How to List Secret (Inactive) on a Resume (Examples)
Secret (Inactive) 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 inactive Secret clearance as: Secret | Inactive | Access ended 2024 | Eligible for reinstatement. Never write 'active' if your access has ended.
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 | Inactive | Access ended 2024 | Eligible for reinstatementSecret | Inactive | Last investigation 2021 | Access ended 2024 | Eligible for reinstatementSecret (Inactive) | Access ended 2023 | Eligible for reinstatementWhere 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
A Secret clearance can usually be reinstated within 24 months of a break in access if the underlying investigation is still current. After that window, a new investigation is typically required. Confirm your status with your FSO or security office.
Common mistakes for this clearance
- Writing 'active' when access has ended.
- Leaving out the break-in-access date, so a recruiter cannot tell how recent it is.
- Dropping the line entirely instead of showing reinstatement eligibility.
Build your Secret (Inactive) line
Prefilled to Secret (Inactive). Adjust the level, status, polygraph, and investigation details, then copy the result directly under your name.
Secret | Inactive | Eligible for reinstatementSecret (Inactive, eligible for reinstatement)Hiring tip · Do not write "active" if your access has ended. Say inactive, give the date it ended, and note eligibility for reinstatement. Contractors can often reinstate a clearance within 24 months of a break in access if the investigation is current.
Share link encodes only level, status, polygraph, and year. No names or sensitive details.
Questions about this clearance line
Can a contractor reinstate my inactive Secret?
Often yes, within roughly 24 months of the break in access, if your investigation is current. The contractor must sponsor the reinstatement. Confirm with your FSO.
Do I say 'expired' or 'inactive'?
'Inactive' is the recruiter-readable term. Use it with the access-ended date and 'Eligible for reinstatement.'
Should I still list it if it has lapsed?
Yes. An inactive clearance with a recent break in access is still valuable to contractors and should stay at the top of your resume.
Reviewed by the Good to Go team · Last updated 2026-10-21 · Sources: GSA CALC+, O*NET
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Inactive Secret clearance, eligible for reinstatement.
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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