Types of Security Clearances

Types of Security Clearances​

First signed into law in 2009, Executive Order 13526 joined other executive orders that changed how the U.S. government handles classified information. This order established a uniform classification system for sensitive information. It also provided a process for declassifying data.

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The U.S. government recognizes three levels of security clearance: confidential, secret, and top secret. Using a federally mandated rubric, government officials classify documents in one of those levels. Candidates can receive clearance for information up to the level for which they qualify.

Security clearances can be issued by many United States of America government agencies, including the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of State (DOS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Energy (DoE), the Department of Justice (DoJ), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). DoD issues more than 80% of all clearances. There are three levels of DoD security clearances:

1. TOP SECRET – Information of which the unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security.
2. SECRET – Information of which the unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause serious damage to the national security.
3. CONFIDENTIAL – Information of which the unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause damage to the national security.
4. Unacknowledged Special Access Program (USAP): USAP & "Waived USAP" – Made known only to authorized persons, including members of the appropriate committees of the US Congress. Waived USAP is a subset of USAP.
5. Alternative or Compensatory Control Measures (ACCM) – Security measures used to safeguard classified intelligence or operations and support information when normal measures are insufficient to achieve strict need-to-know controls and where SAP controls are not required.

Additionally, the United States Department of Energy issues two levels of security clearances:

1. Q Clearance – Allows access to Classified information up to and including TOP SECRET data with the special designation: Restricted Data (TS//RD) and special Q-Cleared "security" areas.
2. L Clearance – Allows access to Classified information up to and including SECRET data with the special designation: Formerly Restricted Data (S//FRD) and special L-Cleared "limited" areas.

List of U.S. security clearance terms - Wikipedia

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