# Tier 4 PT vs Tier 5 PT

**URL:** https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/tier-4-pt-vs-tier-5-pt/8660
**Category:** SECURITY CLEARANCE Q&A
**Created:** [October 10, 2019, 5:47pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/tier-4-pt-vs-tier-5-pt/8660 "2019-10-10T17:47:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Lugi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Lugi](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/Lugi)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2019, 5:47pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/tier-4-pt-vs-tier-5-pt/8660/1 "2019-10-10T17:47:43Z")

</div>

Both being PT…is the difference minor or extensive?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![northstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@northstar](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/northstar)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/tier-4-pt-vs-tier-5-pt/8660/2 "2019-10-10T19:17:37Z")

</div>

Tier 5 is not Public Trust.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![HARPOON](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4da419/32.png) [@HARPOON](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/HARPOON)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2019, 2:07am UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/tier-4-pt-vs-tier-5-pt/8660/3 "2019-10-11T02:07:30Z")

</div>

Tier 4 is public trust. Applicants under this tier will initiate their security vetting using SF85P (or SF85P-S if carrying a weapon).

Tier 5 is national security. SF86 gets used under this tier.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![backgdinvestigator](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/backgdinvestigator/32/209_2.png) [@backgdinvestigator](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/backgdinvestigator)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/tier-4-pt-vs-tier-5-pt/8660/5 "2019-10-13T21:08:48Z")

</div>

Tier 5 investigations require the national security questionnaire (SF 86).

The Tier 5 is a type of investigation.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Lugi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Lugi](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/Lugi)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2019, 2:12am UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/tier-4-pt-vs-tier-5-pt/8660/6 "2019-10-14T02:12:33Z")

</div>

So are all tier 5 top secret clearances?  
Because cbp officers go through a tier 5 but don’t hold a clearance.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![backgdinvestigator](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/backgdinvestigator/32/209_2.png) [@backgdinvestigator](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/backgdinvestigator)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2019, 2:13pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/tier-4-pt-vs-tier-5-pt/8660/7 "2019-10-14T14:13:11Z")

</div>

No, not all Tier 5 investigations grant a TS.

All TS clearances require a Tier 5 investigation. Critical and sensitive positions might require a Tier 5 investigation, but not need to grant a TS clearance.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![JamFed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e99b99/32.png) [@JamFed](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/JamFed)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2019, 2:09pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/tier-4-pt-vs-tier-5-pt/8660/8 "2019-11-13T14:09:34Z")

</div>

So, if you go through a Tier 5 investigation that we all know, that is not PT.  
What clearance level is it?  
Secret or Top secret?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Skybox](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/skybox/32/496_2.png) [@Skybox](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/Skybox)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2019, 2:11pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/tier-4-pt-vs-tier-5-pt/8660/9 "2019-11-13T14:11:48Z")

</div>

T5 is TS, T3 is Secret.