Security Clearance FAQs

Confidential Security Clearance – This is the lowest level of security clearance. It allows the holder to access information or material that may cause damage to national security if disclosed without authorization. As part of the investigative process, the applicant’s foreign employment, immediate relatives and marriages, and other personal relationships are scrutinized. Confidential security clearances are re-investigated every 15 years, with the clearance either renewed or revoked at that time.

Secret Security Clearance – This security clearance level provides access to information or material that may cause serious damage to national security if disclosed without authorization. It requires a National Agency Check, a Local Agency Check, and a credit investigation. Bankruptcy and unpaid bills, as well as criminal charges, may disqualify an applicant. A poor financial history is the primary reason for rejection, and foreign activities and criminal record are also common causes for disqualification. Secret security clearances are re-investigated every 10 years and are either renewed or revoked at that time.

Top Secret Security – This is the highest level of security clearance. It provides access to information or material that may cause exceptionally grave damage to national security if disclosed without authorization. In addition to generic Top Secret clearance, there is also Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and Special Access Program (SAP) clearance. SCI clearance is required for information that must be contained within a certain group of people, while SAP clearance is needed to work on a particular top secret project, often one that’s so secret that its existence cannot be acknowledged. Top Secret security clearances are re-investigated, and either renewed or revoked, every five years.

It requires an individual to demonstrate the following:

Personal character

Loyalty to the United States — Reliability

Trustworthiness — Discretion

Honesty — Sound judgment

Professional character

Free from conflicting allegiances and potential for coercion

Willingness and ability to abide by regulations involving the use and protection of classified information

Access to classified information is clearly consistent with the national security interests of the United States

  • You are not a U.S. citizen.
  • You were dishonorably discharged from the military.
  • You are currently involved in illegal drug use.
  • You have been judged as mentally incompetent or mentally incapacitated by a mental health professional.
  • You have had a clearance revoked for security reasons.
  • You are considered a dual citizen, AND you are currently holding a passport from a country other than the U.S.
  • You have significant foreign national contacts (immediate family members living in other countries).
  • You own property in another country.
  • You have been convicted of a felony within the past 10 years.
  • You have a significant history of financial problems with heavy indebtedness and late payments (over 180 days), bad debts, fairly current tax liens, repossessions and garnishments.