American Polygraph Association

American Polygraph Association: An Introduction

Established in 1966, the American Polygraph Association (APA) is the world's leading association dedicated to the use of evidence-based scientific methods for credibility assessment. The APA has approximately 2,800 members representing the private business, law enforcement, and government sectors across more than 60 countries. Over the years, the APA has evolved from a national organization focused on American practitioners to an international body, with members in over 60 countries. As the premier organization of its type, the APA sets the gold standard for professional polygraph practice worldwide and serves as the authoritative voice for the profession on matters of ethics, training, research, and scientific methodology.

History & Evolution

Established in 1966, the APA has played a pivotal role in shaping the standards, ethics, and practices of polygraph testing globally. About 10 years before the founding of the APA, a future president of the organization, Chris Gugas, demonstrated the polygraph before a national television audience with Groucho Marx on the comedian's show You Bet Your Life. The APA also advanced through its strategic plan, which set milestones such as mandating minimum continuing education credits for members by the 2007 annual seminar, enhancing ongoing competency and ethical adherence. The American Polygraph Association (APA) amended its Standards of Practice on August 23, 2024, updating definitions, examination protocols, and requirements for compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.

Mission & Professional Standards

The APA promotes the highest standards of professional, ethical and scientific practices for its 2700+ members through the establishment and publication of standards for professional practice including techniques, instrumentation, analysis, research, training and continuing education. Members recognize that their primary responsibility is to the person being examined, and are forbidden to allow considerations of race, religion, politics, union activity, or economic status to play any part in their examinations, and they are pledged to issue an objective and unbiased opinion and to protect the confidentiality of the examination. The organization maintains alignment with our Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice through rigorous enforcement of professional standards.

Membership, Benefits & Dues

The APA has approximately 2,800 members who are required to maintain the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct and they are further required to discharge their duties with complete impartiality, dignity and respect. Attending an APA accredited program is only one of the prerequisites for membership in the APA. Members receive comprehensive benefits including advanced notice and reduced rates for annual seminars and continuing education programs with a seminar & Continuing Education Committee dedicated to provide members with the most up-to-date training and information on technological advances in the polygraph profession, access to the peer-reviewed Polygraph journal, job referral services, and access to the APA Archives for written, visual and auditory materials relevant to educational information and the polygraph profession, including taped seminar sessions. While specific membership costs were not disclosed in my research, the organization offers various membership categories to accommodate different professional levels and backgrounds.

Training, Seminars & Continuing Education

Our annual seminar, usually held in August/September, strongly reflects our commitment to our members who are interested in continuing their educational knowledge and staying current with the latest research developments. 58th Annual APA Seminar8/25/2024 - 8/30/2024 was held in 2024, and 60th APA Annual Seminar · August 30 – September 4, 2026 is scheduled for Chicago. Practicing examiners shall complete a minimum of 30 continuing education hours every two years in coursework related to the field of polygraphy. A practicing examiner shall be defined as any member who has conducted polygraph training, quality assurance, or examinations in the previous two years. The organization offers William J. Yankee Memorial Scholarship and Elmer N. Criswell Jr. Memorial Scholarship programs to support professional development.

Role in the Broader Profession

The APA also produces a variety of model policies that represent the current understanding of best practices, and makes them widely available so that polygraph examiners (both APA members and non-members) and their clients can be aware of what constitutes a valid examination process. Recently the APA undertook an exhaustive review of all of the peer-reviewed publications on polygraph testing that represented field practices and which met the requirements of the APA Standards of Practice. The APA's journal, Polygraph, is a leading publication in the field, offering peer-reviewed articles on the latest research, case studies, and advancements in polygraph technology. The association serves as the primary liaison between the polygraph profession and regulatory bodies, courts, and the scientific community. For a comprehensive overview of professional organizations in this field, visit our Polygraph Associations Directory.