California Alarm Company Qualified Manager Exam –
Questions with Answers & Explanations | Latest 2026
BSIS ACQM Prep Guide
SECTION 1: LICENSING REQUIREMENTS & BSIS REGULATIONS (Questions 1–50)
1. What is the minimum age requirement to qualify for an Alarm Company Qualified
Manager (ACQM) license in California?
A. 21 years
B. 25 years
C. 18 years
D. No minimum age
Answer: C. Business and Professions Code (BPC) § 7592.2 establishes the minimum age
for an ACQM license at 18 years .
2. Which entity issues the Alarm Company Qualified Manager license in California?
A. Department of Consumer Affairs
B. California Public Utilities Commission
C. California State Fire Marshal
D. Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
Answer: D. BSIS, operating under the California Department of Consumer Affairs, is the
sole issuing authority for ACQM licenses .
,3. How many years of full-time experience in alarm company operations are required
to qualify for the ACQM exam?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 5 years
Answer: B. BPC § 7592.5 mandates two years (4,000 hours) of verifiable full-time
experience within the last five years .
4. Which California code contains the Alarm Company Act?
A. Penal Code
B. Civil Code
C. Business and Professions Code (Division 3, Chapter 11.6)
D. Public Utilities Code
Answer: C. The Alarm Company Act is found in BPC Division 3, Chapter 11.6, starting at
Section 7590 .
5. What is the minimum passing score required on the ACQM examination?
A. 60%
B. 65%
C. 70%
D. 75%
Answer: C. The Alarm Company Act requires a minimum passing score of 70% on the
Qualified Manager examination .
6. 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
Answer: B. BPC § 7599.4 requires the certificate to be posted along with the alarm
company operator license at the principal place of business .
7. 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
Answer: B. The Alarm Company Act requires address changes to be reported within 30
days .
8. 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
Answer: C. BSIS regulations require notification if the Qualified Manager will be absent for
more than 90 consecutive days .
9. Which of the following counts as qualifying experience for an ACQM?
A. Installing residential doorbells
B. Selling alarm systems without installation involvement
, C. Managing alarm dispatch records
D. Performing non-alarm electrical work
Answer: C. Qualifying experience includes dispatch coordination, sales, installation
management, field supervision, and central station operations—not non-alarm work .
10. How long is an Alarm Company Operator (ACO) license valid before renewal is
required?
A. One year
B. Two years
C. Three years
D. Five years
Answer: C. ACO licenses and ACQM certificates must be renewed every three years .
11. What is the primary responsibility of a Qualified Manager for an alarm company?
A. Sales and marketing only
B. Managing the day-to-day business operations of the Alarm Company Operator
C. Customer billing and collections
D. Equipment procurement only
Answer: B. The Qualified Manager is defined as the individual who manages the day-to-day
business of an Alarm Company Operator .
12. Which California agency is directly responsible for administering the Qualified
Manager examination?
A. Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)
B. PSI (contracted vendor for BSIS)
C. California State Fire Marshal
D. Department of Justice
Questions with Answers & Explanations | Latest 2026
BSIS ACQM Prep Guide
SECTION 1: LICENSING REQUIREMENTS & BSIS REGULATIONS (Questions 1–50)
1. What is the minimum age requirement to qualify for an Alarm Company Qualified
Manager (ACQM) license in California?
A. 21 years
B. 25 years
C. 18 years
D. No minimum age
Answer: C. Business and Professions Code (BPC) § 7592.2 establishes the minimum age
for an ACQM license at 18 years .
2. Which entity issues the Alarm Company Qualified Manager license in California?
A. Department of Consumer Affairs
B. California Public Utilities Commission
C. California State Fire Marshal
D. Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
Answer: D. BSIS, operating under the California Department of Consumer Affairs, is the
sole issuing authority for ACQM licenses .
,3. How many years of full-time experience in alarm company operations are required
to qualify for the ACQM exam?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 5 years
Answer: B. BPC § 7592.5 mandates two years (4,000 hours) of verifiable full-time
experience within the last five years .
4. Which California code contains the Alarm Company Act?
A. Penal Code
B. Civil Code
C. Business and Professions Code (Division 3, Chapter 11.6)
D. Public Utilities Code
Answer: C. The Alarm Company Act is found in BPC Division 3, Chapter 11.6, starting at
Section 7590 .
5. What is the minimum passing score required on the ACQM examination?
A. 60%
B. 65%
C. 70%
D. 75%
Answer: C. The Alarm Company Act requires a minimum passing score of 70% on the
Qualified Manager examination .
6. 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
Answer: B. BPC § 7599.4 requires the certificate to be posted along with the alarm
company operator license at the principal place of business .
7. 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
Answer: B. The Alarm Company Act requires address changes to be reported within 30
days .
8. 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
Answer: C. BSIS regulations require notification if the Qualified Manager will be absent for
more than 90 consecutive days .
9. Which of the following counts as qualifying experience for an ACQM?
A. Installing residential doorbells
B. Selling alarm systems without installation involvement
, C. Managing alarm dispatch records
D. Performing non-alarm electrical work
Answer: C. Qualifying experience includes dispatch coordination, sales, installation
management, field supervision, and central station operations—not non-alarm work .
10. How long is an Alarm Company Operator (ACO) license valid before renewal is
required?
A. One year
B. Two years
C. Three years
D. Five years
Answer: C. ACO licenses and ACQM certificates must be renewed every three years .
11. What is the primary responsibility of a Qualified Manager for an alarm company?
A. Sales and marketing only
B. Managing the day-to-day business operations of the Alarm Company Operator
C. Customer billing and collections
D. Equipment procurement only
Answer: B. The Qualified Manager is defined as the individual who manages the day-to-day
business of an Alarm Company Operator .
12. Which California agency is directly responsible for administering the Qualified
Manager examination?
A. Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)
B. PSI (contracted vendor for BSIS)
C. California State Fire Marshal
D. Department of Justice
