Which form is used for Public Trust Positions?

• A. SF 86
• B. SF 85
• C. SF 85P
• D. SAC

Answer: (C)

Public Trust determinations require a background check that is more thorough than a routine employment screen but not a full security clearance. The form designed for this level of review is the SF 85P, Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions. It gathers the information an adjudicator uses to assess trustworthiness, reliability, and integrity—covering personal history, employment and education, residential history, criminal history, credit history, drug use, foreign contacts, and other factors that could affect public trust. This helps determine whether a candidate can be trusted with responsibilities that require public trust without involving access to classified information.

The other forms fit different levels of vetting. The SF 85 is for non-sensitive positions with a lighter background check, the SF 86 is for positions requiring security clearance, and SAC is not the standard form for this process. So the SF 85P is the correct choice for Public Trust Positions.