CPE Applications and Career Opportunities 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA), how many business days' advance notice must an employer give an employee before a polygraph examination?
- 24 hours
- 48 hours
- At least 2 business days (Correct answer)
- 5 business days
Correct answer: At least 2 business days
EPPA requires employers to provide employees with at least 48 hours (2 business days) advance notice before a polygraph examination.
Question 2: Which organization offers the primary certification credential recognized nationally for polygraph examiners in the United States?
- International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
- American Polygraph Association (APA) (Correct answer)
- National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Correct answer: American Polygraph Association (APA)
The American Polygraph Association (APA) is the primary professional organization that establishes standards and offers nationally recognized certification for polygraph examiners.
Question 3: A polygraph examiner conducting counterintelligence scope polygraph (CSP) examinations is most likely employed by which type of organization?
- Local police department
- Private investigation firm
- Federal intelligence or defense agency (Correct answer)
- State parole board
Correct answer: Federal intelligence or defense agency
Counterintelligence scope polygraphs are conducted exclusively within federal intelligence and defense agencies to detect espionage and unauthorized disclosures.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a polygraph examination conducted as part of a sex offender treatment program?
- To determine guilt for past crimes
- To facilitate disclosure and monitor compliance with supervision conditions (Correct answer)
- To provide evidence for new criminal charges
- To assess victim credibility
Correct answer: To facilitate disclosure and monitor compliance with supervision conditions
Post-conviction sex offender testing (PCSOT) aims to promote full disclosure of offense history and monitor compliance with treatment and supervision conditions.
Question 5: Which of the following statements about polygraph examiner licensing is accurate?
- All 50 states require polygraph examiners to be licensed
- No states require licensing for polygraph examiners
- Licensing requirements vary by state, with some states having no requirement (Correct answer)
- Federal law mandates uniform licensing standards for all states
Correct answer: Licensing requirements vary by state, with some states having no requirement
Polygraph examiner licensing is regulated at the state level, and requirements vary significantly — some states have rigorous licensing laws while others have none.
Question 6: An examiner working for a national security agency is asked to conduct a 'lifestyle polygraph.' What is the primary focus of this examination type?
- Verifying academic credentials
- Investigating a specific espionage allegation
- Assessing broad behaviors relevant to security eligibility such as drug use and foreign contacts (Correct answer)
- Confirming previous employment history
Correct answer: Assessing broad behaviors relevant to security eligibility such as drug use and foreign contacts
Lifestyle polygraph examinations cover broad behaviors including drug use, financial issues, and foreign contacts to assess overall security eligibility.
Question 7: Which of the following would be considered an appropriate career development step for a newly certified polygraph examiner?
- Immediately opening an independent private practice
- Seeking mentorship under an experienced examiner and joining a professional association (Correct answer)
- Specializing exclusively in criminal investigations without further training
- Declining continuing education to focus on practical experience only
Correct answer: Seeking mentorship under an experienced examiner and joining a professional association
Mentorship and professional association membership are recommended first steps to develop skills, stay current on standards, and build professional credibility.
CPE Applications and Career Opportunities 3
Under the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA), how many business days' advance notice must an employer give an employee before a polygraph examination?