High-Responsibility Jobs That Don’t Require a Polygraph Test—But Should

Important Disclaimer: This blog is not written to claim that all individuals in these roles are dishonest or unfit. As is true in any profession, including mine, there are those who uphold high standards and those who fall short. The purpose of this post is to show how insufficient screening in critical roles can lead to harmful outcomes that could have been avoided with more thorough measures like polygraph testing.

The Problem: High-Stakes Jobs with Low Oversight

Across the United States, there are jobs that involve immense responsibility, jobs that place individuals in positions of trust with children, money, safety, and even lives. Yet many of these roles never require a polygraph test during the hiring process.

These roles include:

• Private and public daycare providers

• Teachers, from preschool through high school

• Security guards (armed or unarmed)

• Armored car drivers and ATM transporters

So why aren’t polygraph exams part of the hiring process for these positions? And what kinds of harm can result when they’re not?

As a licensed, advanced certified polygraph examiner with decades of experience, I’ve tested individuals from all of these professions, often after incidents occurred. The stories I’ve uncovered through my interviews and exams reveal just how preventable many of these tragedies were.

Daycare Providers: The Hidden Risks Behind Referrals and Resumes

Whether they’re privately hired or employed by a licensed facility, daycare providers hold one of the most trusted roles in our society. They’re responsible for the safety, care, and development of our youngest, most vulnerable children.

But what’s often overlooked? The hiring process.

Private Hires

Many parents find childcare through personal referrals or informal interviews. They may ask basic questions like:

• “How long have you been doing this?”

• “How many children do you watch?”

• “Do you provide meals?”

But far fewer ask:

• “Have you ever been investigated by CPS?”

• “Who else lives in your home?”

• “Have you or your partner ever used drugs or lost custody of a child?”

Most parents don’t do criminal background checks, CPS record reviews, or home environment assessments. Yet they hand over their most precious gift, their child, based on trust and first impressions.

Licensed Daycare Facilities

Even licensed facilities with polished brochures and reassuring staff bios may be operating with blind spots. Parents rarely ask whether:

• The facility has ever been investigated

• Staff have prior CPS involvement

• Employees were terminated from past roles due to misconduct

I’ve tested daycare workers after serious incidents, including broken bones, brain trauma, and even child deaths. In one case, a private daycare worker had lost custody of their own children and was using childcare employment as part of a court-approved plan to regain custody, without disclosing this to the hiring parent.

Had a polygraph test been conducted before hiring, these red flags might have been revealed, and the child spared life-altering harm.

Teachers: When Personal Chaos Leads to Professional Disaster

Educators are entrusted with guiding and mentoring students. But what happens when personal dysfunction seeps into the classroom?

I’ve tested teachers accused of sexual misconduct, grooming, and possession of child pornography. In nearly all cases, the behavior stemmed from deeper issues:

• Marital problems and emotional neglect

• Addiction to pornography and unhealthy fantasies

• Childhood trauma that went unresolved

These individuals often target vulnerable students, those dealing with loneliness, low self-esteem, or unstable home lives. The inappropriate relationships begin with small gestures: private messages, personal compliments, requests for photos “just for fun.” They almost always escalate.

The teachers I’ve interviewed admitted to:

• Fantasizing about students

• Viewing child pornography

• Believing their actions were justified because of unmet emotional needs

This is not every teacher, but it’s enough to warrant concern. These incidents don’t start in the classroom. They start in the mind, well before any criminal behavior is caught.

A pre-employment polygraph could help uncover dangerous tendencies that background checks miss.

Security Guards, Armored Car Drivers, and ATM Transporters: Trusted with Lives and Millions

These roles require vigilance, professionalism, and trust. Guards and armored transport staff protect people, property, and significant sums of money. Some are even authorized to carry firearms and detain individuals.

Yet hiring processes are often rushed and shallow. Many companies are understaffed and desperate to fill roles. If a candidate interviews well and passes a basic background check, they’re in.

But I’ve tested dozens of these individuals after workplace incidents and discovered:

• Prior criminal histories including theft, sexual assault, child pornography, and armed robbery

• Drug use, domestic violence, and significant dishonesty

• Use of excessive force and improper detainment of civilians

In one tragic case, a hotel security team restrained a guest experiencing a mental health crisis. The man later died. A polygraph exam during hiring could have exposed prior incidents of violence and poor judgment, before the tragedy ever occurred.

Why Background Checks Aren’t Enough

Many assume that a clean background check means someone is safe to hire. But background checks only reveal past convictions, not prior investigations, unfounded CPS reports, or disturbing behavioral patterns that haven’t led to arrests.

Federal agencies like the CIA, NSA, and FBI all use polygraph tests as part of their hiring process. Why? Because they understand that interviews and background checks alone can’t uncover everything.

If your government uses polygraphs to protect national security, why aren’t private companies using them to protect our children, our safety, and our trust?

The Case for Polygraph Testing in High-Responsibility Jobs

Let me be clear—I’m not advocating for polygraph testing just because I conduct them. I’m advocating for them because I’ve seen what happens when companies fail to do their due diligence.

I’ve tested people who:

• Lied to get hired

• Abused the trust placed in them

• Caused serious physical and emotional harm to others

• Admitted, only after the fact, that they would have never passed a polygraph exam

Polygraph testing won’t catch every issue. But it adds a vital layer of protection that resumes, references, and background checks cannot.

If you're a parent, employer, or simply a concerned citizen, ask more questions. Demand more from the hiring process. And if you’re someone who wants to ensure the truth comes out, don’t hesitate to take a polygraph exam.

Need a Polygraph Test? Work With a Trusted, Certified Examiner

Connect with Mr. David Goldberg, founder of Executive Protection Group and a Virginia State-Licensed, Advanced Board-Certified Polygraph Examiner. With over 30 years of combined experience in investigative work and polygraph science, Mr. Goldberg is trusted by clients across the country for his professionalism, compassion, and unmatched expertise.

Based in Virginia Beach, we proudly serve clients not only across Virginia but throughout the country. Mr. Goldberg is highly sought after by individuals and professionals nationwide and is available to travel for private, on-site polygraph examinations in all matters of importance.

At Executive Protection Group Polygraph Service, our mission is simple: to eliminate doubt, uncover the truth, and provide you with the clarity and confidence to move forward.

Take the first step toward truth, resolution, and freedom—with Executive Protection Group Polygraph Service.

To learn more about how we can support you, visit our website or call today to schedule your private, professional polygraph examination.

Because when the truth matters most, the examiner you hire matters too.