What is the difference between Top Secret and secret clearance?

The clearance process for Secret level access uses an investigation called the National Agency Check with Law and Credit that goes back five years, while the clearance process for Top Secret uses a Single Scope Background Investigation that goes back ten years.

Is it easier to get a Top Secret clearance with a secret clearance?

Contrary to popular belief, the criteria for getting a Top Secret security clearance are exactly the same as obtaining a Secret clearance. The difference is the depth and extensiveness of the investigation. There are three basic levels of security clearance: Confidential/Public Trust.

What are the 5 levels of security clearance?

Is there a higher security clearance 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.

What are the 3 types of security clearance?

There are three levels of security clearance: confidential, secret, and top secret.

What it takes to get top secret clearance

Who has the highest level of security clearance?

The federal government provides three levels of clearance: confidential, secret, and top secret. Top secret clearance is the highest security clearance level anyone can get.

What's the highest level of security clearance?

There are three levels of security clearance, with the highest level being Top Secret. Secret is the next level of clearance and Confidential is the final. 6. What work does each clearance allow a person to do?

What comes after Top Secret?

There are three national security clearance levels: Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret. Work deemed Critical Sensitive requires a Top Secret clearance. Special Sensitive work requires access to Sensitive Compartmented Information and therefore a Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.

How much is a Top Secret clearance?

The average cost to process a TOP SECRET clearance is between $3,000 and about $15,000, depending upon individual factors. The government pays the cost of clearances for military personnel and civilian government employees.

How long does Top Secret clearance last?

Secret clearance lasts 10 years. Top Secret clearance must be reinvestigated (reauthorized) every 5 years. This assumes no incidents or allegations arise that would cause the government to scrutinize your clearance.

What is a T3 secret clearance?

T3 is the investigation required for positions designated as non-critical sensitive and/or requiring eligibility for "L" access or access to Confidential or Secret information. T3R is the reinvestigation product required for the same positions. The Standard Form (SF) 86 is used to conduct these investigations.

What is a Tier 1 security clearance?

Tier 1 is the investigation for positions designated as low-risk, non-sensitive. It is also the minimum level of investigation for a final credentialing determination for physical and logical access.

How hard is it to get secret clearance?

The National Security Agency denied the most applicants–9.2 percent. The National Reconnaissance Office and the Central Intelligence Agency had the next greatest number of denials, at 7.4 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively. These numbers might seem relatively low, but there's a reason for that.

What disqualifies you from getting a Top Secret clearance?

Top secret clearance holders must have no significant financial concerns. If the background check reveals a considerable amount of debt, missed payments, tax evasion, collection judgments, check fraud, foreclosures, embezzlement or bankruptcies, your application might be rejected.

How many people fail Top Secret clearance?

But don't lose heart – 20-30% of all interim security clearances are denied, but that is vastly different than the figure of final clearance denials, which hovers around 1%.

What disqualifies you from secret clearance?

These conditions may disqualify you from access to classified information: Drug abuse. Illegal drug possession. Diagnosis of drug abuse or dependence by a medical professional.

What jobs can you get with a top secret clearance?

Is Top Secret the highest level of classification?

Top Secret is the highest level of classification. However some information is further categorized/marked by adding a code word so that only those who have been cleared for each code word can see it.

What is Yankee White clearance?

A yankee white clearance isn't as much a separate background investigation as it is an administrative nickname for security clearances issued for specific offices serving the president and vice president. Think of it as a special suitability designation, rather than a separate security clearance.

What does SCI stand for clearance?

What is top secret or sensitive compartmented information clearance? TS/SCI clearance allows you to access sensitive information that is not available to the public. Sometimes, this can mean access to data, information or even technology that is only available to those with the appropriate clearance level.

What is checked in a Top Secret clearance?

Records Checks

Another key aspect of the background investigation for a Top Secret clearance is a thorough review of your finances, character and any possible criminal history.

What is Cosmic Top Secret?

Also abbreviated NS. COSMIC TOP SECRET. The highest level of security in the Alliance, covering only the most important information generated by NATO. Unauthorized access would result in exceptionally grave damage to NATO.

What's the lowest security clearance?

The Department of State official site lists three federal clearances from lowest to highest. They are, respectively, Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret.

What is a Tier 5 investigation?

A Tier 5 investigation is required for a Top Secret clearance, for DOE “Q” access authorization, or to hold a critical sensitive position. It is also required for all levels of access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and some other Special Access Program (SAP) information.

Does secret clearance 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.