How to List Interim Secret on a Resume (Examples)
Interim Secret is one of the clearance lines a GovCon recruiter screens for first. Here is how to write it, where to put it, and how long it stays current.
Updated Oct 21, 2026 · Data: GSA CALC+
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One line you can quote
List an interim Secret clearance as: Secret (Interim) | Final adjudication pending (employer-sponsored). Label it interim, not active, and show it is in process.
Hiring tip · Public-safe wording only: level, status, polygraph type, and investigation timing. No program names, sites, or investigation details.
Three correct ways to list it
Secret (Interim) | Final adjudication pending (employer-sponsored)Interim Secret | Final adjudication pendingSecret | Interim | Adjudication pendingWhere to put it on the resume
- Directly under your name and contact info, as the first line a recruiter sees.
- On LinkedIn: the headline or the first line of the About section, level and status only.
- Never in the skills list, the footer, or the last line of the resume.
OPSEC: leave this off the resume
- Program names, codewords, or compartments (SAP/SCI caveats).
- Specific sites, facilities, or geographic details.
- Sponsoring agency, unit, or office designations.
- Anything copied from your SF-86 or investigation paperwork.
- Polygraph questions, topics, or results.
- Investigation case numbers, or reinvestigation dates beyond the adjudication year.
Hiring tip · If you are unsure whether a detail is public-safe, leave it off. A contractor recruiter only needs level, status, polygraph type, and investigation timing.
Currency after separation
An interim clearance is valid only while the final investigation is in process and ends if final adjudication is denied. It does not transfer between employers. Confirm your interim status with your FSO or security office.
Common mistakes for this clearance
- Writing 'Active' when only an interim has been granted.
- Leaving off that final adjudication is still pending.
- Listing the sponsoring agency or facility.
Build your Interim Secret line
Prefilled to Interim Secret. Adjust the level, status, polygraph, and investigation details, then copy the result directly under your name.
Secret | ActiveSecret (Active)Hiring tip · Add Continuous Vetting only if you are enrolled. It tells a contractor your investigation is current without waiting on a periodic reinvestigation.
Share link encodes only level, status, polygraph, and year. No names or sensitive details.
Questions about this clearance line
Is an interim clearance the same as active?
No. An interim clearance is a temporary grant while the full investigation is adjudicated. Label it 'Interim,' not 'Active.'
Does an interim clearance transfer to a new employer?
No. An interim is tied to the sponsoring employer and the open investigation. A new employer must sponsor its own investigation.
Should I list an interim clearance at all?
Yes. It shows a contractor you are in process and may be sponsorable. Put it at the top, clearly labeled interim.
Reviewed by the Good to Go team · Last updated 2026-10-21 · Sources: GSA CALC+, O*NET
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Interim Secret while final adjudication is pending.
Public-safe wording only: level, status, polygraph type, and investigation timing. Never list program names, sites, sponsors, or compartments. Confirm your current status with your FSO or security office before you write it.
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