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Obtaining a Security Clearance
A Condition of Employment for Most IC Positions
Most positions within the Intelligence Community require that employees possess a security clearance. Hiring for these positions is done contingent upon the employee applying for and subsequently being granted such a clearance. The criteria for granting personnel security clearances vary depending upon the level of clearance and the particular IC member doing the hiring.
A career in intelligence can be enormously rewarding. It also demands the very best of the men and women who comprise the IC's workforce. To meet the requirements of the work itself, intelligence professionals must be highly competent in their fields. To safeguard some of the nation's most sensitive information, personnel must be highly reliable and trustworthy. Woven through all aspects of their performance is the imperative to adhere to the highest standards of integrity. The granting of a security clearance testifies that an individual meets these standards of reliability, trustworthiness, and integrity.
The paragraphs below outline many of the factors involved in the granting of security clearances. Please read them carefully before you apply for a position within the Intelligence Community. The information is designed to help you determine your qualification and to apply efficiently.
Citizenship
You must be a citizen of the United States when you apply to work for a member of the Intelligence Community. Applicants who claim dual citizenship are not eligible for security clearances at some IC agencies. Other agencies do not preclude dual citizens from applying for positions. However, dual citizenship may raise questions about foreign preference or loyalty that must be resolved favorably before a clearance can be granted. The concerns can vary from case to case and must be addressed on an individual basis.
While the average processing time for a security clearance is 120 working days, processing time could be shorter or significantly longer depending on a variety of factors.
Drug Use
If you are a recent or frequent user of illegal drugs, including marijuana, you need to know that the IC is a drug-free workplace. Drug abuse is one of the common reasons a security clearance is denied to applicants. During the application process, a urine test may be required to detect the presence of illegal or controlled substances in an applicant's system. Positive test results or refusal to be tested may be the basis for denial of employment. Once hired, employees are subject to random urinalysis testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564 "Drug-Free Federal Workplace."
Personal Integrity and Conduct
Many applicants wonder if they can pass the scrutiny of a comprehensive background investigation. The Intelligence Community recognizes that no one is perfect. IC security officials consider the nature, extent, seriousness, and recency of past behavior and the likelihood of its continuation or reoccurrence. They weigh the potential risk and benefit of each individual - the whole person - with utmost care. Although national security is always the paramount consideration, our security experts work hard to ensure that the Community does not turn away unnecessarily someone who could make important contributions to the nation's intelligence effort.
The Clearance Process
The clearance process, which is strictly governed by rules and regulations derived from Federal statute and executive orders, begins when you accept a conditional offer of employment from an IC member. It can involve a thorough examination of your life history and fitness to safeguard the nation's secrets. Think of this process as the first step in building a bridge of trust between you and the Community. Candor is an essential ingredient in the establishment of that trust.
The investigation can address comprehensively one's loyalty to the United States, strength of character, trustworthiness, honesty, reliability, discretion, and soundness of judgment. In addition, it can examine one's freedom from conflicting allegiances, potential for coercion, and willingness and ability to abide by regulations governing the use, handling and protection of sensitive information.
The background investigation will verify where you have lived, studied, and worked since age 18. Interviews will be conducted with friends, neighbors, supervisors and co-workers. In addition, credit and police checks will be conducted.
The clearance process can be lengthy. Each applicant is unique in terms of life experience and background and some investigations will take longer than others. Individuals with more than one residences or employers will require more investigative interviews than individuals with only one residence or employer. Clearance processing can range from two to three months as a minimum to over a year.
Since the IC actively recruits people who have expert knowledge of foreign languages and cultures, it is not unusual for our applicants to have numerous foreign contacts and overseas travel. In these cases the investigation must cover more ground, which usually takes more time, often more than a year.
Polygraph Examination
The IC sometimes uses a polygraph to check the veracity of information that bears upon the areas listed above. The Community's polygraph examiners are highly trained security professionals, among the world's best in their field. They work closely and carefully with applicants to ensure that the information upon which clearance decisions are based is as accurate as it can be and is guarded with the strictest confidence.
Medical Fitness
The hiring process may also entail a thorough medical examination of one's mental and physical fitness to perform essential job functions.
You Should Also Note
Your responsibility to adhere to high standards of personal conduct does not end on the first day of employment. IC employees undergo regular reinvestigations, which can include periodic polygraph examinations.
The IC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or sexual orientation in granting, denying, or revoking security clearances.
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