Maintaining Your Clearance

Your security clearance is a valuable professional asset. Maintaining it requires ongoing diligence and awareness of the obligations that come with holding classified access.

Active vs. Inactive Status Active Clearance

Your clearance is active when you are currently employed in a position that requires it and you have a sponsoring organization.

Inactive Clearance

When you leave a position that required your clearance, it becomes inactive. An inactive clearance can typically be reactivated within two years without a full reinvestigation, making you attractive to employers who need cleared personnel quickly.

Expired Clearance

After two years of inactive status, your clearance may expire and require a new investigation to reinstate.

Continuous Vetting (CV)

The government has transitioned from periodic reinvestigations to Continuous Vetting, an ongoing process that monitors cleared personnel through automated record checks. This means:

• Your financial records, criminal history, and other public data are checked on an ongoing basis
• Reportable events are flagged automatically
• Periodic reinvestigations may still occur, but CV supplements them

What You Should Do Report Foreign Travel

Promptly report any foreign travel through your security office. This includes personal vacations, not just business travel.

Maintain Financial Discipline

Financial issues are one of the leading causes of clearance revocation. Avoid:

• Large unexplained debts
• Gambling problems
• Bankruptcy (though it does not automatically disqualify you)

Report Life Changes

Notify your security office of significant life events:

• Marriage or divorce (especially involving foreign nationals)
• Changes in cohabitation status
• Arrests or legal issues
• Contact with foreign nationals

Keep Certifications Current

For DoD 8140/8570 compliance, ensure your baseline certifications (e.g., Security+, CISSP) remain current.

Common Disqualifiers

While each case is evaluated individually, common concerns include:

• Undisclosed foreign contacts or relationships
• Drug use (especially recent)
• Significant financial problems
• Criminal history
• Falsification of information on the SF-86

If You Face Challenges

If you receive a Statement of Reasons (SOR) questioning your clearance eligibility, you have the right to respond and appeal. Consider consulting a security clearance attorney for guidance.

Tips

• Treat your clearance as a professional asset. The "clearance premium" in salary can be significant.
• Keep your investigation dates and clearance details accurate on your Cleared Talent Connect profile.
• Even if between jobs, monitor the two-year inactivity window. Finding a new cleared position before expiration saves significant time.
• TS/SCI and Polygraph holders are in high demand. Your clearance is often as valuable as your technical skills.