Skip to content
Quick exit
  • Cymraeg
  • Reporting SARs
Leading the UK's fight to cut serious and organised crime
  • Who we are
    • Our mission
    • Our people
    • Our leadership
    • Governance and transparency
    • Inclusion, diversity and equality
    • Publications
  • What we do
    • What we investigate
    • Border vulnerabilities
    • Bribery, corruption and sanctions evasion
    • Cyber crime
    • Child sexual abuse and exploitation
    • Drug trafficking
    • Illegal firearms
    • Fraud
    • Kidnap and extortion
    • Modern slavery and human trafficking
    • Money laundering and illicit finance
    • Organised immigration crime
    • Operation Stovewood: Rotherham child sexual abuse investigation
    • How we work
    • Intelligence: enhancing the picture of serious organised crime affecting the UK
    • Investigating and disrupting the highest risk serious and organised criminals
    • Providing specialist capabilities for law enforcement
    • Supporting victims and survivors
  • News
    • All news
  • Careers
    • How to join the NCA
    • Applying and onboarding
    • Current vacancies
    • A day in the life
    • Benefits and support
  • Most Wanted
  • Contact us
    • Verify an NCA Officer
    • Complaints
  • Home >
  • Careers >
  • Applying and onboarding >
  • Pre-employment checks

Share this page:

Share this page:

Pre-employment checks

Everyone that works for the NCA will play a part in leading the fight to cut serious and organised crime. Our officers will have high levels of personal and professional integrity and be accountable for their actions. This includes not engaging in behaviour of a criminal nature, dishonesty, misuse of drugs, violence, or any action or personal circumstance that undermines you or the NCA status or reputation.

Pre-employment checks

Security is fundamental to the work of the NCA. For that reason the information you provide during your pre-employment will be thoroughly checked to ensure eligibility and that you meet the required vetting standards. This will include enhanced security checks against organised crime data and substance misuse testing.

Substance misuse testing is designed to tackle the misuse of any substance by our staff that could either place at risk the health and safety of users, colleagues or the public or could threaten to compromise individual or organisational integrity. All successful applicants to the NCA will be invited for pre-employment substance misuse testing.

Security clearance

All NCA Officers must hold a minimum national security clearance (SC) however some roles will require clearance up to developed vetting (DV) level. This involves interviews with you and your referees. Vacancies requiring developed vetting are clearly marked.

To meet National Security Vetting requirements you will need to have resided in the UK for at a minimum 3 out of the past 5 years for SC clearance and a minimum of 7 out of 10 years for DV clearance. You will still be considered if you were posted abroad as part of your service with the British Government or the British Military during this period.

Security vetting can be intrusive depending on the nature of clearance you require for the role you are applying for. This is to ensure that any vulnerabilities that would potentially put the organisation at risk are identified. While we aim to manage vulnerabilities where possible, in some cases this may not be possible and your application will not be progressed.

Once you join the NCA, your security clearance is subject to regular review. We recognise that personal circumstances change and we also offer a range of help and support in order for you to maintain your clearance whilst employed with us. A range of services will be available to you as an officer of the NCA to help you maintain your security clearance during your career with us.

Related publications

  • pdf NCA benefits package Popular

A day in the life

man analysing data

UK Financial Intelligence Unit: 'A day in the life'

Animated hand playing chess

NCA Strategy: 'A day in the life'

Magnifying glass looking at a virus on a computer screen

National Cyber Crime Unit: 'A day in the life'

Globe

Modern Slavery Human Trafficking Unit: 'A day in the life'

See All

Latest vacancies

There are currently no open vacancies related to this article. Click on the button below to view all vacancies.

All current vacancies

Share this page:

TOP ˄
0370 496 7622
NCA general enquiries or to verify an NCA officer, available 24/7
Click CEOP logo: Advice, Help, Report
  • Who we are

  • Our mission
  • What we do

  • How we investigate
  • How we work
  • News

  • Most wanted

  • Careers

  • A day in the life
  • Current vacancies
  • Contact us

  • Operation Stovewood
  • Suspicious activity reports
  • Verify an NCA officer
  • Complaints

Follow us

  • Sitemap
  • Privacy and Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Publications
  • Accessibility statement
© Crown Copyright
© Crown Copyright