Standards of Practice

Examiner Qualifications

Every examiner in the LieDetectorTest.com network must meet rigorous qualification requirements before they are authorized to conduct examinations. These requirements exceed the minimums set by most regulatory bodies and professional associations.

Mandatory Requirements

• Accredited training — graduation from an APA-accredited polygraph school requiring a minimum of 250 hours of instruction
• Professional membership — current, active membership of at least one recognized professional body (APA, BPS, or EPA)
• Supervised experience — minimum 200 examinations completed, including an initial period of mentored practice
• Continuing education — minimum 30 hours of continuing education credits per year, with documented proof of completion
• Insurance coverage — current professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance with a minimum coverage of $1,000,000
• Background check — satisfactory criminal background check completed within the preceding 12 months
• Ethics agreement — signed acknowledgment and acceptance of our Code of Ethics

Ongoing Compliance

Qualifications are verified at the point of onboarding and re-verified annually. Examiners who allow certifications, insurance, or continuing education to lapse are immediately suspended from conducting examinations through our network until compliance is restored.

Approved Testing Techniques

Examiners may only use validated, peer-reviewed testing techniques that have been recognized by the American Polygraph Association or equivalent professional body. The use of unvalidated, experimental, or proprietary techniques is strictly prohibited.

Approved Technique Categories

The examiner must select the technique most appropriate for the specific examination type and issue under investigation. The technique used must be documented in the examination report. If an examiner believes a situation warrants deviation from the approved list, they must obtain written pre-approval from our quality assurance team and provide scientific justification.

Pre-Test Procedures

The pre-test phase is the most critical component of a reliable polygraph examination. An inadequate pre-test undermines the validity of the entire process. Our standards mandate the following minimum requirements:

• Identity verification — the examiner must verify the identity of the examinee using a government-issued photo ID before proceeding
• Medical screening — the examiner must inquire about physical and mental health conditions, medications, sleep quality, and substance use that may affect physiological responses
• Explanation of the process — the examiner must provide a clear, thorough explanation of how the polygraph instrument works, what data is collected, and how results are determined
• Question review — every question that will be asked during the examination must be reviewed with the examinee beforehand; no surprise questions are permitted under any circumstances
• Consent documentation — the examiner must obtain written informed consent before proceeding (see Standard 04)
• Issue clarification — the examiner must ensure the examinee fully understands the relevant questions and that the language is unambiguous
• Rapport building — the examiner must establish a professional, non-threatening relationship with the examinee to minimize anxiety unrelated to the test issues

The pre-test interview must last a minimum of 30 minutes for single-issue examinations and a minimum of 45 minutes for multi-issue or complex cases. Rushing the pre-test is grounds for a quality review.

Informed Consent Requirements

No examination may proceed without documented informed consent from the examinee. Consent must be voluntary and free from coercion. Our consent process requires that the examinee is informed of and acknowledges the following:

• The voluntary nature of the examination and the right to refuse or discontinue at any time
• The purpose of the examination and the specific issues to be tested
• The identity and qualifications of the examiner conducting the test
• Who will receive the results and how they may be used
• The limitations of polygraph testing, including that results are an opinion based on physiological data
• The examinee’s right to legal counsel before, during, or after the examination
• How their data will be stored, retained, and eventually destroyed in accordance with our Privacy Policy
• The complaint process should they wish to raise a concern about the examination

Consent forms must be signed and dated by both the examinee and the examiner. A copy must be provided to the examinee. Verbal consent alone is not sufficient.

Question Formulation

The quality of test questions directly affects the validity of the examination. Poorly worded, ambiguous, or overly broad questions produce unreliable data. Our standards require that all test questions meet the following criteria:

• Single-meaning — each question must have only one clear, unambiguous interpretation
• Answerable with yes or no — all relevant, comparison, and irrelevant questions must be structured for binary responses
• Time-bounded — relevant questions must specify the time period under investigation
• Behavior-specific — questions must reference specific, observable behaviors rather than thoughts, intentions, or feelings
• Free from legal conclusions — questions must not require the examinee to make legal judgments (e.g., “Did you steal?” not “Are you guilty?”)
• Culturally appropriate — questions must account for the examinee’s language proficiency, cultural background, and educational level
• Pre-reviewed — all questions must be reviewed with the examinee during the pre-test phase and adjusted if the examinee does not fully understand the meaning

Examiners must document the final wording of all test questions in the examination file. Any modifications made after the pre-test review must be noted with the reason for the change.

Instrumentation & Equipment

Reliable physiological data requires properly functioning, professional-grade equipment. Our standards mandate the following instrumentation requirements:

Required Sensor Components

• Pneumograph — minimum of two respiratory sensors (thoracic and abdominal) to measure breathing patterns
• Electrodermal activity (EDA) — galvanic skin response sensor attached to the fingers to measure sweat gland activity
• Cardiovascular — blood pressure cuff or cardio activity monitor to measure heart rate, blood pressure, and pulse amplitude
• Motion sensor — seat or pad-based movement sensor to detect deliberate countermeasure attempts

Equipment Standards

• All instruments must be computerized polygraph systems from recognized manufacturers
• Equipment must be calibrated and tested before each examination day
• Signal quality must be verified before the first chart collection begins
• Equipment must be serviced annually by the manufacturer or an authorized service provider
• The examiner must maintain maintenance and calibration logs for all instruments

The use of analog (mechanical) polygraph instruments is not permitted within our network. Only computerized systems with digital recording and archival capabilities are approved.

Data Collection Protocols

The in-test phase must follow strict protocols to ensure the physiological data collected is valid and suitable for objective analysis.

Chart Collection Requirements

• A minimum of 3 charts (presentations) must be collected for every examination
• Each chart must contain a complete presentation of all relevant, comparison, and irrelevant questions in the approved sequence
• A minimum inter-question interval of 15 seconds must be maintained between questions to allow physiological recovery
• If signal quality is compromised on any chart, that chart must be re-collected
• The examiner must not speak to or interact with the examinee between questions except to re-read the next question

Countermeasure Detection

• Examiners must remain vigilant for signs of physical or mental countermeasure attempts throughout the data collection phase
• Motion sensor data must be reviewed in conjunction with physiological tracings on every chart
• If countermeasures are detected, the examiner must address the behavior with the examinee and re-collect affected charts
• Persistent countermeasure activity may result in the examination being terminated and reported as inconclusive

Scoring & Interpretation

The analysis of polygraph data must be objective, systematic, and replicable. Our standards prohibit subjective or “gut-feel” assessments and mandate the use of validated numerical scoring systems.

Scoring Requirements

• All examinations must be scored using a recognized numerical scoring system (e.g., 7-position scale, 3-position scale, or ESS scoring rules)
• Global (holistic) scoring is prohibited — the practice of rendering an opinion based on the examiner’s overall impression without numerical evaluation is not acceptable
• Each physiological channel (pneumo, EDA, cardio) must be scored independently for each relevant question on each chart
• The examiner must document their scoring in the examination file, including the numerical scores for each question on each chart

Decision Rules

Examiners must apply the cut scores exactly as defined by the technique’s published decision rules. Adjusting cut scores to force a desired outcome is a serious ethical violation and grounds for immediate removal from our network.

Reporting Standards

Every examination must produce a professional written report that accurately documents the examination process and findings. Reports must be delivered within 48 hours of the examination unless otherwise agreed with the client.

Mandatory Report Contents

• Examinee details — full name, date of birth, and identification method
• Examiner details — full name, qualifications, certification numbers, and professional memberships
• Date, time, and location of the examination
• Purpose of the examination and the specific issues investigated
• Technique used — the specific validated technique format employed
• All test questions — the exact wording of every relevant, comparison, and irrelevant question
• Number of charts collected and any charts that were re-collected or excluded
• Scoring results — numerical scores by channel, by question, by chart
• Professional opinion — NDI, DI, Inconclusive, or No Opinion with supporting rationale
• Notable observations — any factors that may have influenced the examination (medical conditions, emotional state, environmental issues, potential countermeasures)
• Consent confirmation — statement that informed consent was obtained
• Examiner signature and date

Reports must be written in clear, professional language that can be understood by non-technical readers. Legal jargon and overly complex terminology should be avoided unless necessary for accuracy. Reports must clearly state that the examiner’s opinion is based on the analysis of physiological data and is not an absolute determination of truth or deception.

Testing Environment

The physical environment in which a polygraph examination is conducted has a direct impact on data quality. Our standards require that every examination takes place in a controlled setting that meets the following minimum requirements:

• Private, enclosed room — the examination must take place in a room with a closed door, away from foot traffic, noise, and interruptions
• Temperature controlled — the room must be maintained at a comfortable temperature (68–74°F / 20–23°C) as extreme temperatures can affect physiological readings
• Adequate lighting — the room must have consistent, non-flickering lighting that is neither too bright nor too dim
• Minimal distractions — no audible noise from adjacent rooms, hallways, or outside; electronic devices belonging to the examinee must be silenced and placed out of reach
• Comfortable seating — the examinee must be seated in a stable, comfortable chair that allows the sensor components to function properly
• No observers — third parties (including attorneys, family members, or the requesting party) are not permitted in the examination room during data collection unless specifically required by law
• Accessible facilities — the testing location must be accessible to individuals with physical disabilities and must have restroom facilities available

If the testing environment does not meet these standards, the examiner must either correct the issue before proceeding or reschedule the examination at a suitable location. Conducting an examination in a compromised environment is not permitted.

Quality Assurance & Peer Review

Quality assurance is an ongoing process, not a one-time check. Our standards establish a multi-layered quality framework to ensure sustained excellence across the network.

Routine Quality Measures

• Random chart review — a minimum of 10% of each examiner’s examinations are randomly selected for blind rescoring by an independent quality reviewer each quarter
• Annual performance review — every examiner undergoes a comprehensive annual review that evaluates technique compliance, report quality, client feedback, and continuing education
• Client feedback monitoring — all client feedback and satisfaction surveys are reviewed for patterns indicating procedural or professional concerns
• Complaint investigation — any formal complaint triggers a full investigation in accordance with our Code of Ethics enforcement procedures

Corrective Actions

Record-Keeping & Documentation

Comprehensive record-keeping is essential for quality assurance, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance. Every examination must produce a complete and securely stored examination file containing:

• Signed consent form — the original or digital copy of the examinee’s informed consent
• Pre-examination questionnaire — completed intake and screening forms
• Test questions — the final approved wording of all questions used
• Digital chart recordings — all physiological data collected during the examination, stored in the instrument’s native file format
• Scoring worksheets — the numerical scoring for every channel, question, and chart
• Written report — the final examination report as delivered to the client
• Examiner notes — any observations, anomalies, or noteworthy events during the examination
• Correspondence — relevant emails or communications related to the examination

Retention & Security

• Examination files must be retained for a minimum of 3 years from the date of the examination
• Files must be stored in encrypted digital format with access restricted to authorized personnel
• Physical documents, if any, must be stored in locked, fire-resistant storage
• When the retention period expires, records must be securely destroyed in accordance with our Privacy Policy
• Examiners must be able to produce requested records within 5 business days