You might not realize that the criteria for obtaining a Top Secret security clearance is not much different from that of a Secret clearance. Both require the same adjudicative criteria, but the depth and thoroughness of the investigation vary. There are three basic levels of security clearance: Confidential/Public Trust, Secret, and Top Secret. While the adjudicative criteria remain constant, the difference lies in the extent of the investigation. The higher you go, the deeper the investigation.
The Path to a Top Secret Clearance
First, you have to get a job that requires you to obtain a Top Secret clearance. You can’t just go out and get a security clearance on your own – a company has to sponsor you. When you go through a Top Secret security clearance investigation, it requires more interviews and confirmation of the information provided on your application, from speaking with acquaintances to former coworkers. That’s why information that’s verified through automated systems in a Secret clearance investigation is more likely to trigger an issue for a Top Secret security clearance investigation. The background investigator is going to follow-up on a variety of topics, from employment history to people who knew you in college.
Leveling up From a Secret Clearance
I get asked all the time by Secret clearance holders if it’s worth it to go for a Top Secret clearance. I always say it depends. It can lead to higher compensation and higher demand – or it could mean losing your Secret clearance if information is discovered during the Top Secret investigation that wasn’t divulged initially. If an individual has previously held a Secret security clearance and is then unable to obtain a Top Secret security clearance, it’s not because the criteria were different.
It’s important to be forthcoming about the information you provide regardless of the clearance level. Whether you’re applying for a Confidential clearance or a Top Secret security clearance, you need to complete the SF-86, cooperate with investigators in the course of the investigation, and be trustworthy — that’s the path to a Top Secret clearance job.
