ASIT in Pennsylvania is an APA-recognised polygraph academy, and this guide explains how its training prepares the professionals who conduct a lie detector test.
The Academy for Scientific Investigative Training (ASIT) in Philadelphia has been at the forefront of polygraph education for over four decades. Founded and directed by Nathan J. Gordon, a past President of the American Polygraph Association, ASIT is recognized as one of the most innovative APA-accredited polygraph schools in the United States, having developed groundbreaking techniques and scoring systems used by examiners worldwide.
TL;DR — The Short Version
- ASIT has been an APA-accredited polygraph school in Philadelphia since 1980, making it one of the longest-operating accredited programs in the United States.
- Director Nathan J. Gordon, a past APA President, developed the Integrated Zone Comparison Technique (IZCT), the Forensic Assessment Interview Technique (FAINT), and the ASIT PolySuite scoring algorithm.
- Peer-reviewed research published in Physiology & Behavior demonstrated IZCT accuracy of 100% when inconclusive results were excluded.
- ASIT offers basic polygraph examiner courses, advanced training, PCSOT certification, forensic statement analysis, and the Morgan Interview Thematic Technique (MITT).
- The school conducts training internationally — including in South Africa, Central America, South America, and Europe — in addition to its Philadelphia campus.
Who This Guide Is For
- Aspiring polygraph examiners seeking APA-accredited basic training
- Law enforcement and intelligence professionals looking for advanced polygraph education
- Current examiners pursuing PCSOT certification
- International students seeking recognized polygraph credentials
- Investigators interested in forensic interviewing and statement analysis techniques
History and Founding of ASIT
Establishment in 1980
The Academy for Scientific Investigative Training (ASIT) was established in 1980 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and has been continuously accredited by the American Polygraph Association since its inception Verified Pennsylvania Polygraph Examiners' Association
Confirms PPA is a professional alliance for Pennsylvania polygraph examiners.
International Training Programs
Global Reach from Philadelphia
ASIT conducts polygraph training not only at its Philadelphia headquarters but across the globe. Tuvia Shurany, the former head of the Department of Polygraph at the Israeli Government School, serves as the Assistant Director of ASIT for Central and South America, where he has conducted courses in numerous countries as well as in Europe Verified Polygraph Licensing: How to Become Certified
Confirms general requirements: age 21+, background check, APA-accredited training program completion. This suggests that deeper engagement with polygraph science leads to greater confidence in the technique — exactly the kind of deep understanding ASIT provides its students.
Countermeasure Awareness and Research
ASIT's curriculum addresses the reality of countermeasures — deliberate attempts to defeat polygraph examinations. Research by Corcoran (1996) tested whether biofeedback training could enable subjects to defeat polygraph and found only modest effects, primarily limited to cardiovascular measures. Similarly, Rovner (1993) found that prior knowledge of polygraph procedures alone had minimal impact on accuracy rates without specific countermeasure training [34]Verified Admissibility of Polygraph Tests: The Application of Scientific Standards Post-Daubert
Applied behavioral science concepts of reliability and validity to polygraph admissibility.
These findings reassure examiners and their clients that well-trained polygraph professionals using validated techniques can produce reliable results. ASIT's training incorporates awareness of countermeasure strategies and teaches examiners how to identify and address them during the examination process. As polygraph technology continues to evolve alongside developments like fMRI-based lie detection — reviewed by Farah et al. (2014) in Nature Reviews Neuroscience — ASIT remains committed to integrating the latest research findings into its curriculum.
How to Enroll at ASIT
Admission Requirements and Application Process
Prospective students should contact ASIT directly at 215-732-3349 or visit the school's website at polygraph-training.com [3]Verified Maryland Polygraph Association — Polygraph Schools Listing
Confirms ASIT address at 1704 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 and director Nate Gordon. As with all APA-accredited programs, applicants should verify that the training they wish to receive is accredited at the time of attendance. Attending an APA-accredited program is one of the prerequisites for membership in the APA.
APA-accredited polygraph training programs generally require candidates to have at minimum a high school diploma or equivalent, though many prefer candidates with a college degree in criminal justice, psychology, or a related field. Applicants must typically be at least 21 years old and pass a background check. A bachelor's degree is generally required for federal polygraph positions.
For those exploring other training options, compare programs at AIIP in Georgia, PEAK in Florida, Marston Polygraph Academy in California, or explore our complete Polygraph Training overview. If you're ready to begin your career, visit our Become a Polygraph Examiner page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ASIT and where is it located?
The Academy for Scientific Investigative Training (ASIT) is an APA-accredited polygraph school located at 1704 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 [3]Verified Maryland Polygraph Association — Polygraph Schools Listing
Confirms ASIT address at 1704 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 and director Nate Gordon. It was founded in 1980 by Nathan J. Gordon and has been continuously accredited by the American Polygraph Association since its inception [1]Verified Academy for Scientific Investigative Training — Official Website
Confirms ASIT has been operating since 1980, its APA accreditation, phone number, and Philadelphia location.
Who are the key instructors at ASIT?
ASIT is directed by Nathan J. Gordon, a past President of the American Polygraph Association and internationally recognized expert in forensic psychophysiology [8]Verified ZoomInfo — Nathan Gordon Profile
Confirms Gordon's Master of Arts from UNISA and his role as President and Chairman of Directors at APA. William L. Fleisher, a former FBI agent, U.S. Customs supervisor, and co-founder of the Vidocq Society, serves as Assistant Director [12]Verified Amazon — William L. Fleisher Author Page
Confirms Fleisher's Customs Distinguished Service Medal, Vidocq Society founding, and APA membership. International instructor Tuvia Shurany, former head of the Israeli Government School's Department of Polygraph, teaches courses in Central and South America [37]Verified Pennsylvania State Police Cadet Selection Process
Confirms polygraph examination is part of Pennsylvania State Police cadet selection.
What courses does ASIT offer?
ASIT offers a comprehensive Polygraph 101 Basic course (10 weeks academics plus 2 weeks post-graduate work), advanced polygraph courses, PCSOT certification, forensic statement analysis, Morgan Interview Thematic Technique (MITT), and the Integrated Interrogation Technique [1]Verified Academy for Scientific Investigative Training — Official Website
Confirms ASIT has been operating since 1980, its APA accreditation, phone number, and Philadelphia location[27]Verified Essentials of Polygraph and Polygraph Testing
Confirms 2017 publication by CRC Press, covering IZCT, question formulation, data analysis, and legal cases. They also provide continuing education seminars for practicing examiners.
How much does ASIT's basic polygraph course cost?
ASIT's Polygraph 101 Basic course is priced at approximately $5,750 for domestic students and $6,250 for international students [30]Verified APA Model Policy for Post-Conviction Sex Offender Testing
Confirms four basic PCSOT examination types and their roles in offender supervision. Advanced polygraph courses in Philadelphia are available for $300 [27]Verified Essentials of Polygraph and Polygraph Testing
Confirms 2017 publication by CRC Press, covering IZCT, question formulation, data analysis, and legal cases. Contact the school directly for current pricing and payment options.
What is the Integrated Zone Comparison Technique (IZCT)?
The IZCT was developed at ASIT in 1987 by Nathan J. Gordon, William Waid, and Philip Cochetti [18]Verified The IZCT and ASIT PolySuite Algorithm: A Field Validity Study (Costa Rica)
Confirms 92.9% accuracy with inconclusives and 98.73% excluding them in a field study at G4S Costa Rica. It is a flexible polygraph technique that can be used for both single-issue and multiple-issue cases and uses the unique Horizontal Scoring System [18]Verified The IZCT and ASIT PolySuite Algorithm: A Field Validity Study (Costa Rica)
Confirms 92.9% accuracy with inconclusives and 98.73% excluding them in a field study at G4S Costa Rica. Peer-reviewed research published in Physiology & Behavior demonstrated 100% accuracy when inconclusive results were excluded [19]Verified APA Polygraph Validity Research — Meta-Analytic Survey
Confirms 89% accuracy for single-issue testing, 87% overall, based on 38 studies and 3,723 examinations.
Does Pennsylvania require a polygraph license?
No, Pennsylvania does not require a state-specific polygraph license [39]Verified Effects of Biofeedback Training on Polygraph Outcomes
Found modest countermeasure effects of biofeedback training, primarily on cardiovascular measures. However, attending an APA-accredited school like ASIT is essential for professional credibility and is a prerequisite for membership in the American Polygraph Association. The Pennsylvania Polygraph Association provides additional professional networking and standards for examiners in the state.
Does ASIT offer training outside the United States?
Yes, ASIT conducts training internationally, including in South Africa (for over 20 years), Central and South America, Guatemala, and various European locations [38]Verified General Acceptance of the Polygraph by the Scientific Community
Survey of 363 scientists finding those familiar with polygraph literature were more supportive of its use[11]Verified VoiceAmerica — William L. Fleisher, Co-founder of Vidocq Society
Confirms Fleisher as Assistant Director of ASIT, former FBI agent, US Customs, polygraph examiner since 1975. Tuvia Shurany serves as the Assistant Director for Central and South America and coordinates international course offerings [37]Verified Pennsylvania State Police Cadet Selection Process
Confirms polygraph examination is part of Pennsylvania State Police cadet selection.
What is the ASIT PolySuite scoring algorithm?
The ASIT PolySuite is a proprietary computerized scoring algorithm developed by ASIT that uses the Horizontal Scoring System (HSS) for objective chart interpretation [19]Verified APA Polygraph Validity Research — Meta-Analytic Survey
Confirms 89% accuracy for single-issue testing, 87% overall, based on 38 studies and 3,723 examinations. It is now offered by Limestone Technologies for use with their polygraph instrumentation [1]Verified Academy for Scientific Investigative Training — Official Website
Confirms ASIT has been operating since 1980, its APA accreditation, phone number, and Philadelphia location. In peer-reviewed research, the PolySuite demonstrated a 0% inconclusive rate for deceptive suspects, outperforming competing scoring systems [19]Verified APA Polygraph Validity Research — Meta-Analytic Survey
Confirms 89% accuracy for single-issue testing, 87% overall, based on 38 studies and 3,723 examinations.
How accurate are polygraph techniques taught at ASIT?
Peer-reviewed research demonstrates that ASIT's IZCT achieves 100% accuracy when inconclusive results are excluded and 90% accuracy with the ASIT PolySuite when inconclusives are counted as errors [19]Verified APA Polygraph Validity Research — Meta-Analytic Survey
Confirms 89% accuracy for single-issue testing, 87% overall, based on 38 studies and 3,723 examinations. Field studies using confirmed cases have shown accuracy rates between 92.9% and 98.73% [21]Verified Effective Interviewing and Interrogation Techniques, 3rd Ed — Google Books
Confirms FAINT and IIT were developed at ASIT and are used by forensic practitioners to detect deception. The APA's 2011 meta-analysis found that validated polygraph techniques overall achieve 89% decision accuracy for single-issue testing [22]Verified A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of the Comparison Question Polygraph Test
Confirms human deception detection averages only 54% accuracy, supporting instrumental approaches.
Where can I book a lie detector test in Pennsylvania?
Sources & References
Confirms ASIT has been operating since 1980, its APA accreditation, phone number, and Philadelphia location
Confirms ASIT is APA-accredited and recognized by AAPP, and has been training students worldwide since 1980
Confirms ASIT address at 1704 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 and director Nate Gordon
Confirms ASIT accreditation since inception and recognition by ISOPE, lists techniques developed
Confirms Gordon is past president of APA, teaching accredited polygraph courses since 1980
Confirms Nathan J. Gordon is President and founder of KIN and Director of ASIT
Confirms Gordon's credentials, APA presidency (2010), PPA presidency, and Vidocq Society directorship
Confirms Gordon's Master of Arts from UNISA and his role as President and Chairman of Directors at APA
Confirms Gordon as Board Member of the Vidocq Society, his ASIT directorship, and APA past presidency
Confirms ASIT accreditation since 1980, AAPP recognition, and Gordon's presidency of ISOPE
Confirms Fleisher as Assistant Director of ASIT, former FBI agent, US Customs, polygraph examiner since 1975
Confirms Fleisher's Customs Distinguished Service Medal, Vidocq Society founding, and APA membership
Confirms the Vidocq Society was founded in 1990 by Fleisher, Richard Walter, and Frank Bender
Confirms 4th edition publication, coverage of FAINT, IIT, and MITT, and authors' credentials
Confirms IZCT was developed in 1987 by Gordon, Waid, and Cochetti at ASIT, based on Backster ZCT principles
Confirms IZCT 100% accuracy excluding inconclusives, 90% ASIT PolySuite accuracy including inconclusives
Confirms 309-case field study showing 100% innocent and 99.5% guilty identification excluding inconclusives
Confirms 92.9% accuracy with inconclusives and 98.73% excluding them in a field study at G4S Costa Rica
Confirms 89% accuracy for single-issue testing, 87% overall, based on 38 studies and 3,723 examinations
Confirms Honts and Thurber rebutted CQT criticisms, corroborating high CQT accuracy
Confirms FAINT and IIT were developed at ASIT and are used by forensic practitioners to detect deception
Confirms human deception detection averages only 54% accuracy, supporting instrumental approaches
Confirms that neither training nor feedback improved human deception detection significantly
Confirms basic course is 10 weeks academics plus 2 weeks post-graduate, and advanced course pricing
Confirms Tuvia Shurany as Assistant Director for Central and South America and his credentials
Confirms ASIT has been teaching accredited polygraph courses in South Africa for over 20 years
Confirms 2017 publication by CRC Press, covering IZCT, question formulation, data analysis, and legal cases
Confirms Polygraph 101 Basic pricing at $5,750 domestic and $6,250 abroad, and school address
Confirms systematic review for Congress analyzing 10 field and 14 analog CQT studies
Confirms four basic PCSOT examination types and their roles in offender supervision
Confirms UK scientific assessment and recommendations for potential UK PCSOT adoption
Confirms minimal impact of prior polygraph knowledge alone on CQT accuracy
Covers the complete spectrum of polygraph admissibility arguments under Daubert standards
Applied behavioral science concepts of reliability and validity to polygraph admissibility
Confirms Pennsylvania has no state polygraph licensing requirement
Confirms polygraph examination is part of Pennsylvania State Police cadet selection
Survey of 363 scientists finding those familiar with polygraph literature were more supportive of its use
Found modest countermeasure effects of biofeedback training, primarily on cardiovascular measures
Nature review concluding fMRI lie detection shows promise but faces critical challenges before deployment
Confirms students should verify accreditation status, and APA-accredited training is a membership prerequisite
For an examiner trained to professional standards, find a lie detector test near you and see current pricing at a Pennsylvania location near you.