A recent question on the ClearanceJobs Blog forum asked why some employers won’t sponsor a polygraph, even when a candidate already holds a TS/SCI clearance but the job requires TS/SCI plus polygraph.
Let’s unpack what’s going on; straight from the community conversation.
ElHombre writes:
“I’m speaking about if someone already has a TS/SCI. But the company requires TS/SCI + Poly, why wouldn’t they just sponsor for the poly portion?
I know that jobs that require clearances often don’t sponsor because they don’t want to go 1-2 years without being able to bill the government for that position. But I know a company that has noting but TS/SCI+FSP positions and they won’t put you in for a poly even if you already have a TS SCI.”
The question points out out something many cleared professionals encounter: polygraph requirements for positions and the difficulty in being sponsored for a polygraph as a federal contractor. So why won’t employers just send you to get the poly?
Marko Hakamaa’s (blog moderator) response cuts right to the root of this issue:
“The company cannot sponsor for a poly because it is not a background investigation and it is a requirement coming from the agency that the company is doing work for. The company can request the agency to schedule a polygraph, but ultimately it is up to the agency as to whether they want to take the time to do that or have the company find someone who already has one, which may be a contract requirement for positions.”
In plain terms:
- A polygraph is an agency-controlled requirement, not something the contractor itself initiates.
- Employers can ask the government to schedule a polygraph, but they don’t control whether or when the agency makes that schedule.
- Some contracts explicitly require candidates to already have the polygraph completed before starting work making it a firm condition of employment rather than just a step in the onboarding process.
These are key distinctions that aren’t always obvious when you’re reading job requirements or talking with a recruiter.
So, your employer can request the government to put you on their schedule for a polygraph, but they can’t force the government to do it at all.
Much about the clearance process resembles the Pirate’s Code: “more what you’d call guidelines than actual rules.” For this reason, we maintain ClearanceJobsBlog.com – a forum where clearance seekers can ask the cleared community for advice on their specific security concerns. Ask CJ explores questions posed on the ClearanceJobs Blog forum, emails received, and comments from this site. This article is intended as general information only and should not be construed as legal advice. Consult an attorney regarding your specific situation.
