In addition to federal agencies, those working for private organizations that have contracts with the government require a security clearance. Employees of companies, non-profit organizations, think tanks, and research organizations with federal contracts or grants may need to undergo this background investigation.
Many federal agencies require that you have a security clearance, particularly those whose mission is national security. Think CIA, FBI, the State Department and the Defense Intelligence Agency, to name a few.
Many federal agencies require that you have a security clearance, particularly those whose mission is national security. Think CIA, FBI, the State Department and the Defense Intelligence Agency, to name a few.
Only jobs that require a candidate to access classified information and secure facilities require a clearance. However, all federal positions require something called a suitability determination. This is a background investigation that helps the government decide if you are suitable for federal employment.
Generally, security clearance are the same for military and civilians. The Department of Energy uses a somewhat different system with L and Q being the designations. The Q clearance is the highest and is considered above Top Secret.
Specialized Job Boards: Websites like CyberSecJobs, InfoSec Jobs, and SecurityJobs are tailored for cybersecurity roles and often list positions that do not require clearances. Professional Associations: Join organizations such as (ISC)2, ISACA, or the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA).
Individuals to whom these regulations apply must use Form DS-1887, Foreign Contact Report (available on MyData), to report all contacts for which reports are required. If the official duty station is a U.S. mission or post abroad, the report must be submitted to either the RSO or PSO.
How Employees Report. When a cleared employee plans to travel abroad, they need to email their FSO at least 10 business days before they leave. Some companies may require notice further out from the planned travel. This email should include where they're traveling to and the dates they'll be there.
In essence, if personnel working for a contractor require access to classified information in the performance of their duties, the contractor must have an FCL and the personnel must have personnel security clearances (PCLs).
In the US, you cannot do this. A clearance must be requested and sponsored by a qualified agency or company. Individuals may not initiate a clearance process on themselves.