What to Know About Inactive/Lapsed Security Clearance

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Airman First Class Sabrina Zarate, 88th Communication Squadron server operations system administrator, conducts a real-time test on a computer server on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Airman First Class Sabrina Zarate, 88th Communication Squadron server operations system administrator, conducts a real-time test on a computer server on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 11, 2017. (Al Bright/U.S. Air Force photo)

How long does my security clearance last when I leave the military?

  • A clearance becomes inactive once your service ends.
  • A clearance can be reactivated for up to 24 months as long as your reevaluation period hasn't passed.

Related: Search for security clearance jobs.

What can I do if my clearance has lapsed?

  • Make sure to put on your resume that you are "clearable." This lets employers know that you have had previous clearance.
  • Once you are sponsored by a company, you will have to go through the clearance process again.
  • The clearance process should not take as long as your initial clearance check, depending on how long it has been since you last held clearance.

Related: Does your resume pass the 6-second test? Get a FREE assessment.

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