Membership Regulations

Document: Membership Regulations
Status: Adopted and in force
Version: 1.0
Adopted by: The members in general meeting
Effective date: 1 January 2020
Last reviewed: January 2026 (reaffirmed without amendment)
Next review due: January 2027
Review cycle: Annually

1. Purpose

1.1 These Regulations set out the detailed rules for admission to, continuation of, and termination of membership of the British Polygraph Society.

1.2 These Regulations are subordinate to the Constitution. Where any provision of these Regulations conflicts with the Constitution, the Constitution prevails.

2. Classes of Membership

2.1 The Society has seven classes of membership as provided in clause 5.2 of the Constitution:

1. Intern Member;
2. Member;
3. Senior Member;
4. Honorary Member;
5. Affiliate Member;
6. Research Member;
7. Student Member.

2.2 The rights, obligations, and voting entitlements attaching to each class are as set out in the Constitution and in these Regulations. Only Members, Senior Members, and Honorary Members who also hold Member or Senior Member status have voting rights.

2.3 Only Intern Members, Members, and Senior Members are eligible for listing in the public examiner directory. Affiliate Members are listed in a separate Affiliates directory. Research Members and Student Members are not listed publicly save with their written consent and in the form determined by the Management Committee.

3. Admission Criteria — Intern Member

3.1 An applicant for Intern Membership shall:

1. have completed a basic polygraph examiner training course accredited by the American Polygraph Association, or a course recognised as equivalent by the Management Committee;
2. be engaged in supervised practice under the direction of a Member or Senior Member, or under the direction of an APA-certified examiner of equivalent standing;
3. provide a reference from the supervising examiner;
4. submit a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) basic disclosure certificate dated not more than three months before the date of application, or an equivalent for applicants resident outside the United Kingdom;
5. hold appropriate professional indemnity insurance for polygraph practice or be covered by the supervising examiner’s insurance; and
6. sign the Member Undertaking at Schedule 1.

4. Admission Criteria — Member

4.1 An applicant for Member status shall:

1. hold current certification from the American Polygraph Association (APA), or a qualification recognised by the Management Committee as equivalent;
2. have completed a minimum of 50 supervised polygraph examinations, or such other threshold as the Management Committee may set;
3. submit a DBS basic disclosure certificate dated not more than three months before the date of application;
4. hold professional indemnity insurance appropriate to the member’s practice, with a minimum limit of indemnity set from time to time by the Management Committee;
5. provide two professional references, at least one of which shall be from an APA-certified examiner; and
6. sign the Member Undertaking at Schedule 1.

5. Admission Criteria — Senior Member

5.1 An applicant for Senior Member status shall:

1. have been a Member in good standing for a minimum of five continuous years;
2. have completed not fewer than 500 polygraph examinations during that period;
3. have met the CPD requirements of the Society in each of those years;
4. not have been subject to any disciplinary finding at level (d) or above under the Complaints, Discipline and Appeals Procedure in the preceding three years; and
5. provide evidence of contribution to the profession through training, research, peer-review, or comparable service.

6. Honorary Member

6.1 The members in general meeting may, on the recommendation of the Management Committee, admit a person as an Honorary Member in recognition of distinguished service to polygraph examination or to the Society.

6.2 Honorary Members pay no subscription. They have no voting rights unless they also hold Member or Senior Member status.

6A. Admission Criteria — Affiliate Member

6A.1 Open to practising professionals in roles adjacent to polygraph examination, including (without limitation) treatment providers, probation and HMPPS staff, barristers and solicitors, HR and corporate investigators, forensic psychologists, and clinicians.

6A.2 An applicant for Affiliate Membership shall:

1. demonstrate current employment, practice, or engagement in an eligible professional role;
2. provide a professional reference;
3. submit a basic DBS disclosure (or equivalent for applicants resident outside the United Kingdom) dated not more than three months before the date of application;
4. sign the Member Undertaking at Schedule 1; and
5. pay the applicable subscription.

6A.3 Affiliate Members are bound by the Code of Ethics. The Standards of Practice and other policies specific to the conduct of polygraph examinations apply to Affiliate Members only to the extent that they conduct, commission, or are otherwise professionally involved in such examinations.

6A.4 An Affiliate Member shall not hold themselves out as a BPS-listed polygraph examiner, use the “MBPS” or “SMBPS” post-nominals, or appear in the examiner directory. Affiliates may use the designation “Affiliate, BPS” and are listed in the separate Affiliates directory.

6B. Admission Criteria — Research Member

6B.1 Open to researchers and scientists with a postgraduate qualification (Masters, doctoral, or higher) or a demonstrable research track record in a field relevant to polygraphy, including psychophysiology, credibility assessment, forensic science, statistics, or machine learning.

6B.2 An applicant for Research Membership shall:

1. provide evidence of the qualification or research track record relied on;
2. provide a professional reference;
3. sign the Member Undertaking at Schedule 1; and
4. pay the applicable subscription.

6B.3 Research Members are bound by the Code of Ethics. They are eligible to be invited by the Management Committee to sit on the Research and Standards Sub-Committee, the role of which is advisory only. Research Members have no vote at general meetings and no role in disciplinary panels.

6B.4 Research Members may use the designation “Research Member, BPS”.

6C. Admission Criteria — Student Member

6C.1 Open to persons in training towards polygraph examiner certification, and to persons in postgraduate study in a field relevant to polygraphy.

6C.2 An applicant for Student Membership shall:

1. provide documentary evidence of current enrolment on a relevant course of study or training;
2. sign the Member Undertaking at Schedule 1; and
3. pay the reduced Student subscription set by the members in general meeting.

6C.3 Student Members are bound by the Code of Ethics. They have no vote and are not eligible to sit on the Management Committee or on disciplinary panels.

6C.4 Student Membership is granted for one year at a time and may be renewed for so long as the member remains in qualifying study or training. On completion of that study or training, the Student Member may apply, and on meeting the criteria shall be converted, to Intern Member, Affiliate Member, or Research Member as appropriate. Student Membership otherwise terminates on cessation of qualifying study or training.

6C.5 Student Members may use the designation “Student Member, BPS”.

7. Application Process

7.1 Applications shall be made on the prescribed form and shall be accompanied by the application fee set by the Management Committee.

7.2 The Management Committee shall determine every application within sixty days of receipt of a complete application. Where further information is requested, the sixty-day period runs from receipt of that information.

7.3 A refusal shall be given in writing with reasons. The applicant may appeal under the Complaints, Discipline and Appeals Procedure, limited to the ground that the decision was procedurally flawed or clearly unreasonable.

8. Subscriptions

8.1 Members shall pay an annual subscription at the rate set by the members in general meeting, on the recommendation of the Management Committee. The members shall set a separate rate for each class. The Student rate shall be a reduced rate. Honorary Members pay no subscription. Actual rates for each class are to be determined by the members at the Annual General Meeting.

8.2 Subscriptions are due on 1 January each year. A member whose subscription is more than sixty days in arrears ceases to be in good standing. A member whose subscription is more than six months in arrears ceases to be a member, subject to reinstatement on payment of arrears and any reinstatement fee.

8.3 Subscriptions are non-refundable.

9. Directory Listing

9.1 Members in good standing are entitled to a listing in the BPS public directory. Intern Members are listed as such and with the name of their supervising examiner.

9.2 The Secretary may amend or remove a directory listing where necessary to reflect changes in membership status, complaints outcomes, or matters notified under clause 10.3 of the Code of Ethics.

10. Termination of Membership

10.1 Membership terminates as set out in clause 5.5 of the Constitution.

10.2 On termination, the former member shall cease to describe themselves as a member, cease to use any BPS post-nominal, mark, or logo, and shall surrender any certificate of membership.

11. Re-admission

11.1 A person whose membership has been terminated by expulsion may apply for re-admission only after the expiry of any minimum period specified in the expulsion decision, or three years from the date of expulsion if no minimum period was specified. A re-admission application is considered by the Management Committee in the same way as a fresh application.

Schedule 1 — Member Undertaking

“I, [name], apply for membership of the British Polygraph Society. I undertake to observe the Constitution, the Code of Ethics, the Standards of Practice, and all other policies of the Society as amended from time to time. I confirm that the information given in my application is true and complete. I agree that the law of England and Wales governs my membership and that the courts of England and Wales have jurisdiction over any dispute arising out of my membership.”