Security Clearance Jobs Blog

We are now half way into the Base Realignment and Closure rulings of 2005. Slated to be complete in 2011, thousands of jobs and a number of communities have been uprooted by the decisions. Have you been affected?

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A February 15, 2008 FCW.com article reported on the “progress” being made to reduce security clearance processing time. The article contained a link to the February 2008 Report of the Security Clearance Oversight Group (SCOG). This is the third annual report to Congress regarding compliance with Title III of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act. The report appears incomplete; however, when read together with OPM’s February 13, 2008 testimony before Congress, a relatively complete picture of the progress made during the past year emerges.

OPM reported that of initial clearance investigations received during Fiscal Year 2007, 80% were completed in an average of 67 days and 80% of initial clearances averaged 106 days end-to-end. However it also reported that all investigations for Top Secret clearances closed during FY07 averaged 222 days plus 111 days for “Processing Time. . . .” All investigations for Secret/Confidential clearances closed during FY07 averaged 157 plus 86 days for processing. The report offers no explanation for the “Processing Time.”

We really hate to be negative about this, but looking at the posts from real people on this forum definitely conflicts with OPM’s findings. As much as we’d like to believe the recent improvements, we aren’t holding our breath. Based on candidate’s comments and personal research, the average time to receive a final Secret clearance has hovered around 12-14 months for more than half a decade, with Top Secret clearances taking even longer to process.

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Our popular series of Q&A regarding security clearances continues in this thread. Before you ask your question, please navigate to view threads one through three to see if your question has already been asked and answered. Thanks

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