What is the easiest way to get a security clearance?

3 Ways to OBTAIN a SECURITY CLEARANCE
  1. Change your job search queries when seeking employment online. There are companies out there that have the project timelines to sponsor your clearance. …
  2. Target positions with lower clearance levels. …
  3. Network until it hurts.

What disqualifies you from a security clearance?

Those include criminal convictions that lead to a prison sentence of a year or longer, receiving a dishonorable discharge, “criminal incompetence,” and drug addiction.

How hard is it to get security 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 are the 5 levels of security clearance?

These are confidential, secret, top secret and sensitive compartmented information. This type of security clearance provides access to information that may cause damage to national security if disclosed without authorization.

How long does it take to get secret clearance?

In general, expect a CONFIDENTIAL or SECRET clearance to take between 1 and 3 months. A TOP SECRET will probably take between 4 and 8 months. However, some individuals have been waiting for the results of their TOP SECRET investigation for more than one year.

What percentage of security clearances are denied?

You may even wonder if you should continue with the process, particularly if you’re not getting a paycheck while you wait. 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%.

Who is eligible for security clearance in USA?

Security clearances only apply to positions that fall under the purview of the federal government. Executive Order 12968, Access to Classified Information, provides that security clearances are only granted to persons employed by, detailed or assigned to, or working on behalf of the federal government.

What questions are asked for security clearance?

You’ll be asked if he has any arrests in his history, mental and emotional issues, foreign contacts, foreign travel, if he drinks alcohol and if so; how much, any drug use, financial issues (including gambling), conduct issues in the military (like disciplinary action or discharge), misuse of information and technology …