There are certain jobs and positions where a casual background check isn’t going to be sufficient. A security clearance requires going well beyond a typical online name search.
If you’ve ever wondered what a security clearance is, why you need one or how you get it, the following provides details.
An Overview
A security clearance is a classification status. It’s for workers who would have access to sensitive or confidential information as part of their job. This information could be related to infrastructure, the military, or anything that would be of high importance to the federal government or technical information related to national security.
There are different levels of clearance, and you have to go through a comprehensive background check.
Some governmental departments like the CIA and Department of Energy do their own investigations.
Someone with a security clearance typically has to go through recertifications at regular intervals to keep up their status or move up to a higher level, depending on duties.
For the Department of State and other federal agencies, the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) does personnel security background investigations. The investigations give information for DSS to determine whether an applicant or current employee meets national security eligibility standards.
Anyone hired for a federal job has to go through at least a basic background check of their criminal and credit history. The goal is to make sure all federal employees are trustworthy, reliable, and show good character.
Agencies that might require higher-level security clearance include federal law enforcement agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, diplomatic agencies like the State Department, and civilian-military agencies such as the Defense Security Service.
A company that has a grant or contract with the federal government might require employees have a security clearance if they’re going to be accessing or working with sensitive information. A company that doesn’t have a contract with the federal government can’t seek a security clearance. No one not hired by the federal government or one of its contracted organizations can get a security clearance.
If an agency chooses someone to hire, the applicant then gets a job offer which is contingent on obtaining the security clearance. Going through the background investigation occurs only after the offer is accepted and all forms are completed.
The process can take up to a year, depending on the backlog and other individual factors such as the type of background check needed.
Classification Levels
Security clearance levels from the least to most restrictive include:
- Confidential: With this type of security clearance, a person can access information that could damage national security if it’s revealed without authorization. The confidential-level clearance has to be reinvestigated every 15 years and requires a National Agency Check with a Local Agency Check and Credit Check.
- Secret: A secret security clearance gives access to information that, if disclosed, could cause serious national security damage. The clearance has to be reinvestigated every ten years.
- Top Secret: This is the highest level and most stringent clearance level. Someone with this clearance may have access to information that could cause grave damage to national security if disclosed. A top-secret clearance has to be reinvestigated every five years.
Having a security clearance doesn’t automatically mean someone is given access to information for that level. The clearance holder must have a need-to-know basis for accessing and handling information, in addition to the right security clearance level.
If a hiring office requests what’s known as an interim security clearance, an applicant may be granted one a few weeks after they submit their complete security package. With an interim clearance, a person can do classified work, but in a temporary capacity.
What happens during the background investigation?
Once a job applicant receives a conditional job offer and completes the necessary form, the background investigation begins. Typically, Standard Form 86, Questionnaire for National Security Positions, is required.
Human resources are responsible for submitting a security package to the State Department Office of Personnel Security and Suitability once it’s completed.
The security package is reviewed to make sure it’s complete, and it’s entered into what’s known as a case management system. National agency record checks and fingerprint checks can then be done.
Each background investigation is assigned a case manager. The case manager directs the investigation and covers events and contacts from the present and past of the applicant.
An applicant has to go through an in-person interview with an investigator. It’s the investigator’s role to verify information in the security package, like where the applicant lived, worked, and went to school. The investigator also contacts law enforcement agencies in all of these locations.
After an investigator finishes their report, adjudicators go over the results and compare them to their guidelines for security clearance.
The applicant is then informed whether they received their security clearance.
Reasons for Denial
There are a number of reasons that an applicant could be denied a security clearance. Often the reasons are related to the investigator’s view of the applicant’s honesty or candor.
A lot of personal characteristics are considered during the investigation. If there are red flags of problems, further investigation is needed, and perhaps the clearance will be denied.
Some of the behaviors that investigators look at include allegiance to the United States, alcohol or drug use, emotional or mental disorders, the potential for foreign influence, and sexual behavior. Financial considerations, outside activities, and the misuse of information technology are considered. Even something like an unpaid bill can lead to disqualification, although bankruptcy doesn’t automatically disqualify someone.
The top cause of being disqualified is poor financial history.
Social media information that’s publicly available is also considered. Agencies can use publicly available social media posts and content if they feel it’s necessary, but they can’t require someone to give access to their accounts.
The security clearance process is arduous and much more rigorous than a typical background check for most jobs.
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