Employees must possess a Personnel Security Clearance (PCL) if they:

• A. Might work on a classified contract
• B. Require access to classified information
• C. Are new hires for any position
• D. Work only with unclassified data

Answer: (B)

Access to classified information is the trigger for needing a Personnel Security Clearance. A PCL is granted so you can handle or review material that is classified, and it isn’t issued just because you’re on a classified project or because you’re a new hire. If your duties don’t involve accessing classified information, you don’t need a PCL. Even on a classified contract, clearance is required only if the work you do requires access to that classified material, guided by the need-to-know principle. Working solely with unclassified data clearly does not require a clearance.