To be hired for a federal job, you must undergo a basic background investigation of your criminal and credit histories. The government wants to ensure you are “reliable, trustworthy, of good conduct and character, and loyal to the United States,” which no doubt you are! If you land a job with access to sensitive information, you’ll most likely have to get a security clearance too.
Getting a Security Clearance
Many federal agencies require that you have a security clearance, particularly those whose mission is national security. Think CIA, FBI, the State Department and the Defense Intelligence Agency, to name a few. There are different security levels, and the ones just mentioned often require the higher levels of clearance for many jobs.
If an agency decides to hire you—can we get a woohoo here?—the offer is contingent on your getting a security clearance. But not to worry—first you accept the job, then you fill out the forms and that’s when the wheels are set in motion for the extensive background investigation.
The type of investigation depends on the position’s requirements and level of security clearance needed. The process can take months or even up to a year, depending on the number of people ahead of you in the security clearance, whether more information is needed, the depth of the investigation process and other factors.
The Background Investigation
To accelerate the security clearance process, jobseekers can start early to gather relevant information needed to submit the forms and information, so they’re ready once a position is offered. The forms for background checks and security clearances, both the SF-86 mentioned above and the SF-85—the questionnaire for non-sensitive positions—are on the Office of Personnel Management’s website.
Once the documentation is submitted, the designated agency proceeds with the investigation. The time it takes will depend on the number of security clearance requests and priority.
Types of Security Clearances
Positions in the federal government are classified in three ways:
- Non-sensitive positions.
- Public trust positions.
- National security positions.
Each of these positions requires some form of background investigation. For lower levels of security clearances, these investigations typically rely on automated checks of an applicant’s history. For a secret clearance in a national security position, the investigation requires agents to interview people who have lived or worked with the applicant at some point in the past seven years, or sometimes farther back.
The four main types of security clearances for national security positions are: confidential, secret, top secret and sensitive compartmented information.
Confidential
This type of security clearance provides access to information that could cause damage to national security if disclosed without authorization. It must be reinvestigated every 15 years.
Secret
Same as a confidential clearance but must be reinvestigated every 10 years.
Top Secret
Same as a confidential clearance but must be reinvestigated every five years.
Top Secret, Sensitive Compartmented Information
SCI is an access program that gets “added on” to the clearance.
The Interim Security Clearance
If a hiring office requests it, an applicant may be granted an interim security clearance within a few weeks after submitting a complete security package. Final clearances usually are processed and adjudicated in less than 90 days. With an interim clearance, classified work can be performed but in a temporary capacity until a background investigation has been completed.
As an expert in federal employment processes and security clearances, I can attest to the critical importance of understanding the intricate details involved in obtaining a federal job, especially when it comes to navigating the complex landscape of background investigations and security clearances. Having delved deep into the nuances of this subject, I'll shed light on the key concepts discussed in the article you provided.
1. Background Investigation:
- The initial step in the federal employment process involves a background investigation, focusing on criminal and credit histories.
- The goal is to ensure the candidate is "reliable, trustworthy, of good conduct and character, and loyal to the United States."
2. Security Clearances:
- Many federal agencies, particularly those with national security missions such as the CIA, FBI, State Department, and Defense Intelligence Agency, require candidates to obtain security clearances.
- Different security clearance levels exist, with higher levels typically required for more sensitive positions.
3. Types of Security Clearances:
- Positions in the federal government are classified into three categories: non-sensitive, public trust, and national security positions.
- National security positions involve various levels of security clearances: confidential, secret, top secret, and sensitive compartmented information (SCI).
4. Security Clearance Process:
- Once a job offer is extended, acceptance precedes the initiation of the security clearance process.
- The type and depth of the investigation depend on the position's requirements and the level of security clearance needed.
- The process can take months or up to a year, considering factors such as the number of security clearance requests and priority.
5. Background Check Forms:
- Jobseekers can expedite the security clearance process by gathering relevant information early.
- The required forms for background checks and security clearances, including SF-86 and SF-85, are available on the Office of Personnel Management's website.
6. Types of Security Clearance Renewals:
- Different levels of security clearances require periodic reinvestigations: confidential (every 15 years), secret (every 10 years), and top secret (every five years).
7. Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI):
- SCI is an additional access program that can be appended to a top-secret clearance, providing access to highly sensitive information.
8. Interim Security Clearance:
- In some cases, applicants may be granted an interim security clearance shortly after submitting a complete security package.
- Interim clearances allow temporary classified work until the full background investigation is completed.
By presenting these concepts, I aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the federal job hiring process and the critical role that background investigations and security clearances play in ensuring the integrity and security of the United States government.
