What's a Job Security Clearance?

In the U.S., when a job description states that a security clearance is required, it typically means that you must submit to and "pass" a personnel security investigation (PSI). A PSI is essentially a background check, but it's likely to probe deeper than a typical, employment-related check. It consists of one or more of the following, depending on the type of security clearance.

• Verification of U.S. citizenship
• Search for investigative files and other records at Federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Search for criminal records at local law enforcement agencies
• Fingerprinting
• Polygraph exam (lie detector test)
• Credit and other financial checks
• Check of records at courts, rental agencies and your employers
• Interviewing your references
• Interviewing you

You might need a security clearance for a government, military or civilian-military job, or to work at a private-sector company that contracts with the government or military.

How Do I Get a Job Security Clearance?

You can't apply for a security clearance on your own. A security officer or other authorized employer representative must request it on your behalf.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and other Federal agencies conduct PSIs. On February 20, 2005, Defense Security Service (DSS) personnel who conducted PSIs transferred to the OPM (after this article was initially written). The OPM now conducts PSIs for a wider range of Federal agencies than did the DSS, as well as private-sector companies working under government contracts.

Which Job Security Clearance Will I Get?

Which security clearance you'll be granted depends on the sensitivity of the information to which you'll be privy. Basics are listed below.

• Top secret (TS) - Access to sensitive information that has a high degree of secrecy, the unauthorized disclosure of which could place the nation in exceptionally grave danger
• Secret (S) - Access to sensitive information for which unauthorized disclosure could endanger national security
• Confidential (C) - Access to sensitive information for which unauthorized disclosure could impair or injure the national interest

Basic security clearances might include other terms to further define them. For example, TS/Crypto stands for a top secret, cryptography security clearance.

How Do I Keep My Job Security Clearance?

To keep your security clearance active, you must submit to and pass reinvestigation as follows.

• Top secret - Every five years
• Secret - Every ten years
• Confidential - Every fifteen years

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