Overview of Polygraph Examiner Bond Requirements
This is considered a commercial bond, also known as a license or permit bond, that is required of polygraph examiners in a number of states. Its purpose is to guarantee that licensed examiners will comply with the Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 as well as with state laws that regulate the profession.
The Act guarantees that polygraph examiners can only be employed in a limited number of cases, and must be bonded. The Act requires polygraph examiners (with certain exceptions) to be bonded with a $50,000 bond. States that have laws about examiners commonly require them to get a license, and an additional bond on top of the one required by the Act.
When an examiner violates either the provisions of the Act or applicable state laws, a claim can be made against their bond. For example, misusing or misrepresenting information gained during an examination can give rise to a claim being filed against the examiner. When a claim against a bond is made, the surety will extend compensation which can be as high as the full amount of the bond, also known as the penal sum.
Currently, apart from the bond required by the Employee Polygraph Protection Act for certain individuals, an additional bond is required in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas.
If this is the first time you are getting bonded, see our ‘What is a surety bond’ guide for a detailed explanation of what bonds are and how they work!
Read on to find out more about how much getting bonded will cost, what a bond claim is, and how you can apply for a bond.
Do you need to know more about getting bonded as a polygraph examiner? Call our professionals at 866.450.3412!
The Cost of Your Polygraph Examiner Bond Bond
The cost to get bonded is a percentage of the full bond amount. In this case, the basic bond amount required by the Employee Polygraph Protection Act is $50,000. On top of that, if you are located in one of the states mentioned above, you will need to obtain a bond when getting licensed. These bonds are in the amount of $5,000.
The exact cost of your polygraph examiner bond is determined when you apply with a surety. The surety will primarily review your personal credit score when determining the rate it can offer to you. It may also request to review your personal or business financial statements, as well as other indicators of your financial standing. The most important factor though is your credit score, and the higher your score - the lower your rate will be.
Applicants with a score of 700 FICO or more can expect to get bonded at a rate between .75% and 1.5% of the total amount of their bond.
Get a quick estimate of your bond cost from our bond calculator below or have a look at the table below. For an exact quote on your bond, see the section about getting bonded!
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Get a free exact quote Get another estimate| Surety bond amount | Above 700 | Between 650-699 | Between 600-649 | Below 599 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bond required by the Employee Polygraph Protection Act | $50,000 | $375-$750 | $500-$1,250 | $1,250-$2,500 | $2,500-$3,750 |
| Bond required in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas | $5,000 | $100 | $100-$125 | $125-$250 | $250-$500 |
Getting Bonded With Bad Credit
Even if you have a low credit score, you can still get a polygraph examiner bond! Applicants with low scores can get bonded through our Bad Credit Program as easily as everyone else.
Rates under this program are slightly higher because sureties perceive applicants with lower scores as more likely to give rise to a bond claim. But since bond rates are not permanently fixed, you can get better rates over time as you improve your credit score.
Visit the program page to find out more about the program and to request a free quote on your bond.
Claims Against Your Bond
A claim against a bond can be filed when the bonded party violates the conditions of the bond. Both the federal and state laws delineate strict standards regarding how polygraph examinations are conducted. Bonds are conditioned upon the compliance with these laws and standards.
Violations can include failing to provide information to persons being examined regarding the nature of the examination or failing to provide the examined person with the results of the examination upon request. Further violations can be the willful misrepresentation or false reporting of examination purposes as well as not cooperating with state and federal departments when being requested to do so.
In this case, a complaint or claim can be brought against the polygraph examiner who violated the conditions of the bond to request compensation for losses or damages suffered by the claimant. Such compensation can be as high as the full amount of the bond.
When a claim is filed, a surety will compensate claimants up to the full amount but the bonded examiner will then need to repay the surety in full. Since performing polygraph examinations is so strictly regulated, examiners need to pay close attention that they comply with laws and regulations in order to avoid potential claims against their bonds.
Apply for Your Polygraph Examiner Bond Here!
To apply for your polygraph examiner bond or simply to get a free quote on your bond, complete our bond form. We will shortly contact you with your quote along with additional information about finalizing your application.
Once you have submitted your final application, it will take up to two working days for your bond to be issued. We will then forward your bond to you via standard mail as well as via email.
Do you have any unanswered questions regarding this bond or the bonding process? Call us at 866.450.3412 to speak to one of our bond experts!
