How to List Top Secret (Active) on a Resume (Examples)
Top Secret (Active) 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 active Top Secret clearance at the top of your resume as: Top Secret | Active | Investigation closed 2023 | Enrolled in Continuous Vetting.
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
Top Secret | Active | Investigation closed 2023 | Enrolled in Continuous VettingTop Secret | Active | Adjudicated 2022Top Secret (Active) | Continuous Vetting enrolledWhere 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 Top Secret clearance stays current under Continuous Vetting (DoD CV) with no break in access. After separation, access is cut off; reinstatement is typically possible within 24 months if your investigation remains current. Confirm with your FSO or security office.
Common mistakes for this clearance
- Writing only 'TS'; spell out Top Secret so an ATS and a recruiter both catch it.
- Burying it anywhere but the first line under your name.
- Adding SAP, SCI, or compartment detail to a plain Top Secret line.
Build your Top Secret (Active) line
Prefilled to Top Secret (Active). Adjust the level, status, polygraph, and investigation details, then copy the result directly under your name.
Top Secret | Active | Enrolled in Continuous VettingTop Secret (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
Should I write 'Top Secret' or 'TS'?
Write 'Top Secret.' It is the full term an ATS matches and a recruiter reads fast. Keep 'TS' for combinations like TS/SCI.
Is Top Secret the same as TS/SCI?
No. Top Secret is the clearance level. TS/SCI means Top Secret with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information, a separate adjudication. List TS/SCI only if you hold it.
What if I am not enrolled in Continuous Vetting?
Leave the CV note off and give the investigation or adjudication year instead. Do not claim enrollment you do not have.
Reviewed by the Good to Go team · Last updated 2026-10-21 · Sources: GSA CALC+, O*NET
More about this roleShow
Active Top Secret clearance, continuous vetting enrolled.
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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