So, do you want to work in the intelligence field? Qualifying for a security clearance has its benefits and challenges.
Working in the intelligence sector can be both interesting and exciting. Career opportunities in the intelligence field are plentiful, especially in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. Security clearances can only be issued by approved federal agencies, such as the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If your goal is to work with a federal government agency or a military component that handles classified national security intelligence, you must obtain security clearance to hold the position.
To acquire a security clearance, you must be sponsored by a cleared contractor or government agency employer and be in a position that requires a security clearance. It should be noted that obtaining a security clearance is lengthy and can be challenging depending on past experiences that may inadvertently disqualify you. However, do not fear the security clearance process. This certification process is to ensure the confidentiality and protection of classified information and materials.
What is the security clearance process?
A security clearance is an extensive background check for an individual being considered for a federal government agency position with access to sensitive or classified information relevant to U.S. national security. A security clearance certifies you to be trusted to work with classified information. University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) students interested in pursuing these federal job positions should be aware of the conditional employment requirements regarding qualifying for a security clearance.
You can only receive a security clearance if you have a specific conditional offer of employment for a job position as an employee or contractor with a federal agency that deals with classified or sensitive information. Security clearances are assigned to the job position, not the person. Qualified candidates will be considered for a security clearance based on their application to perform a job. A security clearance does not remain with you when you leave your job but can be reinstated by the original federal agency, or reciprocally granted by a different federal agency or contractor unless there has been a break-in service of at least two years. Once granted, a security clearance is not indefinite. Depending on the level of clearance, it must be renewed and updated within 5 years (Top Secret), 10 years (Secret) and 15 years (Confidential) to determine if you have done anything that could disqualify you from maintaining the clearance.
Here is a summarized step-by-step process to gain security clearance, however the timeline depends on the employer, position, and which security clearance is needed:
Step 1: Initiation Phase. Commences after the employer extends a conditional offer of employment to the applicant the process begins.
Step 2: Application Process. Applicants must complete and submit the SF-86 form and any other forms required by the employer.
Step 3: Review Process. The application is reviewed and is either approved, rejected, or sent back to the applicant with a request for more information.
Step 4: Investigative Phase. An investigator conducts a background check, reviews the applicant’s information, completes interviews, and whatever else is required for their specific application.
Step 5: Adjudicative Phase. An adjudicator reviews the background investigation results, then makes a determination to either award or reject the applicant’s security clearance.
What are the security clearance requirements?
All security clearances require a candidate to complete the form SF-86 to provide information for a background check dating back at least 10 years into your past, which checks and verifies any criminal history, education, former addresses, employment, employers and coworkers, foreign and domestic travel, neighbors, friends, and family. Investigators examine the following areas: drug or alcohol use, criminal conduct, credit status and financial situation, use of information technology systems, allegiance to the United States, foreign contacts and influence, psychological conditions, and personal behavior. Some agencies may require a candidate to also take a psychological or medical examination.
Is a polygraph examination required for a security clearance?
Candidates may take a polygraph depending on the agency requirements and the level of clearance needed. There are three different types of polygraph examinations you may be required to take: Counterintelligence (CI), lifestyle, or full-scope. For example, a CI polygraph tries to determine if there was any involvement with or knowledge of espionage/sabotage against the United States, unauthorized contact with representatives of a foreign government, or unauthorized disclosure of classified material. A lifestyle polygraph is concerned with a candidate’s personal life and conduct covering all aspects of present and past behavior. A full-scope polygraph covers all areas in the CI and lifestyle polygraphs. If your position requires Top Secret clearance with either Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) or Special Access Program (SAP), you will likely take a full-scope polygraph.
What are the different types of security clearances?
Public trust positions are designated sensitive government positions, dealing with U.S. national security that require employees who are knowledgeable, trustworthy, loyal, responsible, and of good character. Depending on the public trust position you are being considered for and the types of information you will handle, you may be granted one of three levels of security clearance: Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret (TS). At the lowest level and least restrictive, a Confidential clearance gives you the authority to handle information that can place national security at risk. A Secret clearance gives you authority to work with classified information that cannot be shared with anyone without proper clearance. Top Secret clearances are the highest and most sensitive level and require intensive background scrutiny because you will be handling critical national security information that must be protected.
There are additional, high-level clearances such as Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearances or Special Access Programs (SAP) that are only provided if you attain a position that requires access to intelligence sources, methods, analytical processes, or special programs.
What can jeopardize your qualification for a security clearance?
Honesty is a paramount character trait for all intelligence professionals. A common reason a security clearance may be denied is that the applicant was determined not to be honest and forthcoming with the information provided on the SF-86. Transparency and honesty are essential. Do not try to hide any information that you may believe could be disqualifying, such as prior drug use or certain behaviors in your early years. Be candid with investigators about all aspects of your life.
You may also be disqualified for a security clearance for something you did that may violate standard policies of the agency to which you are applying. For example, social media is where many job candidates are eliminated because they may have posted information that may violate agency standards. Most people use social media platforms to share information about their personal or professional lives. The federal government considers social media as anything that is “publicly available information”. As the adage goes, the internet is forever; everything that you have posted on a social media account leaves a digital trail that can be examined during the security clearance process.
In addition, the security clearance process includes an interview, during which an investigator will ask you questions about your background and any potential security concerns. Any life experiences that you have publicly posted or reposted on any social media account could affect your clearance. For example, background investigators will review the visible content on your social media accounts including Facebook, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, dating websites, music apps, etc. Although you will not be asked to provide your usernames and passwords for your accounts, background investigators use processes to find information from your social media accounts to determine if there is anything in your posts that could be disqualifying.
Does academic work impact security clearance qualification?
Do not disregard academic integrity issues. Plagiarism or submitting work not created by students as their own can also affect security clearance qualification. The recent rise in the abuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by students to generate papers or other academic work can create potential problems for anyone seeking a security clearance. Security clearance investigators review three sources of records for each educational institution listed on the SF-86: the educational institution’s registrar for copies of academic transcripts and verification of degrees; the institution’s Dean of Students office for any records of academic misconduct like cheating or plagiarism; and the institution’s police or security department for any records of law enforcement contacts. If any negative information is collected in the background investigation, related to plagiarism or academic honesty issues, it may disqualify the person from obtaining the security clearance.
What are the career benefits of a security clearance?
According to a 2022 Clearance Jobs survey, a Top-Secret security clearance can increase an individual’s salary by 10 to 20 percent on average. For example, entry-level respondents with a Top-Secret clearance earned $10,000 more in salary than those with a Secret clearance, and that difference increased to over $22,000 after 10 years. Some of the highest-paid occupations for people with security clearances include software developers, data scientists, and engineers.
For higher management levels, the salary difference could amount to almost $27,000. The Human Resource Association of the National Capital Area also reported that Top Secret clearance holders could earn up to 60 percent more than those without clearance in some jobs.
Private sector employers are usually more willing to hire people who have had a security clearance, even if it has lapsed. The reason is these candidates have already passed the rigorous clearance process in the past, which could prove character, integrity, loyalty, and other highly regarded characteristics.
What jobs require a Top Secret clearance?
Many positions within federal intelligence agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), DHS, and the DoD require a Top-Secret security clearance because these positions will have access to protected national security information. Examples of jobs requiring a Top-Secret clearance are FBI special agents and intelligence analysts, CIA case officers and intelligence analysts, Air Force Office of Special Operations (OSI) investigators, and positions with private sector defense contractors such as Northrup Grumman, Lockheed Martin, the Boeing Corp, or CACI.
What UMGC programs could lead to careers that require security clearance?
At UMGC, some of our programs can help prepare students for careers that may require security clearance, such as our bachelor’s in homeland security, graduate certificate in homeland security management, master's in intelligence management, or bachelor’s and master’s in cybersecurity management and policy. These programs provide important foundational education in all three areas for students whose goal is to work in these professions. For the UMGC students who are already employed in these professions, these programs provide additional educational opportunities to make them more competitive as they promote through leadership and management positions.
Working as an intelligence professional, you will have the important responsibility of protecting US national security. The professional opportunities are numerous, and the salary compensation is beneficial. It is critical to vet applicants to fill these important positions through the security clearance process. Obtaining a security clearance is a layered process that can be challenging but is worth it for the career opportunities that can be opened for you. Just remember honesty and transparency are key.
Reference on this webpage to any third-party entity or product does not constitute or imply endorsement by UMGC nor does it constitute or imply endorsement of UMGC by the third party.
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