News + Career Advice
Stay current on security-cleared job search tips, trends, and news.
Security Clearance Interview Length: What Makes an Appointment Run Long
How long does a security clearance interview take? There is no single appointment length for every applicant. CDSE's investigation-stage webcast explains that duration varies with the topics requiring discussion and suggests asking the investigator for an estimate when scheduling… more
How Often You Update the SF-86 Under Continuous Vetting
How often do you update the SF-86 under continuous vetting? For National Industrial Security Program contractor national security personnel, DCSA requires an updated questionnaire and releases every five years, regardless of eligibility level. The clock runs from the recorded PVQ… more
e-QIP Login Is Gone: Where Current Applicants Complete Vetting Forms
If your old e-QIP login is taking you nowhere, use your sponsor's current eApp instructions. DCSA says e-QIP has been replaced by eApp and NBIS Agency. Applicants use eApp to complete assigned vetting forms; retrieving a questionnaire from the legacy system is a separate task tha… more
SF-86 vs. SF-86C: When to Use the Change Form
The SF-86 vs. SF-86C distinction starts with status: GSA lists the SF-86C as obsolete. OPM still lists the SF-86, the Questionnaire for National Security Positions. If you need to correct or update clearance information, follow your sponsoring security office's current instructio… more
Why the SF-86 Is So Long and How to Budget Time for It
The official SF-86 PDF contains 136 pages, including instructions and release material, in its November 2016 revision. How many pages the SF-86 has does not tell you how long your application will take. Your workload depends on the histories, contacts, records, and explanations r… more