Security Clearance Guide for Government Contractors

A security clearance is a determination that an individual is eligible to access classified national security information. The three primary levels are Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret, with TS/SCI as an additional access designation for intelligence information. Clearances are granted after a background investigation, adjudicated by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), and are portable between employers within a 24-month window.

Clearance Levels Explained

Confidential

The lowest level of classified access. Confidential information is defined as material that could cause "damage" to national security if disclosed without authorization. The investigation is the least intensive, typically a National Agency Check with Law and Credit (NACLC). Reinvestigation occurs every 15 years. Many entry-level contractor positions require only a Confidential clearance.

Secret

The most commonly held clearance level in government contracting. Secret information could cause "serious damage" to national security if improperly disclosed. The investigation is more thorough than Confidential, including interviews with references, employers, and neighbors. Reinvestigation occurs every 10 years. The majority of cleared defense contractor positions require a Secret clearance.

Top Secret

Top Secret information could cause "exceptionally grave damage" to national security. The investigation is the most extensive -- a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) that includes extensive field work, financial analysis, and interviews. Reinvestigation occurs every 5 years (or through Continuous Vetting). Top Secret clearances command premium compensation in the job market.

TS/SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information)

SCI is not a separate clearance level but an additional access designation on top of Top Secret. It covers intelligence sources, methods, and analytical processes. Access requires a Top Secret clearance plus additional adjudication by the sponsoring intelligence community element. SCI access requires working in a SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility) -- a specially constructed secure room that meets physical security standards.

The Investigation Process

The clearance process follows a defined sequence:

1. Sponsorship: A cleared company or government agency must sponsor your clearance. You cannot apply for a clearance on your own -- there must be a legitimate need-to-know tied to a contract or position.
2. SF-86 Submission: Complete the SF-86 questionnaire through the e-QIP (Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing) system. This covers your personal history in detail.
3. Investigation: DCSA conducts the background investigation, which may include record checks, credit checks, interviews with you and your references, and field work for higher clearance levels.
4. Adjudication: An adjudicator reviews the investigation results against the 13 adjudicative guidelines (allegiance, foreign influence, sexual behavior, personal conduct, financial considerations, alcohol and drug involvement, criminal conduct, handling protected information, psychological conditions, outside activities, misuse of information technology, and failure to cooperate) to make a determination.
5. Determination: You are either granted or denied a clearance. If denied, you have the right to appeal.

SF-86 Tips

• Be thorough and honest: The number one cause of clearance denial is not past issues themselves but dishonesty or omission on the SF-86. Investigators will find discrepancies -- it is always better to disclose and explain than to hide.
• Gather information in advance: You will need 10 years of addresses, employment history, education details, foreign travel, foreign contacts, and financial information. Start collecting this before you begin the form.
• List your references carefully: Choose people who know you well and will respond promptly to investigators. Unresponsive references cause delays. Inform your references that they may be contacted.
• Address financial issues proactively: Financial problems are the most common reason for clearance denial. If you have delinquent debts, set up payment plans before submitting your SF-86 and document your efforts.
• Document foreign contacts thoroughly: Any foreign nationals you maintain contact with must be listed. Include their full names, citizenship, how you know them, and frequency of contact. This is especially important for social media connections.

Maintaining Your Clearance

Once granted, maintaining your clearance is an ongoing responsibility:

• Report changes: You must report foreign travel, foreign contacts, financial changes, arrests, and other life events to your Facility Security Officer (FSO) promptly.
• Continuous Vetting (CV): DCSA is transitioning from periodic reinvestigations to Continuous Vetting, which uses automated record checks to flag potential issues between investigations. This means problems are detected more quickly than under the old system.
• Annual security training: Complete all required security awareness and insider threat training on time.
• Handle classified information properly: Security violations -- even accidental ones -- are documented and can jeopardize your clearance. Follow all handling, storage, and transmission procedures.

Clearance Portability

Security clearances are held by the government, not by your employer. When you leave a cleared position, your clearance becomes inactive but does not expire immediately. Key portability rules:

• 24-month window: If you begin a new cleared position within 24 months, your new employer can reactivate your clearance without a new investigation.
• Cross-agency reciprocity: Under the reciprocity policy, a clearance granted by one agency should be accepted by others without requiring a new investigation, though some agencies may require additional access briefings.
• SCI access is separate: Even if your TS clearance is portable, SCI access typically needs to be re-granted by the new program.

Timeline Expectations

Related Resources

Frequently Asked Questions