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Defence Vetting Agency - Types of Security Clearance and Checks

This page lists the types of national security clearances and employment checks undertaken by the DVA

National Security Checks

Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) is required for people who will be working in close proximity to public figures, or who will have access to information or material vulnerable to terrorist attack, or whose work involves unrestricted access to certain government or commercial establishments. A CTC does not allow access to, or knowledge or custody, of protectively marked assets and information.

Security Check (SC) is for people who will have substantial access to SECRET assets or occasional access to TOP SECRET assets and information.

Developed Vetting (DV) is the highest level of clearance produced by the Agency and is required for people who will have substantial unsupervised access to TOP SECRET assets, or for working in or with the intelligence and security agencies.

A small number of clearances are granted in spite of some reservations. Risk management requires follow-up work and monitoring of some cases. This activity is termed "aftercare", and may be required in connection with any of the above clearances.

Employment Checks

Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) (formerly Basic Check (BC)) and Enhanced Baseline Standard (EBS) (formerly Enhanced Basic Check (EBC)): These are not formal security clearances. They are a package of pre-employment checks that represent good recruitment and employment practice. A BPSS or EBS aims to provide an appropriate level of assurance as to the trustworthiness, integrity, and probable reliability of prospective employees and should be applied to:

All successful applicants for employment in the public sector and Armed Forces (both permanent and temporary).

All private sector employees working on government contracts (eg contractors and consultants), who require access to, or knowledge of, government assets protectively marked up to and including confidential.

BPSS and EBS are normally conducted by the recruitment authorities or companies themselves to the agreed standard, and because they underpin the national security vetting process it is vital that they are carried out properly and thoroughly and before any further vetting is completed.

Employment Assurance Disclosures (EA(D)): These checks are required by people from MOD, and MOD sponsored units and organisations that benefit defence, who are being considered for employment with children and vulnerable adults. The DVA acts as coordinator.