Security clearance guide
How to get a security clearance for a job
You cannot request or buy a U.S. personnel security clearance for yourself. A government agency or authorized employer must first identify a position that requires access and initiate the vetting process for the person selected or being considered.
Reviewed July 12, 2026. Process references come from DCSA and USAJOBS; current job counts update from direct employer sources.
The short answer
Start by finding a role whose posting says the clearance is obtainable, can be obtained, or is required within a stated period—not one that unambiguously requires an active clearance on day one. Apply through the employer. If the employer selects you and the role requires classified access, its security organization or the hiring agency decides whether and when to initiate the government process.
See current obtainable-clearance jobsHow the process starts
A position requires access
The agency or authorized organization determines that the duties require a particular level of access. The applicant does not choose the level.
The employer or agency considers a candidate
The job announcement should distinguish an active-clearance requirement from a requirement that may be satisfied after selection or hiring.
An authorized security office initiates vetting
When appropriate, the agency, Facility Security Officer, or other authorized security professional begins the background-investigation request.
The applicant completes the requested forms
The applicant receives instructions for the federal vetting system and provides the requested questionnaire, releases, fingerprints, and follow-up information accurately and on time.
Investigation and adjudication occur
Investigators gather relevant records and information. The responsible adjudication authority—not the employer's recruiter and not a job board—makes the eligibility determination.
Ongoing responsibilities continue
An eligibility decision is not the end of vetting. Cleared people remain subject to reporting duties and continuous vetting while access or eligibility remains active.
What “clearance sponsorship” means in a job search
Job seekers often call employer initiation “sponsorship.” The practical signal is the employer's own wording: “ability to obtain,” “must obtain,” “obtainable,” or a similar statement tied to the position. That wording may indicate the employer will consider someone who does not already hold the final clearance.
It is not a guarantee of an interview, offer, investigation, interim decision, final eligibility, start date, or continued access. Cleared Colorado labels a role “may be obtainable” only when the direct employer posting states that timing explicitly.
Active required
May be obtainable
Current Colorado entry paths
The inventory below contains 518 current direct-employer listings that explicitly describe the required clearance as obtainable. This is a current-site count, not an estimate of every sponsoring employer or opening in Colorado.
Employers with current paths
Colorado workplaces
Recently found openings
$79,365 - $134,921
$79,365 - $134,921
$79,365 - $134,921
$177,000 - $265,600
Common questions
Can I apply for a clearance on my own?
No. An authorized government agency or organization initiates personnel vetting when a position requires it.
Is every federal background check a security clearance?
No. USAJOBS explains that all federal jobs require a background check, while only some positions require the additional screening associated with a security clearance.
Does “ability to obtain” guarantee sponsorship?
No. It signals possible timing, not a promise. The employer still controls hiring and initiation, and the government controls interim and final eligibility decisions.
How long will it take?
There is no reliable universal timeline for an individual case. Timing varies with the position, investigation, submitted information, follow-up needs, agency, and adjudication.
Should I send clearance documents to a job board?
No. Follow instructions only from the employer, agency, or authorized federal vetting system. Cleared Colorado never asks for clearance proof, an SF-86, fingerprints, or application documents.
Watch for the right wording
Save a Colorado job search and receive an accountless alert when a newly eligible direct-employer listing matches.