Q Clearance
A Q Clearance is a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance that grants access to Top Secret Restricted Data and National Security Information. It is the DOE equivalent of a DoD Top Secret clearance.
Quick Facts
| Issuing agency | Department of Energy |
| Equivalent to | DoD Top Secret |
| Access granted | Top Secret RD and NSI |
| Investigation | Tier 5 (SSBI equivalent) |
| Reinvestigation | Every 5 years |
| Common at | National laboratories, NNSA facilities |
What Q Clearance Covers
Q clearance provides access to[1]:
- Top Secret Restricted Data (RD) - Information about nuclear weapons design and production
- Top Secret Formerly Restricted Data (FRD) - Joint DOE/DoD nuclear weapons information
- Top Secret National Security Information (NSI) - Other classified national security information
The "Restricted Data" category is unique to the nuclear enterprise and is automatically classified by law, unlike other classified information which requires a classification decision[2].
Q vs. L Clearance
The DOE uses a two-tier system[1]:
| Q Clearance | L Clearance |
|---|---|
| Top Secret equivalent | Secret equivalent |
| Full RD access | Limited RD access |
| More extensive investigation | Standard investigation |
| Required for most lab work | Sufficient for some positions |
Who Needs Q Clearance
Q clearances are primarily required for[2]:
- Scientists and engineers at national laboratories (Los Alamos, Sandia, Lawrence Livermore, etc.)
- NNSA employees and contractors
- Personnel working on nuclear weapons programs
- Some DOE headquarters positions
Reciprocity with DoD
While Q clearances are processed through DOE rather than DCSA, reciprocity generally exists between DOE and DoD clearances[3]:
- A Q clearance holder can typically access DoD Top Secret information
- A DoD Top Secret holder may be able to receive a Q clearance without a full reinvestigation
- The specific process depends on how recently the investigation was completed
However, reciprocity for Restricted Data access specifically may require additional steps.
Related
References
- ^ DOE Order 472.2: Personnel Security. Department of Energy. Accessed 2026-01-08.
- ^ Security Clearances in the Nuclear Security Enterprise. National Nuclear Security Administration. Accessed 2026-01-10.
- ^ Security Clearance Process: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Congressional Research Service. Accessed 2026-01-10.