Cleared Jobs at Health and Human Services

Most of the questions, comments, and discussions about security clearance processes revolve around DoD and Intelligence Community agencies. There are, however, many other Federal Government agencies that also have a significant number of positions that require a security clearance. One of these, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is the government’s principal agency for protecting the health and well-being of all Americans. Many of the civil servant and contractor support positions access sensitive or classified information related to bio toxins, chemical and nuclear surety materials. That is why some positions may also require a DOE “Q” or “L” access authorization. Examples of career fields that may require a security clearance are:

• Medical and Public Health
• Biological Sciences
• Administration/Program Management
• Information Technology
• Physical Sciences

The following sub-agencies fall under the HHS umbrella:  Administration for Community Living (ACL); Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ); Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Centers for Medicare,  and Medicaid Services (CMS); Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA); Indian Health Service (IHS); National Institutes of Health (NIH); and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The Office of Security and Strategic Information (OSSI), within the Office of the Secretary at Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is responsible for personnel security/suitability processing and adjudication, information security, drug testing, and foreign travel/visitor policy for the Department. Unfortunately, they do not publish statistics for the number of clearances processed or case summaries for denials.