BPSS Clearance
For employees or contractors working in government departments, or who have access to government assets.
Accredited, regulated & certified
What is BPSS screening
BPSS screening ensures that personnel meet basic security requirements when working in security sensitive industries.
BPSS Screening is a government approved employment screening standard typically applied to Civil Servants, Members of the Armed Forces, Defence, Temporary Staff and Government Contractors.
The Baseline Personnel Security Standard is not a formal security clearance, but as a foundational pre-employment security check, BPSS clearance serves as the first level of national security vetting in the UK and provides a consistent and reliable approach to workforce vetting.
Regulated & certified
- BS EN ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management
- BS 7858:2019 – Screening of Individuals in Secure Environments
- NSI NCP 111 – Code of Practice for Security Screening
These certifications reflect our commitment to robust procedures, transparency and clear governance as our screening practices are regularly audited by independently appointed inspectors, who are granted direct access to our screening files to ensure full transparency and strict adherence to standards.
What’s included in our BPSS screening service
We ensure you’re supported at every stage, from seamless onboarding, applicant management, through to audit preparation.
Sample certificate
Checks included
- Digital Identity Verification
- Document Verification
- Address Verification
- Right To Work
- Criminal Records (DBS Check)
- Activity History – 3 year
- See optional checks you can add
Reports & Certificates
- Applicant Submission Report
- Final Report & Supporting Documents
- Applicant BPSS Certificate
Management Platform
- Track screening progress & history
- View and download audit-ready reports
- Get instant updates & notifications
More than a screening provider, we are a trusted partner to thousands of organisations
“You’re not just buying a screening service, you’re partnering with experts who understand screening inside and out.”
We know the risks, regulations, and real-world challenges you face. That’s why we deliver not only compliant employment screening, but also practical support, fast turnaround, and clear communication every step.
- 20 years of experience in screening
- Fully regulated, professionally certified & nationally accredited
- Specialists in screening for high-risk roles
- No setup, onboarding or platform fees
- Dedicated account handler
- NSA Partners Programme
- Digital Identity as standard
BPSS
For employees and contractors working in or supplying government agencies, the civil service, defence.
Checks included:
- Digital identity verification
- Address verification
- Right to work
- References check
- Activity history
– 3 year employment & or education verification
Reports included:
- Applicant submission report
- Final report
- Screening certificate
- Supporting documentation
Frequently asked questions
How long does BPSS screening take?
Obtaining BPSS clearance through National Screening Agency can be a reasonably speedy process. Once you’ve logged in and uploaded the candidates basic details to our client portal, one of our screening specialists will be assigned and the background checks will begin.
If the applicant can rapidly provide all the information we need, and the relevant third parties contacted respond quickly to our screening specialists, we can often complete the BPSS clearance in as little as 2-3 days. More typically however you’d expect 5-10 working days as the clearance can be held up, for example, during the process of verifying employment history due to slow response of third parties.
As a DBS umbrella body our screening application interfaces directly with the Disclosure & Barring Service and the Basic Disclosure check needed for BPSS clearance will be completed promptly. We will provide both a physical and electronic DBS certificate.
How long does BPSS clearance last?
BPSS clearance will remain valid for as long as the employee remains employed by the company that requested the BPSS clearance.
Equally the validity of the BPSS clearance remain intact if the employee stops working for the company, but returns to their employment with one year of the BPSS clearance being issued.
Another BPSS screening will be required if there’s a break in employment by or for the government of over 12 months, a significant role change, or moving to a role with another company or government organisation.
Regular reviews every 2 years are recommended as good practice.
How do I get BPSS clearance?
BPSS screening is arranged by the employer before a role starts. Get in touch with us today and we can get started on obtaining BPSS clearance for your employees straight away. Our employment screening application is designed to streamline the vetting process and ensure a quick turnaround of your BPSS clearance certificates.
Are BPSS clearance certificates issued?
Once all the required BPSS clearance checks are complete, we will issue a paper BPSS certificate, available for download on the client portal of our screening application. The requesting company can then access and retrieve the BPSS certificate as needed.