Polygraph Examiners Course
Course details
2024
| Session(s) | Location | Start date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24-02 English | Ottawa | 2024-09-16 | 2024-11-22 |
| Tuition |
|---|
| $29,975.00 |
Notes
- Accommodations are offered to course participants. Our rooms are subject to availability and the request must be indicated on the course registration form
- Meal plans are offered to course participants. The specific meal plan must be indicated on the course registration form
- Travel grant funding is available to our non-federal law enforcement agencies
2025
| Session(s) | Location | Start date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-01 English | Ottawa | 2025-01-13 | 2025-03-21 |
| 25-02 English | Ottawa | 2025-09-15 | 2025-11-21 |
| Tuition |
|---|
| $29,975.00 |
Notes
- Accommodations are offered to course participants. Our rooms are subject to availability and the request must be indicated on the course registration form
- Meal plans are offered to course participants. The specific meal plan must be indicated on the course registration form
- Travel grant funding is available to our non-federal law enforcement agencies
Description
The Canadian Police College trains employees of law enforcement, military, and intelligence agencies to become certified polygraph examiners. By asking questions about a particular issue under investigation and examining a subject's physiological reactions, a polygraph examiner can reach an opinion as to whether a subject has been truthful or deceptive. Polygraph testing is an investigative tool that is typically used during the later stages of an investigation.
Format and delivery
- Delivery setting
This course is presented in person.
Theoretical portions are offered in the classroom.
Practical exercises take place in a polygraph suite with polygraph equipment.
- Length of course
-
Three phases of the course must be completed within one year:
- the academic phase is a ten-week course of theory and practice
- the internship phase is a two-week period of practical application under direct supervision
- the certification phase is approximately nine months of practical application under indirect supervision
- Class size
- 14 participants
- Pre-course assignments
- Memorize the complete Polygraph Examiners Course Pre-Test script verbatim prior to attending the Polygraph Examiners Course. On day one of the course, all participants are tested on their ability to write and recite the complete Pre-Test Script from memory.
Learning outcomes
- Ability to operate a polygraph instrument, including its mechanical, electrical and computer components
- Ability to use a systematic approach to prepare themselves and the examinee for a polygraph examination
- Ability to use standard test questions to conduct a polygraph examination
- Ability to incorporate direct and indirect involvement techniques when conducting polygraph examinations
- Ability to follow in-test procedures when operating polygraph instruments
- Ability to analyze polygraph charts to identify indications of truthfulness and deception
- Ability to describe the physiological changes monitored during a polygraph examination
- Ability to describe how the physiological effects of drugs and alcohol and how they may affect the outcome of a polygraph examination
- Ability to describe how various personality types may affect the outcome of a polygraph examination
- Ability to use procedures to maximize the accuracy of recall from individuals
- Ability to describe how to resolve moral and ethical issues which arise as a result of administering a polygraph examination
- Ability to conduct post-test procedures to confirm chart tracings and examiners chart evaluation
- Ability to explain human factors related to the examinee which may affect the results of administering a polygraph examination
- Ability to describe testing procedures that apply to special situations
- Ability to describe other duties the polygraph examiner may perform in addition to conducting polygraph examinations
- Ability to apply principles of cognitive interviewing to maximize information retrieval from a victim or witness
- Ability to recognize verbal and nonverbal cues of truth or deception, omission or editing and know when and how to forward a statement for statement analysis services
- Ability to apply the rules of interrogation to subjects identified as deceptive in order to obtain an admission of guilt or a confession; and
- Ability to prepare a court brief
Eligibility and mandatory requirements
- This course is offered to experienced investigators and interviewers employed by recognized domestic and/or international police, military or intelligence agencies with established polygraph programs
- Applications must include a letter of support from the head of the agency's polygraph unit
- Acceptance or refusal in the course is at the discretion of the Canadian Police College
Assessment
- Success in the course is based on participation and completion of all required assignments
- Various evaluation methods are used, including:
- written tests/exams
- practical evaluations
- mock crime scenario testing evaluations
- real testing evaluations
- Re-testing or re-evaluation is conducted at the discretion of the course instructor
Transfer credits
The graduates of the college's Polygraph Examiners course are eligible for credits towards the Bachelor of Arts in Policing at Wilfrid Laurier University. For more information, please refer to the Transfer credits section.
Contact
For more details or other information about the course, please email cpc_registrar-registraire_ccp@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
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