The APC is required for all Personnel Security Adjudicators in the DCSA CAS, DOD IC, and personnel security adjudicators at other agencies accepted to participate in the program. The APC was accredited by NCCA in April 2018 and re-accredited in June 2023.
APC Competency Preparatory Tools (CPTs)
All CPTs are now published in STEPP. An alternate resource that can be used to build your foundation and help prepare you for your SPēD certification assessment is the Defense Security Essential Body of Knowledge (D-SEBOK), which is currently available in STEPP via the search bar.
APC Areas of Expertise
The APC assesses foundational knowledge in the following competencies:
- National Security and the Personnel Security Program
- Adjudication Process
- Personnel Security Process
APC Requirements
Candidates must be a personnel security adjudicator at an organization
accepted to participate in the APC Program. Organizations accepted to
participate in the APC Program include DCSA CAS, DIA, NGA, NSA, and other
Federal agencies.
In addition to being a personnel security adjudicator at an organization
accepted to participate in the APC Program, prior to attempting the APC
assessment, candidates must complete the following:
1) Introduction to National Security Adjudication (PS001.18)
2) Fundamentals of National Security Adjudications (PS101.10)
3) Satisfy and document on-the-job experience requirements.
Candidates who are personnel security adjudicators at an organization accepted
to participate in the APC Program, who already have two (2) years of
adjudication work experience covering adjudication topics (for example, SEAD
4; FIS; derogatory / non-derogatory cases; DODM 5200.02; Whole Person Concept)
may with the approval of their employing organization substitute that
adjudication work experience in lieu of completing the requirements described
above.
Candidates must submit an assessment request form along with required
documentation through their MSC account which will be verified by their CSR
before being approved to take the APC assessment. In order to be conferred the
APC, the candidate must successfully meet the APC assessment's qualifying
score. There are no exceptions or waivers to these requirements.
Job Task Analysis Information
Accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies