FEDERAL SECURITY/SUITABILITY CLEARANCE CHART
This chart identifies sensitivity levels applied to all federal jobs and most federal contractor jobs. It shows the related application forms, investigations, security/suitability
clearance determinations, and reinvestigations. Some jobs are designated as both Public Trust and National Security positions. When this occurs the Public Trust
consideration for the job will demand a more thorough security investigation than is required for National Security Clearance at the Confidential or Secret levels.
SENSITIVITY CATEGORY APPLICATION TYPE OF INITIAL SECURITY/SUITABILITY REINVESTIGATION
LEVEL
1
FORM INVESTIGATION CLEARANCE DETERMINATION
Level 1 Non-Sensitive SF85 None or NACI
2
None, HSPD-12 PIV Card None
Level 2 National Security SF86 NACLC or ANACI
3
Confidential, Secret or DOE “L” NACLC every 5 yrs
4
Non-Critical Sensitive
Level 3 National Security SF86 SSBI Top Secret SSBI-PR every 5 yrs
Critical Sensitive
Level 4 National Security SF86 SSBI
5
Top Secret w/SCI eligibility or DOE “Q” SSBI-PR or PPR
6
every 5 yrs
Special Sensitive
Level 5 Public Trust (PT)
7
SF85P
8
MBI Moderate Risk NACLC
9
Level 5 National Security & PT SF86 MBI Secret & Moderate Risk NACLC every 5 years
Level 6 Public Trust SF85P BI High Risk PRI every 5 years
Level 6 Public Trust SF85P-S BI High Risk involving designated duties
10
PRI every 5 years
Level 6 National Security & PT SF86 BI Secret & High Risk PRI every 5 years
Footnotes:
1. Degree of sensitivity is not related to the numerical values of Sensitivity Levels (i.e. Sensitivity Level 4 is more sensitive than Sensitivity Level 6 and Level 2.
2. NACI is the minimum investigation required for federal employment. If a “Personal Identity Verification” Card is required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12, a
minimum an NACI is required for contractor non-sensitive positions.
3. ANACI investigation is a combination of an NACI and NACLC and is only used for federal employment applicants.
4. Intervals for Periodic Reinvestigations for these clearances were previously 10 or 15 years. The change to 5-year intervals will be implemented in 2012.
5. Some Sensitivity Level 4 positions require a polygraph examination.
6. PPR (Phased Periodic Reinvestigation) may be requested as in lieu of an SSBI-PR, when no security/suitability issues are listed on the applicant’s SF86.
7. Regulations require certain federal “competitive service” jobs be designate as Public Trust positions. OPM recommends that equivalent federal excepted service and
contractor positions be similarly designated and subject to appropriate investigations. Most federal agencies follow OPM’s recommendation.
8. People granted Public Trust positions based on an SF85P or SF85P-S are not eligible for Confidential or Secret clearanced regardless of the investigation conducted.
Agencies may grant security clearances in these case following the submission and favorable review of an SF86.
9. Reinvestigations for all PT positions became a requirement on December 9, 2011.
10. Designated duties generally involve public safety and fiduciary responsibilities.
DESCRIPTON OF INVESTIGATIONS
NAC (National Agency Check)—A review of the records of the FBI-HQ (name check), FBI-ID (fingerprint check), SII (OPM’s Security and Investigations Index), & DCII (Defense
Clearance and Investigative Index), and records of other federal agencies, as appropriate, plus an Interpol records checks on all non-military personnel who resided outside the
U.S. for six months or more within the past five to ten years (depending on the type of investigation) or when there is information indicating they may have engaged in criminal activ-
ity overseas.
NACI (National Agency Check and Inquiries)—NAC plus written inquiries to current and past employers, schools, references, and local law enforcement agencies covering the
past five years and if applicable, of the appropriate agency for any identified arrests. All DoD NACIs include a credit search.
CREDIT SEARCH—Verification of Subject’s financial status through a search of all three major credit bureaus covering all locations where the subject has resided, been employed,
or attended school for six months or more for the past seven years.
NACLC (National Agency Check with Local Agency Check and Credit)—NAC plus credit search and checks at local law enforcement agencies where the subject has lived,
worked, and/or attended school within the last 5 years, and if applicable, of the appropriate agency for any identified arrests.
ANACI (Access National Agency Check and Inquiries)—NACLC plus written inquires to current and past employers, schools, and references covering past 5 years.
MBI (Moderate Risk Background Investigation)—NACLC plus a Personal Subject Interview (PRSI) and written inquires to employers, schools, and references for past 5 years.
BI (Background Investigation)—NACLC plus a PRSI; interviews at employment, schools, and residences for the past 5 years; and review of any court actions for past 5 years.
PRI (Periodic Reinvestigation)—NACLC plus PRSI and written inquiries to references.
SSBI (Single Scope Background Investigation)—NAC plus credit search; PRSI; NAC on spouse or cohabitant; interviews at employment for past 7 years; interviews at schools
and residences covering the past three years; review of any court actions covering the past 10 years; interview of any former spouse divorced within the past 10 years, interview of
4 social references who collectively cover at least the past 7 years; checks at local law enforcement agencies where the subject lived, worked, and/or attended school within the last
10 years, and if applicable, of the appropriate agency for any identified arrests; verification of citizenship or legal status of all foreign-born immediate family members and cohabit-
ant.
SSBI-PR (SSBI Period Reinvestigation)—NACLC plus PRSI; NAC on new spouse or cohabitant; employment and reference interviews covering past 5 years; interview of neigh-
bors at current residence; review of any court actions covering the past 5 years; and a check of the Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) da-
tabase.
PPR (Phased Period Reinvestigation)—NACLC plus PRSI; NAC on new spouse or cohabitant; employment interviews covering past five years; review of any court actions cover-
ing the past five years; and a check of the Department of Treasury’s Financial Data Base.
