What is the highest clearance level?

How many types or levels of security clearance are there? 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.

What are the 5 levels of security clearance?

What is a Tier 5 clearance?

Tier 5 – Top Secret Security Clearance

As the highest level of security clearance, applicants can expect a more rigorous examination. If approved, this clearance gives cleared personnel access to information or material that could cause disastrous damage to national security. Tier 5 is the only tier in this category.

What is highest clearance?

What is the highest security clearance you can get? 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. A candidate's responsibilities determine the level of clearance granted.

What is the highest security clearance called?

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.

Security

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 much is a Top Secret SCI clearance worth?

Taking into account the intensity of the process, you may be wondering, “How much is a top secret clearance worth?” As reported in January 2021, the average cost of a top secret security clearance was between $3,000 and $15,000, and these costs tend to be paid by the government for its own employees.

What is the 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.

How hard is 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 is a Tier 3 security clearance?

A Tier 3 investigation is required for a Confidential or Secret clearance, for a Department of Energy (DOE) “L” access authorization, or to hold a non-critical sensitive position.

What is t2 clearance?

This level is commonly used for identification verification when acquiring a government credential such as a CAC/PIV card and/or can access some routine government systems or installations/buildings. Moderate Risk (Non-Critical Sensitive), called Tier 2, is a MBI (Moderate Background Investigation).

What is Naclc clearance?

The National Agency Check with Law and Credit (NACLC) is a type of background check required in the U.S. for granting security clearance. The NACLC is used as the initial investigation for contractors at the Confidential, Secret, and L access levels.

How do I get Top Secret SCI clearance?

To be eligible for a Top Secret clearance with SCI access, you must meet certain criteria. Your agency also must sponsor you for access. Your agency will initiate your clearance by sending you a notification to complete your SF-86, Questionnaire for National Security Positions in e-QIP.

What goes into a Top Secret security 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 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.

What is the difference between secret and Top Secret clearance?

The three levels, in ascending order of sensitivity are: Confidential (information that could cause damage to national security); Secret (information that could cause serious damage to national security), and Top Secret (information that could cause exceptionally grave damage to national security).

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 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 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.

What type of clearance do FBI agents have?

The candidate should obtain from their local FBI Field Office a Standard Form 86 (SF 86), Questionnaire for National Security Positions; and two FD-258 (FBI applicant fingerprint cards). One of two levels of security clearance, Secret or Top Secret, may be appropriate.

Does a Top Secret clearance expire?

Security Clearance. Expiration: Secret Clearance expires after 10 years. Top Secret expires after 6 years.

Does having a clearance increase your salary?

Based on survey data, on average, a security clearance generates 10-20% salary premium with higher clearances commanding the largest increases.