Part II. Entry Requirements
18VAC120-30-40. Basic qualifications for licensure and registration.
A. Every applicant to the department for a license must provide information on the application establishing that the applicant meets the following qualifications:
1. The applicant is at least 18 years of age.
2. The applicant must disclose if the applicant has had a license as a polygraph examiner that was suspended, revoked, or surrendered in connection with a disciplinary action or that has been the subject of discipline in any jurisdiction prior to applying for licensure in Virginia. At the time of application for licensure, the applicant must also disclose any disciplinary action taken in another jurisdiction in connection with the applicant's practice as a polygraph examiner.
3. The applicant must disclose if the applicant has been convicted in any jurisdiction of a felony or misdemeanor involving lying, cheating, stealing, sexual offense, non-marijuana drug distribution, physical injury, or relating to the practice of the profession. The department, in its discretion, may deny licensure to any applicant in accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia.
4. The applicant has disclosed the applicant's physical address and email address. A post office box is not acceptable as a physical address.
5. The applicant has signed, as part of the application, a statement certifying that the applicant has read and understands the Virginia polygraph examiner license law and regulations.
6. The applicant has submitted an application, provided by the department, that must include criminal history record information from the Central Criminal Records Exchange, with a report date within 30 days of the date the application is received by the department.
B. The department may (i) make further inquiries and investigations with respect to the qualifications of the applicant or (ii) require a personal interview with the applicant.
C. The applicant must pass all parts of the polygraph examiner licensing examination approved by the department within one year from examination approval in order to be eligible for a polygraph examiner license.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-1802.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR190-03-1 § 2.1; Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 19, eff. July 12, 1995; amended, Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2007; Volume 30, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2014; Volume 38, Issue 5, eff. December 1, 2021; Volume 42, Issue 4, eff. November 5, 2025.
18VAC120-30-50. Registration of polygraph examiner interns.
A. A polygraph examiner intern registration will be issued to applicants who fulfill the requirements of 18VAC120-30-40 and the following:
1. The applicant has met the experience requirements by having a high school diploma or equivalent and a minimum of five years of experience as an investigator or detective, or in a field acceptable to the department that demonstrates the ability to practice polygraphy.
a. The applicant will be credited two years of the five years of experience required in subdivision 1 of this subsection if the applicant has an associate degree from an accredited college or university.
b. The applicant will be credited all five years of experience required in subdivision 1 of this subsection if the applicant has a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
2. The applicant has met the education requirements by either completing the required training in detection of deception at an accredited Polygraph Association Training Program or an equivalent polygraph school, or by submitting evidence of satisfactory completion of substantially equivalent training if the polygraph school at which the applicant received the training in the detection of deception is not approved by the department.
B. An intern registration will be valid for 12 months from the date of issue as indicated on the registration.
C. Each intern must be supervised by a licensed polygraph examiner who meets the qualifications in 18VAC120-30-60.
D. A polygraph intern may apply for an extension of a polygraph intern registration after the expiration of the initial intern registration for no more than one year by submitting the fee referenced in 18VAC120-30-100. Additional extensions will be allowed if the individual repeats the education requirements set forth in subdivision A 2 of 18VAC120-30-50.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-1802.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR190-03-1 § 2.2, eff. March 27, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 19, eff. July 12, 1995; Volume 23, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2007; Volume 42, Issue 4, eff. November 5, 2025.
18VAC120-30-55. Qualifications for licensure by examination.
A. A polygraph examiner license will be issued to applicants who fulfill the requirements of 18VAC120-30-40, 18VAC120-30-50, and subsections B and C of this section.
B. The applicant must have completed six months as a registered intern examiner under the supervision of an examiner qualified under 18VAC120-30-60 who must supervise each and every polygraph examination administered by the intern. The internship need not be accomplished in Virginia. However, any internship conducted outside of Virginia must comply fully with this regulation. An intern may not be eligible to sit for the license examination until the intern's supervisor has submitted to the department a written statement that the internship has been satisfactorily completed. The department may waive the internship for any person who practiced polygraphy in a federal jurisdiction or the United States military.
C. Upon submission of the completed application and fee, the applicant will be considered for the examination required by 18VAC120-30-110. Upon passing such examination, the applicant will be granted a polygraph examiner license provided the applicant is otherwise qualified.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-1802.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 4, eff. November 5, 2025.
18VAC120-30-60. Qualifications for licensed polygraph examiners to act as supervisors of polygraph interns.
Each supervisor for a registered intern examiner must be currently licensed and have held a valid Virginia examiner license for two years or submit evidence satisfactory to the department that the supervisor has qualifications that are substantially equivalent to those required in this chapter.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-1802.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR190-03-1 § 2.3, eff. March 27, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 19, eff. July 12, 1995; Volume 42, Issue 4, eff. November 5, 2025.
18VAC120-30-70. Procedures for licensed polygraph examiners to certify the procedures to be used to supervise an intern during an internship.
A. Each licensee supervising an intern must review the intern's charts for quality control and address any deficiencies found in the charts prior to the intern rendering an opinion or conclusion on any polygraph examination administered by the intern.
B. In the event the licensed supervisor is unable to continue, any review of experience will be at the discretion of the board.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-1802.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR190-03-1 § 2.4, eff. March 27, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 19, eff. July 12, 1995; Volume 30, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2014; Volume 42, Issue 4, eff. November 5, 2025.
18VAC120-30-80. Qualifications for licensure by reciprocity.
An individual who is currently licensed as a polygraph examiner in another jurisdiction may obtain a Virginia license, provided the requirements and standards under which the license was issued are substantially equivalent to those in Virginia.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-1802.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR190-03-1 § 2.5; Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 19, eff. July 12, 1995; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 4, eff. November 5, 2025.
18VAC120-30-90. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from VR190-03-1 § 2.6; Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 19, eff. July 12, 1995; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2007.
18VAC120-30-100. Fees.
A. All application fees for licenses and registrations are nonrefundable and will not be prorated. The date of receipt by the department is the date that will be used to determine whether or not the fee is on time.
B. Application and examination fees must be submitted with the application for licensure. All other fees are discussed in greater detail in later sections of this chapter.
C. The following fees listed in the table apply:
FEE TYPE | AMOUNT DUE | WHEN DUE |
Application for Examiner License by Examination | $200 | With application |
Application for Examiner License by Reciprocity | $190 | With application |
Application for Intern Registration | $75 | With application |
Reexamination | $200 | With approval letter |
Renewal | $110 | Up to the expiration date on the license |
Reinstatement | $150 | From the expiration date to 24 calendar months after the expiration date on license |
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-1802.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR190-03-1 § 2.7; Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 19, eff. July 12, 1995; amended, Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 11, eff. April 1, 1998; Volume 15, Issue 26, eff. November 1, 1999; Volume 23, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2007; Volume 30, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2014; Volume 34, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2018; Volume 36, Issue 17, eff. July 1, 2020; Volume 38, Issue 11, eff. March 1, 2022; Volume 38, Issue 18, eff. June 1, 2022; Volume 42, Issue 4, eff. November 5, 2025.
18VAC120-30-110. Examinations.
All examinations required for licensure must be approved by the advisory board and provided by the department, a testing service acting on behalf of the advisory board, or another governmental agency or organization.
Applicants for licensure must pass a two-part licensing examination approved by the board, of which Part I is a written examination and Part II is an advisory board evaluation. Applicants must pass the written examination in order to sit for the advisory board evaluation.
The applicant must follow all rules established by the department with regard to conduct at the examination. Such rules include any written instructions communicated prior to the examination date and any instructions communicated at the site, either written or oral, on the date of the examination. Failure to comply with all rules established by the department with regard to conduct at the examination will be grounds for denial of application.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-1802.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR190-03-1 § 2.8; amended, Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 19, eff. July 12, 1995; Volume 30, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2014; Volume 42, Issue 4, eff. November 5, 2025.