The APC is required for all national security adjudicators in the DCSA, DOD IC, and national security adjudicators at other agencies accepted to participate in the program.
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 Vetting Program
- Adjudication Process
- Personnel Vetting 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, DIA, NGA, NSA, and other Federal departments and agencies.
In addition to being a national security adjudicator at an organization accepted to participate in the APC Program, prior to attempting the APC assessment, candidates must complete the following:
1) Overview of Federal Personnel Vetting (PS185.16)
2) Fundamentals of National Security Adjudications (PS101.10 or PS101.01)
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 national security adjudication work experience covering related topics (for example, SEAD 4; FIS / INVS; 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.
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