life. I have a misdemeanor, I was young and stupid. (heh, you know the deal) p.s. it was a non-violent crime (I tried to steal some stuff and got caught). my mom thinks my brain was turned off, and it probably was.
3/13/04: Anonymous says: Lo' Money
3/17/04: DUMP-HUNTER from Down Under says: Crikey, Microsoft should provide the government all the MCP ID's with the name & addresses and exams passed of all test takers so then the government can know that you are proficient with computers at a moments notice. I'll bet heaps more people would take exams if they knew it would appear in the clearences somewhere, except maybe shifty people with something to hide. The quicker Microsoft do this the better.
3/21/04: Anonymous says: I have found a procedure that provides a great deal of very relevant security clearance information, at the individual person level. I have found that there exists a psychological test, the Personnel Security Standards Psychological Questionnaire (PSSPQ) that was developed by a former Chief Psychologist in one of the USA's largest intelligence agencies. The PSSPQ was developed to accurately predict whether an individual will or will not be successful were heshe to be processed for high-level security clearance status. Validity and reliability research reveals that the PSSPQ accomplishs very adequately its designed purpose. Information regarding the PSSPQ can be found at: http://www.home.earthlink.net/~lastone2/psspq.html If anyone is wondering whether they would be granted or not a high-level (i.e., TS-SCI) security clearance, without ever actually going through the entire evaluation/adjudication process, the PSSPQ can provide such information
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