To check if you have a security clearance, contact a Facility Security Officer (FSO) or security manager who can look up your record in the Defense Information System for Security (DISS); if you no longer have access to a sponsoring organization, submit a Privacy Act request to the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). You cannot search the database yourself. The systems that store clearance information are restricted to authorized security professionals, and even logging in requires at least an interim Secret clearance.1Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. FAQs – DISS
Ask a Facility Security Officer or Security Office
If you currently work for a federal agency or a cleared contractor, your Facility Security Officer or security office is the fastest route. Authorized FSOs, adjudicators, and human resource managers with DISS accounts can pull your clearance level, current status, and the date of your last investigation within minutes.2Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. Defense Information System for Security DISS Account Management Policy
Have the following ready before you call or email:
- Your full legal name
- Social Security Number
- Date of birth
- Any details you remember about when and where you were originally cleared, and which agency or contractor sponsored you
That last item matters more than people expect. A security office can locate you faster if you can point them at the right sponsoring organization and rough time frame.
If You’ve Left Your Cleared Job
A clearance doesn’t disappear from the record when you leave a cleared position. It shifts to an inactive status but stays on file. You can still contact the security office of the agency or company that last sponsored you and ask them to check the record for you. Former employers are not required to help, but many will.
Recruiters who specialize in cleared positions sometimes have their own DISS access and can verify your status as part of considering you for a role. Expect them to ask for your Social Security Number, since the lookup requires it.
If You Serve in the Military or Are Enlisting
On active duty, your unit security manager handles clearance status questions. DCSA will only discuss case information with authorized contacts from your branch of service, not directly with you, and the same restriction applies to questions about whether your background investigation has been adjudicated.3Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. Check Your Status If you’re in the middle of enlisting, ask your recruiter to check on the status of a pending investigation.
File a Privacy Act Request With DCSA
When you can’t reach a former security office, or you want an official copy of your records, submit a Privacy Act request directly to DCSA. The agency holds records for all background investigations, including those transferred from OPM’s National Background Investigations Bureau in October 2019.4Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. Requesting Background Investigation Records
For clearance status and adjudication records specifically, DCSA offers DCSA Form 335. Using the form is encouraged but not required; you can also send a written request by email to dcsa.meade.dcsa.mbx.privacy-act@mail.mil.5Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. Requesting Adjudication and Vetting Records
The form asks for your full name, address, Social Security Number, date of birth, and place of birth, plus a signed declaration under penalty of perjury confirming your identity. Providing your SSN is technically voluntary, but DCSA warns that without it the agency may not be able to locate your records.6Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. Freedom of Information / Privacy Act Request for Adjudication and Vetting Records If you write your own request instead of using the form, you’ll need either a notarized signature or an unsworn declaration under 28 U.S.C. ยง 1746.7Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. Requesting My Records and Access Appeals
Be prepared to wait. Requests are processed in the order received, and response times can stretch to several weeks or longer depending on the backlog. This is not the path to take if you need a quick answer for a job offer. For time-sensitive situations, an FSO inquiry through DISS is far faster.
What Your Status Will Say
Once someone pulls your record, your clearance will fall into one of several categories. The label determines whether you can move straight into a cleared job, need reactivation, or face a fresh investigation.
Active
You currently hold eligibility and are accessing classified information through a sponsoring organization. You can move into a new cleared role without waiting for a new investigation.
Current (Inactive)
Your eligibility was granted and the underlying investigation is still within its validity period, but no organization is currently sponsoring your access. A new employer can typically reactivate a current clearance without launching a full new investigation, as long as the break hasn’t exceeded 24 months.
Interim
An interim clearance is a temporary grant of access based on the completion of minimum investigative checks while your full investigation continues. It lets you start working on classified material sooner, but with restrictions: an interim Secret clearance, for example, doesn’t authorize access to special categories like communications security (COMSEC) or NATO information. Interim clearances can be withdrawn at any time if unfavorable information surfaces, and there is no appeal process for a withdrawn interim clearance.
Expired
If your clearance has been inactive for more than 24 months, reactivation is off the table. You’ll need a new sponsoring organization to initiate a fresh investigation, meaning the entire vetting process starts over.
Revoked or Suspended
A revoked clearance means the government has withdrawn your eligibility based on concerns about your suitability. A suspended clearance is a temporary hold while those concerns are investigated. Either status will block you from cleared work.
Why the 24-Month Mark Matters When You Check
The two-year threshold is the reason it’s worth checking your status sooner rather than later. If a new employer wants to bring you on within 24 months of your last sponsored position, your clearance can generally be reactivated without a full reinvestigation. The gaining organization’s security office submits a request through DISS and the process moves relatively quickly.
After 24 months of inactivity, reinstatement requires a new investigation. People often assume their old Top Secret clearance from five years ago will carry over, and are surprised when the hiring process takes months instead of weeks. The clock starts the day you leave your last sponsored position, so if you’re considering a return to cleared work, checking your status early tells you whether you’re still inside the reactivation window or already outside it.