How to List Security Clearance on a Resume: Complete Guide for Cleared Professionals

Holding a security clearance is one of the most valuable credentials in today’s job market, opening doors to positions in defense, intelligence, government contracting, and numerous private sector opportunities. However, many cleared professionals struggle with how to properly present their clearance on a resume—a seemingly simple task that carries significant implications for both job prospects and security considerations.

Understanding how to list your security clearance correctly can mean the difference between getting noticed by recruiters searching for cleared candidates and having your resume overlooked. It can also affect your compliance with security protocols and your professional reputation within the cleared community.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about listing security clearance on your resume, from understanding different clearance types to formatting best practices and avoiding common mistakes that could compromise your candidacy or your clearance itself.

Understanding Security Clearance Types and Levels

Before discussing how to list clearance on your resume, it’s essential to understand the different types and levels of security clearances and what they represent to potential employers.

Primary Clearance Levels

Confidential Clearance is the lowest level of security clearance, granting access to information that could cause damage to national security if disclosed without authorization. This clearance is typically required for positions involving basic sensitive information and is reinvestigated every 15 years. While less prestigious than higher clearances, a Confidential clearance still demonstrates trustworthiness and can qualify you for many government and contractor positions.

Secret Clearance is the most common clearance level, granting access to information that could cause serious damage to national security if improperly disclosed. Secret clearances require reinvestigation every 10 years and are necessary for a wide range of positions across defense, intelligence, and government contracting sectors. Many technical and professional positions in the defense industry require at minimum a Secret clearance.

Top Secret Clearance grants access to information that could cause exceptionally grave damage to national security if disclosed without authorization. This clearance requires a more extensive background investigation, including detailed financial analysis, interviews with associates and references, and sometimes polygraph examinations. Top Secret clearances are reinvestigated every 5 years and are required for the most sensitive positions in government and defense.

Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) provides access to intelligence information that is compartmentalized beyond standard Top Secret classification. SCI access is granted in addition to a Top Secret clearance and allows access to specific intelligence sources and methods. This designation is highly sought after, particularly in the intelligence community and among defense contractors working on classified intelligence programs.

Special Access Programs (SAP)

Beyond standard clearance levels, Special Access Programs require additional vetting for access to specific programs or projects. SAP access is separately compartmentalized and requires “need to know” beyond basic clearance eligibility. While you generally shouldn’t specify SAP access on public resumes, you can indicate that you hold special program accesses without naming specific programs.

Department-Specific Clearances

Different government agencies grant clearances through their own processes:

Department of Defense (DoD) clearances are the most transferable and widely recognized. DoD clearances are adjudicated by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA, formerly NBIB) and are accepted across most federal agencies.

Department of Energy (DOE) clearances follow a slightly different system, with Q clearances (equivalent to Top Secret) and L clearances (equivalent to Secret). DOE clearances are required for positions at national laboratories, nuclear facilities, and related contractors.

Intelligence Community (IC) clearances are processed through individual agencies (CIA, NSA, FBI, etc.) and may include additional requirements such as lifestyle polygraphs. IC clearances for one agency don’t automatically transfer to others, though the investigation may be shared.

Understanding which type of clearance you hold and its proper designation is crucial for accurately representing your credentials to potential employers.

Where to Place Security Clearance on Your Resume

The placement of your security clearance information depends on your circumstances, the job you’re applying for, and how prominently you want to feature this credential.

Header or Contact Section Placement

For positions where clearance is a primary requirement, placing your clearance level in or near your header ensures immediate visibility. This approach is particularly effective when applying through job boards or to positions where recruiters filter specifically for cleared candidates.

Example format:

JOHN SMITH
Senior Systems Engineer | Top Secret/SCI Clearance
[email protected] | (555) 123-4567 | Washington, DC

This placement works best when:

• The job explicitly requires clearance as a qualification
• You’re applying through cleared job boards or defense industry recruiters
• Your clearance is a distinguishing factor among candidates

Dedicated Security Clearance Section

Creating a separate section for security clearance information provides space to include relevant details while maintaining clear organization. This approach is common among cleared professionals and is expected in government and defense industry resumes.

Example format:

SECURITY CLEARANCE
Top Secret/SCI
Issued: January 2021
Adjudicating Agency: Department of Defense
Current and Active

Place this section near the top of your resume (after your summary or objective) for positions requiring clearance, or later in your resume when clearance is a secondary consideration.

Skills or Qualifications Section

If you’re including clearance alongside other qualifications, you can list it within a broader skills or qualifications section. This approach integrates clearance naturally with other credentials.

Example format:

QUALIFICATIONS
• Active Top Secret Clearance (DoD)
• PMP Certified Project Manager
• CISSP Certified Information Systems Security Professional
• 10+ years defense contractor experience

Within Work Experience

When your clearance is associated with specific roles, mentioning it within your work experience can provide context and demonstrate a history of working in classified environments.

Example format:

SENIOR ANALYST | ABC Defense Systems | 2019-Present
Maintained Top Secret/SCI clearance throughout tenure, providing classified intelligence analysis supporting military operations...

What Information to Include

Knowing what details to include—and what to omit—is crucial for both effectiveness and security compliance.

Essential Information to Include

Clearance Level: Always specify your exact clearance level (Confidential, Secret, Top Secret) and any additional designations (SCI, SAP access without naming programs).

Status: Indicate whether your clearance is current/active, current but inactive, or expired. This distinction matters significantly to employers:

• Active: You currently hold the clearance and have access to classified information through a sponsoring organization.
• Current but Inactive: Your investigation is current, but you’re not currently sponsored for access. This is common between jobs and still valuable to employers.
• Expired: Your investigation is no longer current. Indicate when it expired and note your reinvestigation eligibility if relevant.

Adjudicating Agency: Specify whether your clearance was granted by DoD, DOE, or another agency, as this affects portability and what positions you qualify for.

Investigation Date or Year: Including when your clearance was granted or last reinvestigated helps employers understand the currency of your investigation. For recently renewed clearances, this demonstrates you’ve passed recent scrutiny.

Optional Information

Polygraph Status: If you’ve successfully completed a polygraph examination (CI Poly, Full-Scope/Lifestyle Poly), you may include this information, particularly for positions that require polygraph. Format: “CI Polygraph Completed” or “Full-Scope Polygraph.”

Special Accesses: You can indicate that you hold special program accesses without naming specific programs: “Current Special Access Program (SAP) eligibility” or “Previously held multiple SAP accesses.”

Continuous Evaluation Enrollment: If you’re enrolled in Continuous Evaluation (CE), you may note this as it indicates ongoing monitoring and current compliance.

Information to Avoid

Never include:

• Specific program names, code words, or nicknames
• Detailed information about your investigation or interviews
• Names of your security officer or investigating agency contacts
• Specific facilities where you hold access
• Details about the nature of classified work you’ve performed
• Investigation completion dates if they reveal sensitive information

Always err on the side of discretion. When in doubt, consult your security officer before including specific information on your resume.

Formatting Security Clearance Information

Proper formatting ensures your clearance information is easy to find and immediately understandable to recruiters and hiring managers who review hundreds of resumes for cleared positions.

Standard Format Examples

Basic format:

Security Clearance: Active Top Secret (DoD)

Detailed format:

SECURITY CLEARANCE
Clearance Level: Top Secret/SCI
Status: Current and Active
Agency: Department of Defense
Last Reinvestigation: 2023
CI Polygraph: Completed

Inline format (within summary or qualifications):

Results-driven intelligence analyst with active TS/SCI clearance and 8+ years of experience supporting national security missions...

Best Practices for Formatting

Be consistent with formatting throughout your resume. If you use abbreviations (TS/SCI), use them consistently after first spelling out the full term.

Use standard terminology that cleared professionals and cleared recruiters recognize. Avoid creative descriptions or unusual phrasing that might confuse automated systems or recruiters.

Keep it concise while including essential information. Security clearance sections should be scannable within seconds.

Highlight currency when your clearance is recent or active. Active clearances are significantly more valuable than lapsed investigations.

When preparing your professional materials, platforms like 0portfolio.com can help you create polished portfolios that complement your resume while maintaining appropriate discretion about sensitive information.

Addressing Different Clearance Scenarios

Various clearance situations require different approaches to resume presentation.

Active Clearance with Current Sponsor

If you currently hold an active clearance sponsored by your employer, your presentation is straightforward:

SECURITY CLEARANCE
Top Secret/SCI - Current and Active
Sponsoring Organization: [Company Name]
Last Reinvestigation: 2022

When job searching while employed, be thoughtful about how you present sponsor information if you’re concerned about your current employer learning of your search.

Current Investigation, No Active Sponsor

If your investigation is current but you’re between jobs or your previous employer is no longer sponsoring your access:

SECURITY CLEARANCE
Top Secret/SCI - Investigation Current, Not Currently Sponsored
Investigation Closing Date: January 2023
Ready for immediate sponsorship

Emphasize that your investigation is current and you’re ready for immediate sponsorship, which is valuable because it eliminates the time and cost of a new investigation.

Clearance in Inactive Status

If your clearance is inactive but within the reinvestigation period:

SECURITY CLEARANCE
Top Secret (Previously held, investigation current through 2025)
Available for reinstatement with sponsorship

Lapsed or Expired Clearance

If your clearance has lapsed beyond the reinvestigation period:

Previous Security Clearance: Top Secret/SCI (2015-2020)
Successfully maintained clearance throughout tenure with [Employer]
Eligible for reinvestigation

For older clearances, the value is demonstrating that you previously held clearance and passed investigation, which may expedite a new clearance process.

Clearance Pending

If you’re currently undergoing investigation:

Security Clearance: Top Secret (In Process)
Investigation initiated: March 2024
Interim Secret granted: April 2024

Indicate interim clearances if granted, as these allow you to begin work in many cleared positions while final adjudication is pending.

Multiple Clearances

If you hold clearances from multiple agencies:

SECURITY CLEARANCE
Department of Defense: Top Secret/SCI - Active
Department of Energy: Q Clearance - Current
Previously held: CIA access (2018-2022)

Tailoring for Different Application Scenarios

Different job opportunities and application methods require adjusted approaches to presenting clearance information.

Government Job Applications (USAJobs)

When applying for federal positions through USAJobs, follow the format specified in job announcements. Many federal positions require you to indicate clearance in specific fields within the application system, separate from your uploaded resume.

In your resume, include clearance information prominently but recognize that application system fields may be the primary way clearance is evaluated. Ensure consistency between your resume and application entries.

Defense Contractor Applications

Defense contractors often use applicant tracking systems that scan for clearance levels. Include your clearance in:

• Your header or summary
• A dedicated clearance section
• Keywords throughout relevant experience

Use common abbreviations (TS, SCI, SAP) alongside full terms to ensure keyword matches.

Cleared Job Boards

Platforms like ClearanceJobs, Cleared Connections, and intelligence community job sites are designed for cleared professionals. On these platforms:

• Feature clearance prominently
• Be specific about clearance level and status
• Update clearance information regularly
• Use profile fields to specify clearance details

General Job Applications

For positions outside the cleared community or when you’re considering transition to uncleared work:

• Include clearance as a credential demonstrating trustworthiness
• Emphasize transferable aspects (passed extensive background check, eligible for sensitive positions)
• Don’t over-emphasize if clearance isn’t relevant to the position

Networking and Professional Profiles

On LinkedIn and professional networking platforms:

• Include clearance in your headline if targeting cleared positions
• Be careful about what you share publicly vs. through direct messages
• Consider privacy settings when including clearance information

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Protect your candidacy and your clearance by avoiding these common errors.

Oversharing Classified Information

Never include:

• Classified project names or details
• Specific intelligence methods or sources
• Details about classified technologies
• Information that could identify classified programs

Even seemingly innocent details can constitute unauthorized disclosure when combined with other public information.

Misrepresenting Clearance Status

Always be truthful about:

• Your exact clearance level
• Whether your clearance is active, current, or expired
• Any issues or investigations affecting your clearance

Misrepresentation will be discovered during security processing and will likely result in clearance denial and disqualification from the position.

Using Outdated or Incorrect Terminology

Stay current with clearance terminology. For example:

• DISCO is now DCSA
• NBIB has been incorporated into DCSA
• Some clearance levels and processes have been updated

Using outdated terminology suggests your knowledge or clearance may also be outdated.

Ignoring Security Guidelines

Follow your organization’s security guidelines for resume content. When in doubt, consult your security officer before including specific information. Some organizations have policies about how cleared employees should represent their clearance on public documents.

Formatting Errors That Obscure Clearance

Don’t bury clearance information where it might be missed:

• Avoid placing it only in the middle of lengthy paragraphs
• Ensure it’s visible if your resume is scanned quickly
• Use consistent formatting that matches other sections

Including Irrelevant Investigation Details

Don’t include:

• Names of investigators or interviews
• Details about the investigation process
• Specific questions you were asked
• Information about other people involved in your investigation

Maintaining and Updating Your Clearance Information

Keep your resume current as your clearance status evolves.

After Reinvestigation

Update your resume after completing reinvestigation to reflect:

• New investigation completion date
• Any changes in clearance level or access
• Updated agency information if applicable

Upon Status Changes

Update immediately when:

• Your clearance becomes inactive
• You change sponsoring organizations
• Your clearance level changes
• You complete additional access (polygraph, SAP, etc.)

Documenting Clearance History

Maintain records of your clearance history for accurate resume updates:

• Investigation completion dates
• Adjudication dates
• Sponsoring organizations
• Any interim clearances granted

This documentation helps ensure accuracy and supports future applications.

Clearance and Career Strategy

Your security clearance is a valuable career asset that requires strategic management.

Maximizing Clearance Value

Clearances represent significant investment in investigation and adjudication. Maximize this value by:

• Maintaining continuous sponsorship when possible
• Considering cleared positions before clearance lapses
• Building skills that complement clearance for high-demand roles

Transitioning Between Cleared and Uncleared Work

If considering transition to uncleared positions:

• Understand that clearance may lapse without active sponsorship
• Consider whether you might want to return to cleared work
• Recognize the transferable value of having held clearance

Building a Cleared Career

For long-term careers in cleared environments:

• Pursue additional certifications valued in cleared positions
• Build networks within the cleared community
• Consider positions that offer clearance upgrades or special accesses
• Maintain behaviors that support continuous clearance eligibility

Special Considerations for Specific Fields

Different career fields have specific considerations for presenting clearance.

Intelligence Community

IC positions often require specific agency clearances beyond DoD adjudication. Present clearance carefully:

• Indicate IC experience without revealing classified details
• Note polygraph completion if relevant
• Emphasize relevant access without naming programs

Cybersecurity

Cleared cybersecurity roles combine technical certifications with clearance requirements. Present both credentials prominently:

QUALIFICATIONS
• Active Top Secret/SCI Clearance (DoD)
• CISSP, CEH, Security+
• 10+ years securing classified networks

Engineering and Technical Roles

Technical cleared positions often involve SAP work. Indicate:

• Clearance and SAP eligibility
• Technical qualifications and certifications
• Experience with classified programs (without details)

Executive and Management

Senior cleared roles may require comprehensive clearance histories:

• List all current and recent clearances
• Indicate experience managing cleared programs
• Note Facility Security Officer (FSO) experience if applicable

Conclusion

Listing security clearance on your resume is both an art and a responsibility. Your clearance represents significant trust placed in you by the government and your employers, and your resume presentation should reflect that trust through accuracy, appropriate discretion, and professional formatting.

By understanding clearance types, choosing appropriate placement, including essential information while omitting sensitive details, and tailoring your presentation to different opportunities, you position yourself effectively for cleared positions while maintaining security compliance.

Remember that your clearance is a valuable credential that distinguishes you in the job market. Present it prominently for positions requiring clearance, maintain accurate and current information, and always err on the side of discretion when uncertain about what to include.

Regular review and updates ensure your clearance presentation remains current and effective throughout your career. Whether you’re actively seeking cleared positions or maintaining readiness for future opportunities, proper clearance presentation on your resume supports your professional success in the cleared community.