Pre-Employment Polygraph Testing

Global Polygraph Network is available to provide pre-employment lie detector tests, also known as screening exams.  In the Unites States, there is a federal regulation governing these types of exams, which are only permissible within certain industries.  Click HERE for more information about these regulations and requirements.  Most other countries permit this type of screening, subject only to that country’s general employment regulations.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT POLYGRAPH TESTING is just one part of a pre-hire screening process for individuals seeking to work for certain employers.  These examiners work closely with Personnel Department to design the most effective exam questions for a given position or situation. 

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, the following industries are permitted to require pre-employment polygraph testing of their prospective employees.  Outside the United States, with the exception of Ontario (Canada), there are no such regulations in place.

  • Armored Car Services
  • Security Services
  • Alarm Service Providers
  • Companies that produce, sell, or transport pharmaceuticals and controlled substances
  • Power generating companies
  • Law Enforcement Agencies
  • Other Government Agencies

U.S. STATES & CANADIAN PROVINCES THAT PROHIBIT EMPLOYMENT POLYGRAPHS (Updated 2023)

Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia (only pre-employment testing prohibited), Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ontario Province (Canada), Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia (permitted only for employees handling pharmaceuticals).

PRE-EMPLOYMENT POLYGRAPH TESTS FOR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

In the United States, most “letter” agencies (FBI, CIA, DEA, DOD, etc.) require polygraph testing of prospective employees.  These exams are designed to screen out (exclude) candidates with criminal backgrounds, affiliations with foreign governments or terrorist organizations, involvement with drug use and trafficking, selling or disseminating classified information, etc.  These “letter” agencies usually train their own examiners, who specialize in these types of exams.  Outside the United States, these examiners may be government employees, or private examiners working under contract.  GPN members are available to assist with these types of exams.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT POLYGRAPH TESTING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

These types of exams are usually contracted to private examiners for budgetary reasons, rather than train and maintain police officer examiners on staff for widely varying levels of need.  These exams are designed to screen out (exclude) candidates for serious criminal background, use or sale of drugs, domestic violence, falsification of credentials, terminations from employment, prior disciplinary actions, thefts from previous employers, etc.  GPN members are available to provide these types of exams.  We will work closely with your Personnel Department to design an exam best suited for a given position.  Note that most exams of this type are limited to four (4) relevant questions, and may take 1.5 to 3.0 hours.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT POLYGRAPH TESTING FOR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS

If lie detector testing is permissible in the private sector for pre-employment screening, it is typically used to screen out (exclude) candidates for criminal behaviors, falsification of credentials, thefts from previous employers, unreported terminations or disciplinary actions, recent drug use or involvement, etc.  GPN members are available to provide these types of exams worldwide, as permitted by law.  We will work closely with your Personnel Department to design an exam template best suited for each position.  Note that most exams of this type are limited to four (4) relevant questions, and may take 1.5 to 3.0 hours.

THE SUCCESSIVE HURDLES APPROACH

The proper method for polygraph testing of potential employees is called the “successive hurdles” approach.  Understanding that any type of screening exam is less accurate than a specific issue exam, the error rate will be significantly higher than with a single-issue approach, simply because the examiner is covering multiple issues within the same exam sequence.  If a person “fails” a screening exam, the proper protocol is to then administer a more accurate specific issue test on the question or questions that produced the worst score on the screening test.  If the candidate passes the specific issue test, that “hurdle” is considered to be achieved.  This protocol is not always possible, however, given time and budget constraints that many companies or agencies may have in place for their contracted examiners. 

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING for your Agency, Department, or Company, please feel free to contact us with any questions, or to provide a customized quote for services.  To request a quote from us, we will need the following information.

  • Client name
  • Name of Agency or Company
  • Type of Agency or Company
  • Location where exams are needed
  • Estimated number of candidates to be tested
  • Time frame that the exams are needed

Sample pre-employment questions that are sometimes asked of prospective employees.

  • Have you ever been terminated from a job?
  • Were you ever subject to disciplinary action at a job?
  • Did you falsify any information on your application?
  • Have you ever committed a serious crime?
  • In the last ten years, have you used or distributed any illegal drugs?
  • Have you ever stolen more than ten dollars worth of cash or property from an employer?
  • Did you ever intentionally hurt someone?
  • Have you ever falsified any documents at a job?
  • Did you ever use excessive force while performing your duties?
  • Are you applying for this job with the intention of damaging the company?
  • Have you ever been accused of misconduct at a job?
  • Did you ever disclose confidential company information to an unauthorized person?
  • Have you ever worked at a job while under the influence of drugs or alcohol?
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This page addresses the following issues.

  • Pre-employment lie detector test
  • Pre-employment polygraph test
  • Preemployment lie detector test
  • Preemployment polygraph test
  • Employee screening test
  • Lie Detector for screening
  • Polygraph for screening
  • Employment Polygraph
  • Employment Lie Detector
  • Prehire lie detector
  • Prehire polygraph
  • New hire lie detector
  • New hire polygraph

GLOBAL POLYGRAPH NETWORK®

Established in 1987, Global Polygraph Network® is the world’s largest and most trusted polygraph (lie detector) company with services available at hundreds of locations by highly-trained experts worldwide. Avoid “discount” polygraph frauds and “over the phone” testing scams. We only provide real polygraphs by real examiners. Trust our A+ BBB rating, up-front pricing, and written guarantee.