The five tiers of security clearance are grouped into three levels as a part of Trusted Workforce 2.0. While the tiers each begin with a similar application, each grants access to different information.
The higher the security clearance, the longer it can take to investigate, and the deeper the investigation may go into your background.
Tiers One and Two – public trust eligibility
Tiers one and two are suitability investigations conducted for low to high-risk non sensitive positions.
Tier 1 (NACI): Low Risk, Non-Sensitive, including HSPD-12 Credentialing
Tier 2 (MBI): Moderate Risk Public Trust (MRPT)
Those applying for a position of public trust can plan to have a background check which includes verification of employment, education, and criminal records. Fingerprinting and credit checks are a basic part of the confidential clearance process.
Tiers Three and Four – Secret Security Clearance & High Risk Public Trust
This clearance tier means that you are allowed access to information or material that could cause grave danger to the security of the United States if it were disclosed. Tiers 3 and 4 are included under this category.
Tier 3 (NACLC & ANACI): Non-Critical Sensitive National Security, including Secret & “L” access eligibility
Tier 4 (BI): High Risk Public Trust (HRPT)
Applicants in these tiers may be interviewed as a part of their application process.
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.
Tier 5 (SSBI): Critical Sensitive and Special Sensitive National Security, including Top Secret, SCI, and “Q” access eligibility
In addition to the background check required by the previous levels, top-secret applicants are subject to more stringent self-reporting requirements and a deeper dive into their background, which can include a polygraph and a single scope background investigation (SSBI). Applicants will also have their employers, neighbors, and coworkers interviewed and have higher scrutiny of foreign travel, assets, and relationships. Expect the approval process for the top-secret level to take longer, as well.
Government requirements determine what level of clearance you need, and you may be asked to increase your security tier if your job changes. An increase in clearance level may subject you to more scrutiny, but it could also result in an increase in pay.
