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Security Clearance Process: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
This report provides a primer on some of the fundamental aspects of the security clearance process, using a “Frequently Asked Questions” format.
A security clearance is a determination that an individual—whether a direct federal employee or a private contractor performing work for the government—is eligible for access to classified national security information. A security clearance alone does not grant an individual access to classified materials. Rather, a security clearance means that an individual is eligible for access. In order to gain access to specific classified materials, an individual should also have a demonstrated “need to know” the information contained in the specific classified materials.
There are three levels of security clearances: Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret, which correspond to the levels of sensitivity of the information that a cleared individual will be eligible to access. In addition, there are two major categories of classified information that are commonly associated with the Top Secret level: Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), which refers to intelligence sources and methods, and Special Access Programs (SAPs), which refers to highly sensitive policies, projects, and programs. These categories exist for classified information that has been deemed particularly vulnerable. Eligibility standards and investigative requirements for access to SCI and SAPs are higher than for access to information otherwise classified at the same level, which further restricts the number of individuals eligible for access.
Federal employees and private contractors must be cleared in order to gain access to classified materials. An individual may not obtain or initiate a security clearance on his or her own. A sponsoring federal agency initiates the process and will make the final security clearance determination based on a background investigation.
Although the process involves a number of stages, four key steps to obtaining and maintaining a security clearance are (1) agency sponsorship and submission of clearance application materials; (2) a background investigation, the extent of which may vary by level of clearance; (3) an adjudication to determine whether an individual will be deemed eligible for access; and (4) periodic reinvestigations. Adjudication and final clearance determinations are generally made by the sponsoring agency. To maintain a security clearance, an individual is also subject to periodic reinvestigations. The frequency of reinvestigations vary by level of clearance.
The Office of Personnel Management, Federal Investigative Services (OPM-FIS) oversees approximately 90% of all background investigations. Typically, the costs of a background investigation, including background investigations of private contractors, are paid for by the requesting agency. While the final determination to grant or deny a security clearance is typically made by the requesting agency, with certain exceptions a security clearance granted by one agency may be accepted by other agencies. It is difficult, however, to determine the degree to which reciprocity occurs between agencies.
This report will be updated as events warrant.
A security clearance is a determination that an individual—whether a direct federal employee or a private contractor performing work for the government—is eligible for access to classified national security information. A security clearance alone does not grant an individual access to classified materials. Rather, a security clearance means that an individual is eligible for access. In order to gain access to specific classified materials, an individual should also have a demonstrated “need to know” the information contained in the specific classified materials.
There are three levels of security clearances: Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret, which correspond to the levels of sensitivity of the information that a cleared individual will be eligible to access. In addition, there are two major categories of classified information that are commonly associated with the Top Secret level: Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), which refers to intelligence sources and methods, and Special Access Programs (SAPs), which refers to highly sensitive policies, projects, and programs. These categories exist for classified information that has been deemed particularly vulnerable. Eligibility standards and investigative requirements for access to SCI and SAPs are higher than for access to information otherwise classified at the same level, which further restricts the number of individuals eligible for access.
Federal employees and private contractors must be cleared in order to gain access to classified materials. An individual may not obtain or initiate a security clearance on his or her own. A sponsoring federal agency initiates the process and will make the final security clearance determination based on a background investigation.
Although the process involves a number of stages, four key steps to obtaining and maintaining a security clearance are (1) agency sponsorship and submission of clearance application materials; (2) a background investigation, the extent of which may vary by level of clearance; (3) an adjudication to determine whether an individual will be deemed eligible for access; and (4) periodic reinvestigations. Adjudication and final clearance determinations are generally made by the sponsoring agency. To maintain a security clearance, an individual is also subject to periodic reinvestigations. The frequency of reinvestigations vary by level of clearance.
The Office of Personnel Management, Federal Investigative Services (OPM-FIS) oversees approximately 90% of all background investigations. Typically, the costs of a background investigation, including background investigations of private contractors, are paid for by the requesting agency. While the final determination to grant or deny a security clearance is typically made by the requesting agency, with certain exceptions a security clearance granted by one agency may be accepted by other agencies. It is difficult, however, to determine the degree to which reciprocity occurs between agencies.
This report will be updated as events warrant.
20 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2013
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