There is still a lot of confusion out there about what type of investigation is needed for a particular position and whether it results in a security clearance. Do you know if the job you applied for is low risk with no clearance, public trust with no clearance, or a national security position? Amazingly enough, many applicants don’t know the answer to this question. To be fair, many job announcements are not exactly clear about what the sensitivity of the position, only that you have to pass a background investigation. Now that the National Background Investigation Bureau is in full swing and all of the transition periods to the new tiered system are complete, I thought I would simplify it using correct terminology so that applicants who are required to undergo background investigation know what exactly is required and can ask the right questions.
Click here for a table that shows position designation, the corresponding type of investigation needed, the reinvestigation type, and type of form used.