Can you have Top Secret without SCI?

It is possible to undergo the Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) required to access Top Secret information without being read into an SCI program. SCI access can also be granted at the Secret level as well. Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) is a subset of classified national intelligence.

What is the difference between Top Secret and Top Secret SCI?

The top secret/sensitive compartmented information is not a separate classification level. The SCI abbreviation is an added specifier that can refer to a singular asset, program or project or the way in which the information contained in the document was collected, Zaid said.

What are the requirements for Top Secret?

For a Top Secret security clearance, the background investigation includes additional record checks which can verify citizenship for the applicant and family members, verification of birth, education, employment history, and military history.

What disqualifies for Top Secret clearance?

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.

Can you have SCI with a secret clearance?

In some cases, an individual may be read into an SCI program, regardless of the clearance level, although additional vetting will be required. So, it is possible to have a secret clearance, and SCI access. Just like having a Top Secret clearance also doesn't mean you have a 'TS/SCI' clearance.

What Does TS/SCI Mean and How Do I Get a TS/SCI Job?

Is all Top Secret SCI?

The answer is No. As the definition of SCI states, there is a requirement that the individual has a need to obtain the information and is read into the program. It is possible to undergo the Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) required to access Top Secret information without being read into an SCI program.

Is it hard to get a TS SCI?

Obtaining a top secret clearance is a lengthy process that involves an in-depth background check. Denial of a clearance can occur for a variety of reasons, including financial problems, mental disorders and criminal violations.

How much does a TS SCI clearance cost?

The average cost to process a SECRET clearance can run from several hundred dollars to $3,000, depending upon individual factors. The average cost to process a TOP SECRET clearance is between $3,000 and about $15,000, depending upon individual factors.

Does TS SCI require polygraph?

Polygraph tests accompany some Top Secret or TS/SCI clearances; however, they are not required to obtain either type of clearance and are not part of the clearance background investigation.

How often are Top Secret clearances denied?

“Probably 5 to 10 percent of the people who go through the process experience some degree of issues,” Bigley estimated.

Are you allowed to say you have a top secret clearance?

The fact that you have a security clearance is not classified, so there's no reason you can't tell someone you have a security clearance. In fact, the State Department and other government agencies advise applicants who have a clearance to include this information on their resumes.

How much money do people with Top Secret make?

The average top secret clearance salary in the USA is $124,934 per year or $60.06 per hour. Entry level positions start at $77,547 per year while most experienced workers make up to $179,400 per year.

How valuable is a Top Secret?

The highest levels of clearance can lead to even higher salaries. The Human Resource Association of the National Capital Area also reported that employees with top secret security clearance could earn up to 60% more than those without top secret clearance in certain jobs.

How many people have Top Secret SCI clearances?

The 1.3 million individuals with Top Secret clearances are supporting a wide variety of missions, from the CIA to the Department of Commerce. Just because you have a Top Secret clearance doesn't mean you have access to any information out there that's classified Top Secret.

What is higher than Top Secret?

Information "above Top Secret," a phrase used by the media, means either Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) or Special Access Program (SAP). It is not truly "above" Top Secret, since there is no clearance higher than Top Secret.

How long is SCI clearance good for?

The date the last background investigation closed determines when a periodic reinvestigation should be submitted. Periodic reinvestigations for Top Secret Page 2 2 security clearances are due every 5 years and Secret security clearances periodic reinvestigations are due every 10 years. 3.

What happens if you fail SCI polygraph?

The Consequence of Inconclusive Results

So, by “failing” a polygraph or producing “inconclusive results” you might not get the job or the clearance you're applying for – but you also won't lose any clearance you already have or jeopardize your future prospects of obtaining clearances that don't require a polygraph.

Is TS SCI the highest clearance?

There are different levels of security clearance, ranging from confidential to top secret. TS/SCI is one of the highest levels of security clearance, meaning that anyone who has this level of clearance has access to highly sensitive information.

How long can TS SCI be inactive?

Re-activating an Inactive Clearance

If a security clearance has “lapsed” beyond the 24-month grace period, the clearance process will have to start from the beginning.

Is TS clearance the same as TS SCI?

The TS stands for the Top Secret security clearance. SCI stands for “Sensitive Compartmented Information” but it's not a level of clearance. SCI grants access to certain information, such as intelligence sources, methods, or analytical processes.

What are the 5 levels of security clearance?

How much is a TS SCI with poly worth?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $198,000 and as low as $49,500, the majority of TS SCI Full Scope Polygraph salaries currently range between $121,500 (25th percentile) to $174,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $192,500 annually across the United States.

How long does it take to go from TS to SCI?

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)

Can family members affect security clearance?

Hardly. Previous questions have included if a spouse being listed on the sex offender registry for a decade-old arrest or if a jail stint would affect the applicant's security clearance. Those issues would likely only be an issue of the applicant was involved in some way.

Who is eligible for TS SCI clearance?

Many positions in federal government agencies and the military require a Top Secret (TS) or Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance for key staff who will handle sensitive information. To apply for either of these clearances, you must have a job offer from an employer that requires it for your position.