Security Clearance Frequently Asked Questions

Questions and answers related to US government-sponsored security clearances
in accordance with the National Industrial Security Program (NISP) and compiled by

General

  • What is a security clearance?
    A security clearance is a determination by the United States government that a person is eligible for access to classified information.


  • What are the levels of security clearance, and how are they measured?
    Security clearances can be issued by many United States government agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the Department of Justice, and the Central Intelligence Agency. Department of Energy clearances include the “Q,” “R” and “L” levels. Most security clearances are issued by the Department of Defense and include Confidential, Secret and Top Secret.


  • What type of information is requested on a security clearance application?
    The amount and detail of information varies with the level of clearance requested. It may include family information, past and current work history, locations you have lived, roommate names, financial history, travel history, groups or affiliations, and more.


  • What do the terms “active,” “current” and “expired” clearance mean?
    An “active” clearance is one in which the candidate is presently eligible for access to classified information. A “current” clearance is one in which a candidate has been determined eligible for access to classified information but is not currently eligible without a reinstatement. A candidate has two years to remain on a “current” status before moving to an “expired” status. Both “active” and “current” clearances are easily transferred between employers. An “expired” clearance is one that has not been used in more than two years and cannot be reinstated. Once sponsored, the candidate must resubmit a clearance application and go through a new investigation to have access. Individuals with expired clearances cannot be considered for jobs that require active or current clearances.


  • What is an interim security clearance?
    An interim clearance is the first step toward obtaining a final clearance and is issued fairly quickly. An interim is issued once a review of the application is completed and the candidate is determined eligible. An interim clearance allows a person to have access to collateral classified information (at the level requested without a caveat) while his or her final clearance is being processed. For example, a person with an Interim Secret may have access to a document marked “Secret,” but not a caveated one, “Secret COMSEC.”

    Interim Secrets are issued automatically and can be denied. A denial, however, does not mean that a final will not be issued. It means there is something on the application which must be first reviewed and investigated fully. Interim Top Secret clearances must be requested by the government customer contractor. An Interim Top Secret is equal to a final Secret.


    • Getting a Clearance

  • Can I obtain a security clearance on my own?
    No. You must be sponsored by a government contractor or government entity.


  • Can non-US citizens obtain security clearances?
    Very rarely. In extremely special circumstances and only with the permission of the government entity owning the classified information a non-US citizen could obtain a clearance. This person would be a world class scientist, dignitary, or other high level friend of the US government.


  • What types of things can prevent someone from receiving a security clearance?
    For collateral (TS,S,C) clearances, all requested information must be disclosed honestly. Falsification and felonies are two items which my cause the government to deny a clearance. Issues such as financial trouble, including insufficient funds, bankruptcy and bad check writing, illegal drug or heavy alcohol use, excessive foreign contact or unexplained affluence must all be explained and investigated thoroughly before a decision can be made and a security clearance granted or denied.


    • Clearance Process

  • How long does it take to process a security clearance?
    The average time to process a security clearance is presently 18 months. However, the length of time is widely varied depending upon the level of clearance and the issues involved. Three distinct parts of the process are: preinvestigation (filling out the appropriate forms), investigation (the Office of Personnel Management conducts the background check on the individual), and adjudication (an Office of Personnel Management representative reviews the investigation results along with other information and makes a determination on clearance award).


  • How are security clearance investigations carried out?
    Agents or contract agents with the Office of Personnel Management use both electronic and human means to investigate each clearance candidate. The Defense Security Service (DSS) no longer conducts personnel clearance investigations.


  • For what reasons could an individual be denied a security clearance?
    Basically, there is no one thing that will result in denial of a security clearance and there are not many instances in which a person’s clearance is denied. Clearance adjudicators use a documented guide and “formula” to determine whether or not the individual is eligible for a security clearance. In an applicant, they look for honesty, trustworthiness, character, loyalty, financial responsibility, and reliability. On cases that contain significant derogatory information, further investigation is usually required.

    There are, however, four criteria which will positively result in the denial of a clearance: an individual convicted of a crime and sentenced to prison for more than one year, an applicant is (currently) an illegal user of, or is addicted to, a controlled substance, the subject is mentally incompetent, or the individual has been discharged or dismissed from the armed forces under dishonorable conditions.

    When there is an issue with a candidate and more review needs to occur prior to granting or denying a clearance, the paperwork is forwarded to the Department of Hearing and Appeals (DOHA) for further processing. DOHA puts all the information together, provides its recommendation and then goes to the requesting government agency for a final decision. Once the decision is made, the applicant is notified. In addition, the applicant is allowed a detailed appeal process.


    • Facility Clearances

  • What is the National Industrial Security Program (NISP)?
    The NISP is the industrial security program regulated by the Department of Defense (Department of Defense), Defense Security Service (DSS). In addition to Department of Defense agencies, there are 23 additional federal government participants. The main regulation document under the NISP for cleared contractors is the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM).


  • How does a company get a facility clearance (FCL)?
    A company must be sponsored by a government agency or a cleared contractor for a facility clearance. A contractor cannot sponsor itself for a facility clearance.


  • Who can sponsor a company for a FCL?
    Either a government agency or a cleared contractor can sponsor a company for a facility clearance. A contractor cannot sponsor itself for a facility clearance.


  • How does a customer sponsor a company for a FCL?
    Sponsorship is in the form of a letter to the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) requesting that a particular company be processed. The letter provides the prospective company’s name, address, phone number and point of contact. It should also provide the classified contract number, facility clearance level and the requestor point of contact and phone number.


  • Who has to be cleared in connection with a FCL?
    A Defense Security Service (DSS) Industrial Security Representative (IS Rep) with the help of the company’s POC will determine which individuals must be cleared in connection with the FCL. Ordinarily, those that have control over the company (eg, the CEO, President, Executive VP and/or other officers or board members) and the Facility Security Officer must be cleared. Those individuals cleared in connection with a FCL are called Key Management Personnel (KMP).


  • What happens if a “controlling” officer cannot be cleared in connection with the FCL?
    The facility is not eligible for a FCL. Alternatively, the officer must officially step down from his or her title as an officer/director and relinquish control of the facility.


  • What is a Facility Security Officer (FSO)?
    The FSO is a KMP who has responsibility over the facility’s security program. During the time in which a facility is cleared, the FSO is the main POC for the DSS IS Rep. The FSO must be cleared at the level of the FCL.


  • Does the FSO have to have a clearance? What level?
    Yes. The FSO must have a clearance at the same level as the FCL.


  • How does a company get a Top Secret FCL?
    A company must be sponsored for a Top Secret FCL even if it already has a lower level FCL. The customer must follow the same sponsorship procedures and all KMPs must be upgraded as well.


  • What is a Contract Security Classification Specification, DD Form 254, and how does it relate to a FCL?
    A DD Form 254 is issued when classified work is contracted to a facility and provides the security classification requirements to be applied to information. The government customer or prime contractor issues the 254 to the contracted facility and justifies the need for a FCL. A DD Form 254 is necessary to maintain an active FCL.


  • How many DD Form 254s does a facility have to have?
    Once the first DD Form 254 is issued, a facility can have an unlimited number of 254s. A DD Form 254, however, cannot be issued at a classification requirement higher than that of the facility’s FCL. If so, the facility must be sponsored and processed for a FCL upgrade.


    • Personnel Clearances

  • Who issues clearances?
    The Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) in Columbus, OH issues clearances once all leads on a personnel security clearance (Personnel Clearance) investigation are complete and an applicant is considered eligible for a Personnel Clearance.


  • What is DISCO?
    The Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) is a component of DSS that maintains historical and current records on all DSS-issued personnel and facility clearances.


  • How much does it cost to get a FCL/Personnel Clearance (Personnel Clearance)?
    At this time, there is no direct charge for a FCL or Personnel Clearance.


  • At this time, there is no direct charge for a FCL or Personnel Clearance.
    A cleared contractor identifies an employee with a need to have access to classified information (eg, the employee will work on a classified contract). Once identified, the FSO ensures that the employee completes an Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing (e-QIP) and forwards the application to Office of Personnel Management for processing.


  • What is a collateral clearance?
    A collateral clearance is a clearance with no caveats (eg, special accesses such as COMSEC or NATO). In other words, TS, S and C are collateral clearances.


  • What is a clearance with a “caveat?”
    A clearance with a caveat is a collateral clearance plus a special access. In order to have the special access, the cleared individual usually receives a briefing related to the caveat. COMSEC and NATO are examples of caveats requiring a briefing prior to access.


  • How do I get an SCI clearance?
    A Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance is a special access beyond a Confidential (C), Secret (S) or Top Secret (TS). In order to have a (SCI) clearance, a cleared contractor must first be selected by a government agency. That government agency issues and monitors SCIs. With the exception of processing the C, S or TS facility and personnel clearance, DSS is not involved in SCI clearances.


  • Can a naturalized person get a Personnel Clearance?
    Yes. A naturalized person is to be treated as a US citizen. However, the naturalized person may have to provide information on his or her clearance application regarding foreign relatives, associations, etc.


    • Polygraphs

  • What are polygraphs?
    Polygraphs are instruments used to help determine an individual’s eligibility for access to classified information. The polygraph may or may not be used in a particular clearance investigation.


  • What are the differences between Counter Intelligence, Lifestyle, and Full Scope Polygraphs?
    The purpose of a polygraph is to determine, to the greatest extent possible, whether or not a given applicant can be trusted with sensitive information. Two types of polygraphs exist, and either one or both polygraphs may be administered to the candidate in question. Polygraphs are conducted by trained polygraph examiners who have been schooled on administering them.

    A Counter Intelligence polygraph asks the candidate questions limited to the subject’s allegiance to the US. The questions are based on foreign contacts, foreign associations, etc. A Counter Intelligence polygraph is the most common polygraph.

    A Lifestyle Polygraph asks the candidate questions the concern the subject’s personal life and conduct and can involve all aspects of present and past behavior. Questions asked might concern drug and alcohol use, sexual preference and behavior, mental health, family relationships, compulsive or addictive behavior, and more. A Lifestyle Polygraph attempts to look for issues in a person’s private life for that which he or she might be blackmailed.

    A Full Scope polygraph is a combination of both the Counter Intelligence and Lifestyle polygraphs.


    • Software

  • What is the EPSQ (Electronic Personnel Security Questionnaire)?
    Until July 2005, the EPSQ was the electronic security clearance application used within the NISP.


  • What is e-QIP (Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing)?
    The e-QIP is the automated request for personnel security investigations which in July, 2005, replaced the Electronic Personnel Security Questionnaire (EPSQ).


  • What is the JPAS (Joint Personnel Adjudication System)?
    The JPAS is the official personnel security clearance database management system for the Department of Defense. All NISP cleared contractors will use this system for all types of personnel clearance actions.


    • Types of Investigations

  • Periodic Reinvestigation (PR)
    A periodic reinvestigation (PR) is when a currently cleared individual is required to review, update and resubmit his or her clearance application for a reinvestigation. Periodic Reinvestigations are routinely required every 5 years for those with TS clearances, every 10 years for those with Secret clearances and every 15 years for those with Confidential clearances. A PR is done to ensure that a candidate should still have access to classified information. Random Periodic Reinvestigations are also administered at will.


  • National Agency Check (NAC/LAC)
    A NAC is the type of investigation required for a Secret or Confidential clearance. It includes a thorough review of the candidate's national and local records. It generally does not require an interview with an investigator.


  • Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI)
    An SSBI is a more detailed investigation and is required for a TS investigation. It includes a review of the applicant's national and local records and an interview with an investigator.


  • Special Inquiry Investigation (SII)
    An SII is a special investigation conducted when some type of adverse information has been reported/discovered on a cleared individual.


  • Trustworthiness Investigation
    A trustworthiness investigation is not conducted for a security clearance. It is requested when an applicant is going to have access to Sensitive but Unclassified Information. For example, trustworthiness investigations are sometimes conducted on those that will have access to a sensitive site (eg, cleaning crew on a military installation).


    • Other

  • What is a DSS Industrial Security Representative (IS Rep.)?
    Once sponsored for a FCL, contractors are assigned an IS Rep (a DSS employee). The IS Rep’s job is to assist the contractor in following the regulations of the NISPOM the entire time it is a NISP participant.


  • What is a DSS inspection/review?
    A DSS review is a regularly scheduled visit by a DSS IS Rep. The review is conducted in accordance with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) to assist the contractor in following the regulations of the NISP.


  • What is FOCI (Foreign Ownership, Control or Influence)?
    A contractor is determined as having FOCI when under such a level of foreign control or influence that it cannot be cleared without a negation method. DSS assists the contractor in selecting a negation method, however, some levels of FOCI cannot be negated and the contractor is determined ineligible for a FCL.


  • What is a SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility)?
    A SCIF is a specially constructed facility to safeguard SCI information. DSS does not regulate or review SCIFs, rather, the government customer owning the information performs the oversight.


  • Who inspects SCIFs?
    The government customer owning the SCI information inspects the SCIFs.


    • Security Clearance Jobs

  • Where can I search for jobs that require an active or current security clearance?
    Candidates with active clearances can search for jobs that make use of that clearance at ClearanceJobs.com (http://www.clearancejobs.com).


  • If I don't have a security clearance, where can I find employers that might be able to sponsor me to receive one?
    Candidates without clearances can search for jobs that do not require clearances at other Internet-based job boards like Dice.com (for IT candidates), Monster.com (all professions), and HotJobs.com (all professions).