Most TTS employees hold moderate risk, external,Public Trust positions.Public Trust is a type of position,, external,not a clearance level, thoughGSA refers to it as a clearance level.
However, for certain projects, partners need TTS employees to have access toclassified national security information. These employees need to be grantedsecurity clearance eligibility (a.k.a a security clearance) to be able to viewthis information.
This Handbook page covers only two areas: how to find your clearance status andhow to submit a clearance upgrade request.
If you have detailed security clearance questions, review theTTS-only, offices and points of contact list on GSA InSite.
Guidance on international travel for clearance holders
Up-to-date guidance onTTS-only, international travel for clearance holdersis available on InSite.
Your clearance status
Find out your clearance status inHRLinks
- On your HR Links homepage, within the tile named Employee Personal Info, click the link View/Update Personal Info.
- Under the section Security Clearance, click the plus icon to view yoursecurity investigation(s) and the status of the associated clearance(s).
View, external,TTS-only, Locating Your Information in HR Links and Other HR Systemsfor a visual step-by-step guide.
Clearance upgrade requests
If you are a TTS employee and your project work requires a security clearance,your supervisor will be responsible for initiating the process.
Timelines
Below are approximate timelines for the clearance process:
- 1-2 months for a new Secret (interim) clearance
- 6-8 months for a new Top Secret (TS) clearance
- 8-15 months for a new Top Secret clearance with access to SensitiveCompartmented Information (TS/SCI)
If you transferred to GSA with an active clearance, timelines may be quicker.
Please note: you cannot be placed on a new position description (PD) until yoursecurity clearance is processed and approved.
Process
1. Your supervisor submits the Security Clearance Upgrade Request form
Supervisors complete the, external,TTS-only, Security Clearance Upgrade Request formwhen requesting an upgraded security clearance for one of their direct reports.The information gathered will help PeopleOps determine the best way to supportand proceed with the Security Clearance upgrade process.
2. PeopleOps reviews the request, looks at the TTS position description database, and determines if a new PD needs to be created.
If a new PD is needed:
- PeopleOps works with your supervisor and OHRM’s classification office tocreate a draft PD.
- Your supervisor reviews the draft PD. The draft can be further edited, incollaboration with OHRM.
- The Classification Specialist will send your supervisor a, external,TTS-only, GSA Position Risk Determination Survey(PRDS).
- On Question #7, your supervisor will refer to pages 4-10 of the, external,TTS-only, Federal Cybersecurity Coding Structureand choose up to 3 codes which describe the type of cybersecurity workassigned to the position, and list them in descending order by majority ofwork time.
- If your supervisor has any questions on the PRDS, the OHRM ClassificationSpecialist can assist.
- Your supervisor will also need to sign an, external,OF-8 form. PeopleOps typicallyreceives this form and routes it via DocuSign to your supervisor and to theClassification Specialist.
- Your supervisor will draft a, external,TTS-only, justification memo,which PeopleOps can assist with. This will need to be signed by the TTSExecutive Director.
- Your supervisor will email both completed documents and the justification memoto OHRM, copying , external,[email protected].
If an appropriate PD already exists:
Your supervisor will draft a, external,TTS-only, justification memo,which PeopleOps can assist with. This will need to be signed by the TTSExecutive Director and submitted with the request to OHRM, copying, external,[email protected].
3. OHRM does a final review of all documents and submits them to GSA's Security Personnel Office.
4. GSA’s Security Personnel Office will contact you directly to complete an eQIP.
You will have 7 days to complete the eQIP once notified. Please read the emailsand follow directions carefully.
5. Security reviews your completed eQIP.
6. If the clearance has been approved, the assigned adjudicator from GSA Security will inform you directly and provide you further instructions.
Reminder: it can take over a year for a TS/SCI clearance request to beprocessed!
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FAQs
A top secret security clearance is a determination by the U.S. government that an individual can access highly sensitive information or data that affects national security. Obtaining a top secret clearance requires passing a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) and can take 6 to 18 months.
What disqualifies you from Top Secret SCI clearance? ›
What can disqualify you?
- 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.
Security Clearance Process
- Obtain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance.
- Successfully complete a drug test to screen for illegal drug use.
- Complete a required counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination.
- Complete any required medical examination(s).
Top Secret clearances, involving extensive background checks and polygraph tests, have the highest denial rate at about 5%. Factors contributing to these differences include the level of scrutiny and the depth of background checks required.
How far back does TS SCI background check go? ›
Form must be completed going back 10 years.
The SF-86 form requests information back 7 years for employment and residence; however, to comply with the investigative standards, 10 years is required. Citizenship of yourself and “immediate” family members (spouse, children, mother, father, brothers and sisters).
Does TS SCI always require a polygraph? ›
The vast majority of both Secret and Top Secret security cleared positions do not require a polygraph. A variety of Sensitive Compartment Information (SCI) and Special Access Program (SAP) positions require a successful polygraph, in addition to the completion of a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI).
What will fail you from a Top Secret clearance? ›
More specific conditions that may endanger your security clearance include: A history of deceptive or illegal financial acts like embezzlement, tax evasion, and fraud; Failure to satisfy your debts; and. Financial problems caused by gambling, drug abuse, or alcohol abuse.
What is a red flag for a security clearance? ›
A history of drug addiction, drug involvement, or alcoholism can provide a barrier to receiving security clearance. Past issues with drugs or alcohol may disqualify you from receiving security clearance. Current, ongoing use of an illegal drug will automatically disqualify you.
How many people fail Top Secret clearance? ›
Unfortunately, these clearance documents are not quite as easy to get as you might have perceived them to be. Just under 10% of applicants are denied by the National Security Agency. Just under 7% are denied by the CIA and just over 7% are rejected by the National Reconnaissance Office.
How much is a TS SCI clearance worth? ›
As of Sep 6, 2024, the average annual pay for a Ts Sci Clearance in the United States is $131,907 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $63.42 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,536/week or $10,992/month.
The process of obtaining a Top Secret clearance involves an extensive background investigation. Confidential and Secret investigations are thorough, but the Top Secret version is the most intensive.
Is TS SCI a high clearance? ›
It is not truly "above" Top Secret, since there is no clearance higher than Top Secret. SCI information may be either Secret or Top Secret, but in either case it has additional controls on dissemination beyond those associated with the classification level alone.
How long does a TS SCI investigation take? ›
Below are approximate timelines for the clearance process: 1-2 months for a new Secret (interim) clearance. 6-8 months for a new Top Secret (TS) clearance. 8-15 months for a new Top Secret clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI)
How long is a TS SCI valid for? ›
Even if an agency grants you TS/SCI clearance, it does not last forever, so you need to undergo a reinvestigation some time after you've begun working. For TS/SCI clearance, you must usually do this every five years or if your employer or a government agency revokes your clearance for any reason before then.
How long does a TS SCI clearance take? ›
Below are approximate timelines for the clearance process: 1-2 months for a new Secret (interim) clearance. 6-8 months for a new Top Secret (TS) clearance. 8-15 months for a new Top Secret clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI)
