You are looking through the job postings and you see the job of your dream. It has everything you want but as you read to the end you see that a security clearance is needed. What is a security clearance and how do you apply for one so you can get that dream job?

Many people think that they can go to a company or agency and apply for their own security clearance. This is far from the truth. Only the federal government can grant someone a security clearance, and to get one the applicant must work for a government agency or contractor and conduct business that justifies granting him or her access to highly sensitive information.

What is a security clearance?
A security clearance is the process of determining the applicant's trustworthiness and reliability before granting him or her access to national security information.

What is a security clearance investigation?
This is how the Defense Security Service (DSS), the agency that conducted all background and security investigations for the Department of Defense, defines security clearance investigation: "A security clearance investigation is an inquiry into an individual's loyalty, character, trustworthiness and reliability to ensure that he or she is eligible for access to national security information. The investigation focuses on an individual's character and conduct, emphasizing such factors as honesty, trustworthiness, reliability, financial responsibility, criminal activity, emotional stability, and other similar and pertinent areas. All investigations consist of checks of national records and credit checks; some investigations also include interviews with individuals who know the candidate for the clearance as well as the candidate himself/herself."

Now all personnel security investigations (PSI) of DSS fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) agreed on for the transfer of the personnel security investigations (PSI) functions and DSS PSI personnel to OPM in early 2005. Other agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Central Intelligence Agency still conduct their own personnel security investigations (PSI) but this is due to change with new rules under the Intelligence Reform Bill of 2004.

Executive Order 10450 signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on April 17, 1953 gave certain agencies of the United States government the authority to adjudicate employees who request access to national security or sensitive information. Here is what Executive Order 10450 says in its introduction:

"WHEREAS the interests of the national security require that all persons privileged to be employed in the departments and agencies of the Government, shall be reliable, trustworthy, of good conduct and character, and of complete and unswerving loyalty to the United States; and

WHEREAS the American tradition that all persons should receive fair, impartial, and equitable treatment at the hands of the Government requires that all persons seeking the privilege of employment or privileged to be employed in the departments and agencies of the government be adjudged by mutually consistent and no less than minimum standards and procedures among the departments and agencies governing the employment and retention in employment of persons in the Federal service."

Only federal agencies can provide anyone with a security clearance. They include all national security agencies and intelligence gathering agencies (CIA, NSA), federal law enforcement agencies (FBI, Secret Service, DEA, NCIS), civilian military agencies (DIA, DSS), certain occupations in the U.S. military, diplomatic agencies (State Department), certain scientific government agencies and a number of others depending on their mission and role in national security.

There are also many companies – think tanks, research facilities and other organizations – that have contracts or grants with the federal government that require them to access sensitive information. These companies or organizations are required to have their employees cleared by the federal government. No company without a contract with the federal government can independently give or seek a security clearance, and no individual who is not working for the federal government or a contract organization can get a security clearance.

Types of Security Clearances
There are different types of security clearances allowing a person to access classified material. The four main types are confidential, secret, top secret (TS), and sensitive compartmented information (SCI).

Confidential
This type of security clearance provides access to information or material that may cause damage to national security if disclosed without authorization.

Secret
This type of security clearance provides access to information or material that may cause serious damage to national security if disclosed without authorization.

Top Secret
This type of security clearance provides access to information or material that may cause exceptionally grave damage to national security if disclosed without authorization.

Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)
This type of security clearance provides access to all intelligence information and material that require special controls for restricted handling within compartmented channels and for which compartmentation is established.

In addition, some clearances allow access to particularly sensitive information. Known as Special Access Programs, these clearances are defined by the Defense Security Service as any program that is established to control access, distribution, and to provide protection for information beyond confidential, secret and top secret levels. Getting a Security Clearance

Getting a clearance is a long process and depends on the type of clearance you are getting. Your employer or prospective employer will begin the process of securing a security clearance by submitting the proper paperwork to the investigating/adjudication agency. The paperwork will usually include the federal form SF-86 (National Security Questionnaire) and other supporting documents. Your signature on these documents will allow the agency to check your medical history, credit/financial history, military background, police record and other areas of life.

Once you have turned in the documentation, the designated agency will begin the security clearance/investigation/adjudication proceedings, depending on backlog and priority. This may include interviews with co-workers, family, friends, associates and others, a review of your medical, credit, financial and other history, a background check to determine the use of illegal drugs, criminal record, and contact with foreign nationals and a check on many other areas of your life.
This process may take several months up to a year depending on backlog, need for more information, depth of the investigation/adjudication process and other factors.

Now that you know about the process, you can look for your dream job that may require security clearances. If you prove that you can perform your job effectively, your company, organization or agency will apply for a security clearance for you. Make sure you understand the process before applying. The clearance process is an in-depth probe into your personal and professional life, and with the threat of spies and other issues of national security, the scrutiny may get more intense.

This article was written by Derrick Dortch and was acquired by washingtonpost.com on February 10, 2003.