Actually, OP, your husband probably received a conditional offer of employment. The clearance is one (major) condition, but there could be others, and unfortunately, funding is likely one of them. (There has to be an open billet for him to take.)

So, while the offer is definitely a good sign, probably wise not to plan your whole life around a job that might not be realized.

OP here- thank you! That makes me feel better. It's very hard to plan around a job that might happen in two years. Of course anything can happen with the clearance, but knowing the job is definite as long as he gets clearance makes it seem a little more secure.

If the Feds offer you a job that requires clearance, it's like a contract. You pass the clearance, you get the job. You fail the clearance, no job (and no hope of getting another that requires clearance, b/c the first thing asked is whether you've ever been denied a clearance).

My husband is considering a fed job that requires a clearance that may take a year or two, like the other poster. He already has a lower-level clearance and is confident he will get approved. So do the feds typically make offers to more candidates than they have job openings, and use the clearance process as another round of elimination? In case some don’t pass, or if some are taking longer or are more complicated than others, etc? Or do they typically hire everyone they make an offer to as long as they pass the clearance, whenever that happens?

I'm wondering if this job is just a matter of time, or if it is not definite.