California Alarm Company Qualified Manager (ACQ)
Exam 2026/2027 | BSIS Alarm Company Operator
Qualified Manager Certification Study Guide, Practice
Questions & Answers, California Alarm Company
Licensing Exam Prep, Alarm Company Act,
Management, Installation, Service & Repair,
Monitoring, False Alarms, Contracts, Personnel,
Compliance, California Laws & Detailed Rationales
Question 1: Under California's Alarm Company Act, what is the
primary role of the Qualified Manager?
A. To personally perform all alarm installations and service calls
B. To manage the day-to-day business operations of the alarm company
operator
C. To oversee only the financial and billing functions of the company
D. To act as a consultant with no direct involvement in operations
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To manage the day-to-day business
operations of the alarm company operator
Rationale: The Qualified Manager is defined as the individual who is in
active control, management, and direction of the licensee's business,
managing the day-to-day operations of the Alarm Company Operator .
Question 2: What is the minimum age requirement to apply for a
California Alarm Company Qualified Manager certificate?
A. 16 years
B. 18 years
C. 21 years
D. 25 years
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 18 years
Rationale: California Business and Professions Code Section 7599 explicitly
requires applicants for a Qualified Manager certificate to be at least 18
years of age .
Question 3: How many hours of compensated alarm company work
experience are required to qualify for the Qualified Manager
examination?
A. 1,000 hours
B. 2,000 hours
,C. 3,000 hours
D. 4,000 hours
CORRECT ANSWER: D. 4,000 hours
Rationale: California law mandates at least two years of experience, which
equates to not less than 4,000 hours of actual compensated alarm company
work .
Question 4: Which California agency is responsible for issuing the
Alarm Company Qualified Manager certificate?
A. California Department of Insurance
B. California State Fire Marshal
C. Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
D. California Public Utilities Commission
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Bureau of Security and Investigative
Services (BSIS)
Rationale: The BSIS, operating under the California Department of
Consumer Affairs, is the sole issuing authority for Alarm Company
Qualified Manager certificates under the Alarm Company Act .
Question 5: What is the minimum passing score required on the
California Alarm Company Qualified Manager examination?
A. 60%
B. 65%
C. 70%
D. 75%
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 70%
Rationale: The Alarm Company Act requires a minimum passing score of
70% on the Qualified Manager examination .
Question 6: Under California law, what type of background check
must a Qualified Manager applicant undergo?
A. Local county sheriff record review only
B. Credit history and asset verification
C. Federal and state fingerprint criminal history background check through
Live Scan
D. DMV driving record history pull
,CORRECT ANSWER: C. Federal and state fingerprint criminal
history background check through Live Scan
Rationale: All applicants must undergo a criminal history background check
through the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau
of Investigation (FBI) via Live Scan .
Question 7: How many different licensed alarm companies can a
single Qualified Manager actively manage at the same time?
A. Only 1 license entity at a time
B. Up to 2 license entities
C. Up to 5 license entities
D. Unlimited, as long as all operate in California
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Only 1 license entity at a time
Rationale: Under California Business and Professions Code, a Qualified
Manager may qualify only one alarm company operator license at any given
time and must be actively in control of daily operations for that specific
licensee entity .
Question 8: What is the term of an Alarm Company Operator
license before renewal is required?
A. One year
B. Two years
C. Three years
D. Five years
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Two years
Rationale: The initial license is valid for 2 years, and each renewal cycle
extends the registration for an additional 2 years .
Question 9: Which of the following counts as qualifying experience
for a Qualified Manager certificate?
A. Installing residential doorbells
B. Selling alarm systems without installation involvement
C. Performing non-alarm electrical work
D. Alarm company installation, service, or monitoring experience
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Alarm company installation, service, or
monitoring experience
, Rationale: Qualifying experience must be in alarm company work,
including installation, servicing, monitoring, sales, or management of alarm
systems .
Question 10: Where must the Qualified Manager certificate be
displayed?
A. At the manager's home office
B. In a conspicuous place at the principal place of business
C. On every company vehicle
D. On the company website only
CORRECT ANSWER: B. In a conspicuous place at the principal
place of business
Rationale: BPC Section 7599.4 requires the certificate to be posted along
with the alarm company operator license in a conspicuous place at the
principal place of business .
Question 11: Within how many days must a licensee notify BSIS of
a change of business address?
A. 10 days
B. 30 days
C. 45 days
D. 60 days
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 30 days
Rationale: The Alarm Company Act requires address changes to be
reported within 30 days to keep license information current .
Question 12: What is the maximum number of consecutive days a
Qualified Manager can be absent from the licensed alarm company
without notifying BSIS?
A. 30 days
B. 60 days
C. 90 days
D. 120 days
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 90 days
Rationale: BSIS regulations require notification if the Qualified Manager will
be absent for more than 90 consecutive days .
Exam 2026/2027 | BSIS Alarm Company Operator
Qualified Manager Certification Study Guide, Practice
Questions & Answers, California Alarm Company
Licensing Exam Prep, Alarm Company Act,
Management, Installation, Service & Repair,
Monitoring, False Alarms, Contracts, Personnel,
Compliance, California Laws & Detailed Rationales
Question 1: Under California's Alarm Company Act, what is the
primary role of the Qualified Manager?
A. To personally perform all alarm installations and service calls
B. To manage the day-to-day business operations of the alarm company
operator
C. To oversee only the financial and billing functions of the company
D. To act as a consultant with no direct involvement in operations
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To manage the day-to-day business
operations of the alarm company operator
Rationale: The Qualified Manager is defined as the individual who is in
active control, management, and direction of the licensee's business,
managing the day-to-day operations of the Alarm Company Operator .
Question 2: What is the minimum age requirement to apply for a
California Alarm Company Qualified Manager certificate?
A. 16 years
B. 18 years
C. 21 years
D. 25 years
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 18 years
Rationale: California Business and Professions Code Section 7599 explicitly
requires applicants for a Qualified Manager certificate to be at least 18
years of age .
Question 3: How many hours of compensated alarm company work
experience are required to qualify for the Qualified Manager
examination?
A. 1,000 hours
B. 2,000 hours
,C. 3,000 hours
D. 4,000 hours
CORRECT ANSWER: D. 4,000 hours
Rationale: California law mandates at least two years of experience, which
equates to not less than 4,000 hours of actual compensated alarm company
work .
Question 4: Which California agency is responsible for issuing the
Alarm Company Qualified Manager certificate?
A. California Department of Insurance
B. California State Fire Marshal
C. Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
D. California Public Utilities Commission
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Bureau of Security and Investigative
Services (BSIS)
Rationale: The BSIS, operating under the California Department of
Consumer Affairs, is the sole issuing authority for Alarm Company
Qualified Manager certificates under the Alarm Company Act .
Question 5: What is the minimum passing score required on the
California Alarm Company Qualified Manager examination?
A. 60%
B. 65%
C. 70%
D. 75%
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 70%
Rationale: The Alarm Company Act requires a minimum passing score of
70% on the Qualified Manager examination .
Question 6: Under California law, what type of background check
must a Qualified Manager applicant undergo?
A. Local county sheriff record review only
B. Credit history and asset verification
C. Federal and state fingerprint criminal history background check through
Live Scan
D. DMV driving record history pull
,CORRECT ANSWER: C. Federal and state fingerprint criminal
history background check through Live Scan
Rationale: All applicants must undergo a criminal history background check
through the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau
of Investigation (FBI) via Live Scan .
Question 7: How many different licensed alarm companies can a
single Qualified Manager actively manage at the same time?
A. Only 1 license entity at a time
B. Up to 2 license entities
C. Up to 5 license entities
D. Unlimited, as long as all operate in California
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Only 1 license entity at a time
Rationale: Under California Business and Professions Code, a Qualified
Manager may qualify only one alarm company operator license at any given
time and must be actively in control of daily operations for that specific
licensee entity .
Question 8: What is the term of an Alarm Company Operator
license before renewal is required?
A. One year
B. Two years
C. Three years
D. Five years
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Two years
Rationale: The initial license is valid for 2 years, and each renewal cycle
extends the registration for an additional 2 years .
Question 9: Which of the following counts as qualifying experience
for a Qualified Manager certificate?
A. Installing residential doorbells
B. Selling alarm systems without installation involvement
C. Performing non-alarm electrical work
D. Alarm company installation, service, or monitoring experience
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Alarm company installation, service, or
monitoring experience
, Rationale: Qualifying experience must be in alarm company work,
including installation, servicing, monitoring, sales, or management of alarm
systems .
Question 10: Where must the Qualified Manager certificate be
displayed?
A. At the manager's home office
B. In a conspicuous place at the principal place of business
C. On every company vehicle
D. On the company website only
CORRECT ANSWER: B. In a conspicuous place at the principal
place of business
Rationale: BPC Section 7599.4 requires the certificate to be posted along
with the alarm company operator license in a conspicuous place at the
principal place of business .
Question 11: Within how many days must a licensee notify BSIS of
a change of business address?
A. 10 days
B. 30 days
C. 45 days
D. 60 days
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 30 days
Rationale: The Alarm Company Act requires address changes to be
reported within 30 days to keep license information current .
Question 12: What is the maximum number of consecutive days a
Qualified Manager can be absent from the licensed alarm company
without notifying BSIS?
A. 30 days
B. 60 days
C. 90 days
D. 120 days
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 90 days
Rationale: BSIS regulations require notification if the Qualified Manager will
be absent for more than 90 consecutive days .
