[anjoe]

If a engineer that doesn't have a security clearance wanted to attend one of these job fairs in Huntsville in the future how would one do so if they didn't have a security clearance? Thanks for any information.....

[Keeper]

I am by no means an expert but my son has run into the same thing when applying for jobs up here even though he had high level security clearance when he was in the Navy. He said it takes about 2 years to get the clearance and you can't get the clearance unless you work for a company who applies for you. Now whether that is true, I don't know.
Good question though..

[zenjenn]

It doesn't take 2 years to get a clearance, but it can take quite a while, so if a company needs to hire someone to work on a clearance project right away, they need to hire someone with the appropriate security clearance. It IS true that security clearances are granted only on an "as needed" basis, so you would only have one if you previously worked for the government or a company that does government work. I think the length of time it takes to get one can vary dramatically based on the individual. When my husband got his he was young (so less background to check), with a background as clean as a whistle. I mean this is a guy who wouldn't make a 10-cent phone call on a company line if it wasn't business related, because he acknowledges it as stealing.

You can still attend a job fair even if you don't have a security clearance, but you'd just qualify for fewer positions. Some jobs simply state "must be eligible to obtain a security clearance". To be eligible, must be a US citizen, and an extremely thorough background check will be conducted. Not just a criminal check. Family members, neighbors, ex-neighbors, teachers, coworkers, etc might possibly be questioned about you and your personal character. I think certain levels can't be granted to people who are known to be volatile, impulsive, dishonest, or who keep security-risk company, etc. Depending on the level of security clearance (secret, top secret, etc.) and the department through which it is being issued (department of defense usually), there may be different qualifications - I don't know the specifics. (Some might allow a felony on your record, some might not, etc, I have no idea.) If you are a U.S. citizen and on the straight and narrow you can safely consider yourself eligible for at least the lower clearance levels, and thus eligible for jobs that require clearance eligability but not an active clearance. Entry level jobs only require you to be eligible, not have an active clearance.

[Keeper]

Do you know if security clearences expire if you no longer for that company etc.. kind of like a drivers license.. you have to renew it? Thanks

[zenjenn]

Yes, it can expire. You need to be "reinvestigated" every so often. (I think every 10 years?) If you are still in a line of work that requires the security clearance, it happens. If you're not, it will simply expire and there's nothing you can do about it.

I also vaguely recall something like, if you leave a job which requires security clearance, it can transfer for a new job/project, but you have 2 years to apply for renewal even if it has been less than 10 years. Or something. Don't quote me on that.

[VMH2507]

A woman I worked with at NASA transferred over to the Army side with one of the contractor. Being with NASA, she had no security clearance. After she got the job they applied for her security clearance and my recollection was that it took a little over 6 months. I think since 9/11 it takes longer than it used to and they also have more clearances to process since the military buildup. She said she could only sit at her desk and read unclassified material while waiting for the clearance to come through. I believe that a clearance is good for about two years after you stop working at a job that requires one. And even if it lapses it should be easier to reactivate since would only have to check from shorter time. As zenjenn said there is no restriction on having a clearance to go to the job fairs, but anyone who has an active clearance is definitely golden.