The Department of Defense (DoD) clearance is a credential that grants individuals access to classified information. It is a national security requirement for individuals who work with or have access to sensitive information. DoD clearance is granted through a rigorous background investigation and process that includes a review of an individual’s personal history, education, employment, and financial history.
There are three main types of DoD clearances: confidential, secret, and top secret. The level of clearance an individual receives is based on the sensitivity of the information they will be working with. Confidential clearance is the lowest level of clearance and grants access to information that is not considered to be a threat to national security. Secret clearance is the next level of clearance and grants access to information that is considered to be a threat to national security if it were to be released to the public. Top secret clearance is the highest level of clearance and grants access to information that is considered to be a grave threat to national security if it were to be released to the public.