Security clearance must be issued before you can begin working. Examples of organizations that require higher tiers of clearance include national security agencies such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Specify the security clearance level — e.g., Top Secret, Secret, or Confidential. Highlight the clearance most relevant to the job application, if you hold more than one active clearance. Be honest.
How to Respond to Interrogatories During the Security Clearance Always Tell the Truth. This is not the time to “forget” to mention something questionable about your past, nor is it wise to mislead investigators in any way. Be Clear. Be Thorough. Get Assistance.
Only jobs that require a candidate to access classified information and secure facilities require a clearance. However, all federal positions require something called a suitability determination. This is a background investigation that helps the government decide if you are suitable for federal employment.
Generally, you cannot apply for a security clearance on your own; you must be sponsored by a government agency or a company with a contract with the government. These entities must determine that your job requires access to classified information.
The Standard Form 86 “Questionnaire for National Security Positions” (SF-86) is a background investigation form you need to fill out for a security clearance. The information provided on this form is used to determine whether you are reliable, trustworthy, of good conduct and character, and loyal to the U.S.
In essence, if personnel working for a contractor require access to classified information in the performance of their duties, the contractor must have an FCL and the personnel must have personnel security clearances (PCLs).
Not every position in the military requires a clearance (culinary specialists and some support positions may not), but all officers do obtain a security clearance as a part of their service and all service members undergo a background check and complete some form of security application.
Jobs that require security clearance Anyone who works in a job that requires access to national security information requires clearance. This includes people in federal government and military jobs, from executive-level roles to non-sensitive positions in custodial staff.