§ 147.19 The three standards

Quick Answer: What This Section Does

§ 147.19 defines the three investigation standards used to determine how thoroughly the government investigates an individual for a security clearance.

It establishes different levels of scrutiny based on:

• the type of clearance
• the sensitivity of access
• whether the case is an initial investigation or reinvestigation

👉 In practice, this section answers a key question:

“How deep is the government going to look into your background?”

---

What This Means in Practice

Most applicants assume all security clearance investigations are the same.

They are not.

The government applies different investigation standards depending on the level of access requested.

Adjudicators are not asking:

👉 “Do you qualify for a clearance?”

They are also asking:

👉 “How much information do we need to confidently evaluate this person?”

That distinction matters.

Because:

• higher-level clearances = deeper investigation
• deeper investigation = more issues discovered
• more issues = more adjudicative risk

To understand how these investigations feed into decisions, see how the process works in the security clearance process from application to final decision.

---

How This Section Is Actually Used

This section determines:

• how far back investigators look
• what records are reviewed
• how many sources are contacted
• how aggressively discrepancies are explored

It directly impacts:

👉 what ends up in your clearance file

That file is then evaluated under the security clearance adjudication framework used to determine eligibility.

---

Full Text of § 147.19

There are three standards (Attachment D to this subpart part summarizes when to use each one):

(a) The investigation and reinvestigation standards for “L” access authorizations and for access to confidential and secret (including all secret-level Special Access Programs not specifically approved for enhanced investigative requirements by an official authorized to establish Special Access Programs by section in 4.4 of Executive Order 12958) (60 FR 19825, 3 CFR 1995 Comp., p. 33);

(b) The investigation standard for “Q” access authorizations and for access to top secret (including top secret Special Access Programs) and Sensitive Compartmented Information;

(c) The reinvestigation standard for continued access to the levels listed in paragraph (b) of this section.

---

What the Three Standards Actually Mean

This section is not just technical—it affects outcomes.

Lower-Level Investigations (Secret / L)

• shorter scope
• fewer interviews
• fewer sources
• less scrutiny

👉 fewer issues are typically uncovered

---

Higher-Level Investigations (Top Secret / Q / SCI)

• deeper background checks
• expanded record review
• more interviews
• more cross-checking

👉 more inconsistencies are identified

👉 more issues are developed into potential concerns

This is why individuals moving to higher clearances often encounter new problems, as explained in switching clearance levels from Secret to TS/SCI and what changes in the process.

---

Why This Matters for Your Case

This section reflects a critical principle:

👉 the level of investigation determines the level of risk exposure

Two individuals can have identical backgrounds:

• one passes at Secret
• one fails at Top Secret

Because:

👉 the deeper investigation reveals more information

This is also why clearance issues often appear later in a career, as explained in why clearance problems reappear during later reviews and reinvestigations.

---

Where Cases Often Go Wrong

Most applicants misunderstand this section entirely.

Problems arise when:

• applicants assume prior clearance approval guarantees future approval
• disclosures are inconsistent across investigations
• earlier omissions are discovered at higher levels
• issues were never fully mitigated

From the applicant’s perspective:

👉 “I already had a clearance”

From the system’s perspective:

👉 “We are now applying a higher investigative standard”

---

How This Section Interacts With the Rest of the System

The three standards directly affect:

• the security clearance investigation process and how records are developed
• how issues are identified before adjudication
• what appears in a security clearance Statement of Reasons when concerns are formalized

Because:

👉 investigation depth determines what becomes part of your record

---

Related Statutes and Guidance

To explore the full framework, see the Security Clearance Statutes and Regulations resource hub.

For a broader understanding of how the system works, start with the Security Clearance Lawyers resource center explaining eligibility, investigations, and adjudication.

---

Why Insight Into the System Matters

Security clearance decisions are not made in a vacuum.

They are made by:

• adjudicators
• administrative judges
• agency decision-makers
• reviewers who rely on the written record

Understanding how these individuals evaluate risk, credibility, and mitigation is not theoretical—it is structural.

At National Security Law Firm, our security clearance lawyers include attorneys who have worked:

• as administrative judges and adjudicators responsible for deciding clearance cases
• inside federal agencies evaluating whether individuals should be approved or denied
• within military legal systems handling sensitive national security matters
• in roles directly applying the adjudicative guidelines to real-world cases

Our cases are not handled by a single attorney working in isolation.

They are reviewed through our internal Attorney Review Board, where multiple experienced attorneys analyze the record, test arguments, and refine strategy before submission.

This mirrors how the government evaluates cases—through layered review and institutional scrutiny.

Clients often come to us after receiving advice that focuses only on:

• legal arguments
• explanations of past conduct

But security clearance cases are not decided that way.

They are decided based on:

👉 how the record will be read, reused, and defended by decision-makers

That is the difference between a response that explains—and a record that supports approval.

You can read what clients say about their experience working with our team in our 4.9-star Google reviews, which reflect both outcomes and the level of strategic guidance we provide throughout the process.

---

Speak With a Security Clearance Lawyer Before Issues Surface at Higher Levels

The most important question is not:

👉 “What level clearance do I have?”

It is:

👉 “What will a deeper investigation uncover?”

---

The Record Controls the Case.