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Contractor guide
Many UK contract roles in defence, government and policing ask for active SC or DV clearance, or eligibility for it. Here is what each level means, who sponsors it and how it affects your next contract.
| Level | What it is | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) | Pre employment checks of identity, right to work, employment history and unspent criminal records. Not a formal clearance, but the base of all of them | Most government and many supplier roles |
| CTC (Counter Terrorist Check) | Checks for roles close to public figures or sites at risk from terrorism | Some government, police and infrastructure roles |
| SC (Security Check) | For substantial access to SECRET assets and occasional access to TOP SECRET | Defence, central government, many public sector IT programmes |
| DV (Developed Vetting) | The highest level, for frequent and uncontrolled access to TOP SECRET assets, with an interview and in depth checks | Defence, intelligence and national security work |
| NPPV (Non Police Personnel Vetting) | Police vetting for people who are not police officers, at levels 1 to 3 | Police forces and their suppliers |
Defence, central government, policing and the companies that supply them hire many contractors through recruitment agencies. A large share of those roles need SC, DV or NPPV clearance, or at least BPSS, before you can start. Recruiters put the requirement in the first line of their posts because an active clearance lets you start much sooner.
You cannot hold a clearance on your own. A government department, a police force or a supplier working on a government contract sponsors it for a specific role. Most national security vetting is carried out by UK Security Vetting (UKSV), while police forces run NPPV themselves. The checks look at your identity, residency, employment and financial history and criminal records, with an interview for DV.
Holding a clearance has no effect on the IR35 status of a contract. Many cleared government roles are inside IR35 because the client decides the status and the work is closely managed, but outside IR35 cleared roles exist too. Check the status in each post.
This guide gives general information based on public sources. Vetting rules are set by the UK Government and can change: always check the requirements stated in each role and with the sponsor.
See the latest security cleared contractsCan I apply for SC or DV clearance myself?
No. National security vetting has to be sponsored by a government department, a police force or a company working on government contracts, for a role that needs it. When a role says you must be eligible for SC, the employer or client sponsors the vetting once you are selected.
Do I need to be a British citizen?
Not necessarily. Clearance is not limited to British citizens, but you normally need to have lived in the UK for a minimum number of years before the vetting, and some roles are reserved for British nationals. Read the requirements of each role carefully.
What does active SC mean in a job ad?
It means you already hold a valid SC clearance, sponsored for your current or a recent role. Clients ask for it when they cannot wait for a new vetting, which can take weeks or months.
Do cleared contractors earn higher day rates?
Often. Fewer contractors hold SC or DV clearance, so roles that need it draw from a smaller pool, and day rates tend to reflect that, especially for DV.
What happens to my clearance between contracts?
A clearance belongs to the sponsor that requested it. When you move to a new role that needs one, the new sponsor can usually ask for it to be transferred if it is still valid, instead of starting again.
