PLEASE HELP WITH QUESTIONS

[abcd1234]

I want to work for a federal contractor and have a few questions:

•      What federal agencies require a lifestyle polygraph to work on their projects?  I was told it was just CIA and NSA, and that there are others that require polys but only counter intelligence ones.  
•      Do you think it's ok to take the lifestyle polygraph if I have bad anxiety attacks (controlled by medicine), since I know I will be very nervous based on comments on this board?  The reason for wanting to get the clearance with the polygraph is the 2 companies I am looking at will increase the pay a bit if you have the polygraph done and pass, but I don't want to have any of my bad anxiety attacks over it?  
•      Is there a way to get TS clearance with the polygraph tests unless you are in the military or apply for a job that requires it?  My understanding is that most companies will not bring someone on and then sponsor them for the clearance because of the cost, and that they will just hire someone who does have the clearance.  
•      I see a lot of positions with TS/SCI or just TS, are these positions that require the lifestyle polygraph, so are the TS clearances without the poly test requirements?
•      Is it only a small percentage of the positions/ projects that require the poly tests in the Federal government?

Sorry for all the questions but I am new to this and want to further my career.  Thank you VERY much for your assistance!

[Administrator]

abcd1234,

Please do not cut and paste multiple iterations of the same post in the various forums. We ask that you select the single forum that appears most appropriate.

[abcd1234]

SORRY!!!, will not do it again.  I sincerely apologize, I was not aware of the policy.

Regards

[Administrator]

No problem. Welcome to the board and thanks for posting...

[NSAreject]

I believe you are correct; only the NSA and CIA require
the life-style, or full-scope poly.  The NRO, and any
special access programs, require the CI poly (check out
Lockheed Martin's jobs database and search on
"special access").   Having taken many polys, your
anxiety attacks won't help the process.  The
companies that you are looking at, especially if you are
in the software development, or EE business, should
pay considerably more for a TS/SCI/poly clearance.  The
salaries for these positions are demanding 90 - 110K.
I was at the NSA, but they put me in adjudication
limbo, so I went to another Intel agency.  I got a small
raise, and a nice sign-on bonus, but I plan on leaving,
after a year, to increase my salary.  Companies are
desperate for TS/SCI cleared people.  I would try  the
larger companies, to see if they would bring you on
in an uncleared position, then put you in for a
secret/top secret position.  In order to get an SCI
access clearance, all of your immediate family members
have to be U.S. citizens.  The DoD secret/top secret
clearances do not require a poly, unless they are
"special access" programs, and are easy to get unless
you have significant issues (e.g., drugs, crimes, etc.).
Any cleared positions, in the private sector, are always
contracting positions, to the federal government.  If
you decide to go the NSA/CIA route, beware of what
you admit to during the polys, because any adverse
information will be sent to the DoD/DSS, for your DoD
clearance.  If you fail to get through the polys, or
adjudication process, it could affect you getting a DoD
clearance.  This little tidbit, will not be volunteered by
your security department.  In any case, there are a lot
of just secret positions, at least in the Washington, D.C.
area.