Understanding Security Clearance Forms: Supplementing The SF-85P And SF-86

When applying for a security clearance, you will need to complete one of two forms depending on the level of clearance you are required to obtain.

The SF-85P is used for Public Trust clearances and the SF-86 is used for Secret, Top Secret, and higher clearances. When completing the form itself, it is important to not only provide accurate answers to the questions and detailed explanations where necessary, but it is also important to mitigate potentially derogatory information. For example, if an applicant is reporting past drug use, it is important to not only accurately report the drug use but to also provide additional information to ensure the government that the individual is no longer using illegal substances nor intends to use illegal substances in the future.