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BSIS Exposed Firearm Permit
Written Exam 2026
Prepare for the California BSIS Exposed Firearm Permit
Written Exam with focused study material covering
firearm permit requirements, applicable laws and
regulations, firearm nomenclature, safety, legal and
moral considerations, emergency procedures, and use-
of-force principles. Designed for applicants reviewing
the BSIS firearms training curriculum and preparing for
the written examination. Updated for 2026 study needs.
Question 1
Under California law, a security guard may use deadly force only when
which condition is met?
A. A suspect is fleeing the scene of a theft and ignores verbal commands
to stop.
B. The guard reasonably believes there is an imminent threat of death or
great bodily harm to themselves or another person.
C. The suspect has committed a felony in the past and is currently
unarmed.
D. Property damage is imminent and no other means of protection is
available.
Correct Answer: B
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Rationale: California law establishes that deadly force is justified only
when there is a reasonable belief of imminent death or great bodily harm.
The standard is both objective (reasonable belief) and subjective (fear for
safety). Property crimes alone never justify deadly force, and past felonies
do not justify current force without an immediate threat.
Question 2
A security officer working at a construction site observes an unarmed
trespasser walking through the property at night. The officer verbally
challenges the individual, who refuses to leave and walks toward the
officer aggressively with clenched fists raised. The officer draws his
firearm but does not point it at the trespasser. Is this action legally
defensible?
A. Yes, because the trespasser was advancing aggressively toward the
officer
B. No, because drawing a firearm requires an imminent threat of death
or great bodily harm
C. Yes, under the castle doctrine of California law
D. No, because the trespasser was unarmed and had not committed a
felony
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under California law, a security officer may only draw a firearm
when there is an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm. An
unarmed trespasser with clenched fists does not meet this threshold. The
castle doctrine applies to dwellings, not construction sites. The officer
should have used lesser force or retreated to a safe position and called law
enforcement.
Question 3
During a late-night patrol of a warehouse complex, a 28-year-old armed
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security officer encounters an intruder who produces a knife and lunges
toward the officer from approximately ten feet away. The officer fires two
rounds, striking the intruder. Under California law, which legal doctrine
most directly supports the officer's use of deadly force?
A. The reasonable belief standard for self-defense
B. The duty to retreat doctrine requiring withdrawal before force
C. The citizen arrest statute PC 837
D. The BSIS use-of-force continuum
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: California self-defense law allows the use of deadly force when
a person reasonably believes they are in imminent danger of death or
great bodily harm. An assailant lunging with a knife from ten feet away
constitutes a reasonable threat of great bodily harm. California does not
impose a duty to retreat in such circumstances. PC 837 governs citizen
arrests, not use of force.
Question 4
What is the minimum passing score required on the written examination
for the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
Exposed Firearm Permit initial course?
A. 70%
B. 75%
C. 80%
D. 85%
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: BSIS regulations mandate that initial applicants achieve a
minimum score of 85% on the written firearm examination to demonstrate
adequate comprehension of legal duties and safety. Scores below this
threshold do not meet the mandatory regulatory passing standard.
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Question 5
While on duty at a retail site, an armed security officer realizes they
consumed alcohol prior to their shift. What is the maximum legal blood
alcohol concentration (BAC) permitted for an armed security guard
carrying a firearm on duty?
A. 0.00%
B. 0.02%
C. 0.04%
D. 0.08%
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Armed security officers are held to a strict zero-tolerance
standard, meaning their BAC must remain at 0.00% while carrying a
firearm on duty. Any level of alcohol impairs judgment and instantly
violates state security provisions.
Question 6
Which foundational rule of firearm safety must an armed officer apply
first when picking up any service weapon from a secure storage locker?
A. Keep the safety mechanism engaged continuously until ready to fire.
B. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
C. Immediately pull the trigger to verify the chamber condition.
D. Clean the barrel before checking ammunition feeds.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Treating every firearm as if it is loaded is the universal primary
rule of firearm safety, preventing accidental discharges caused by human
error or assumption. This establishes the correct baseline safety mindset.
BSIS Exposed Firearm Permit
Written Exam 2026
Prepare for the California BSIS Exposed Firearm Permit
Written Exam with focused study material covering
firearm permit requirements, applicable laws and
regulations, firearm nomenclature, safety, legal and
moral considerations, emergency procedures, and use-
of-force principles. Designed for applicants reviewing
the BSIS firearms training curriculum and preparing for
the written examination. Updated for 2026 study needs.
Question 1
Under California law, a security guard may use deadly force only when
which condition is met?
A. A suspect is fleeing the scene of a theft and ignores verbal commands
to stop.
B. The guard reasonably believes there is an imminent threat of death or
great bodily harm to themselves or another person.
C. The suspect has committed a felony in the past and is currently
unarmed.
D. Property damage is imminent and no other means of protection is
available.
Correct Answer: B
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Rationale: California law establishes that deadly force is justified only
when there is a reasonable belief of imminent death or great bodily harm.
The standard is both objective (reasonable belief) and subjective (fear for
safety). Property crimes alone never justify deadly force, and past felonies
do not justify current force without an immediate threat.
Question 2
A security officer working at a construction site observes an unarmed
trespasser walking through the property at night. The officer verbally
challenges the individual, who refuses to leave and walks toward the
officer aggressively with clenched fists raised. The officer draws his
firearm but does not point it at the trespasser. Is this action legally
defensible?
A. Yes, because the trespasser was advancing aggressively toward the
officer
B. No, because drawing a firearm requires an imminent threat of death
or great bodily harm
C. Yes, under the castle doctrine of California law
D. No, because the trespasser was unarmed and had not committed a
felony
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under California law, a security officer may only draw a firearm
when there is an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm. An
unarmed trespasser with clenched fists does not meet this threshold. The
castle doctrine applies to dwellings, not construction sites. The officer
should have used lesser force or retreated to a safe position and called law
enforcement.
Question 3
During a late-night patrol of a warehouse complex, a 28-year-old armed
,3|Page
security officer encounters an intruder who produces a knife and lunges
toward the officer from approximately ten feet away. The officer fires two
rounds, striking the intruder. Under California law, which legal doctrine
most directly supports the officer's use of deadly force?
A. The reasonable belief standard for self-defense
B. The duty to retreat doctrine requiring withdrawal before force
C. The citizen arrest statute PC 837
D. The BSIS use-of-force continuum
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: California self-defense law allows the use of deadly force when
a person reasonably believes they are in imminent danger of death or
great bodily harm. An assailant lunging with a knife from ten feet away
constitutes a reasonable threat of great bodily harm. California does not
impose a duty to retreat in such circumstances. PC 837 governs citizen
arrests, not use of force.
Question 4
What is the minimum passing score required on the written examination
for the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
Exposed Firearm Permit initial course?
A. 70%
B. 75%
C. 80%
D. 85%
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: BSIS regulations mandate that initial applicants achieve a
minimum score of 85% on the written firearm examination to demonstrate
adequate comprehension of legal duties and safety. Scores below this
threshold do not meet the mandatory regulatory passing standard.
, 4|Page
Question 5
While on duty at a retail site, an armed security officer realizes they
consumed alcohol prior to their shift. What is the maximum legal blood
alcohol concentration (BAC) permitted for an armed security guard
carrying a firearm on duty?
A. 0.00%
B. 0.02%
C. 0.04%
D. 0.08%
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Armed security officers are held to a strict zero-tolerance
standard, meaning their BAC must remain at 0.00% while carrying a
firearm on duty. Any level of alcohol impairs judgment and instantly
violates state security provisions.
Question 6
Which foundational rule of firearm safety must an armed officer apply
first when picking up any service weapon from a secure storage locker?
A. Keep the safety mechanism engaged continuously until ready to fire.
B. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
C. Immediately pull the trigger to verify the chamber condition.
D. Clean the barrel before checking ammunition feeds.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Treating every firearm as if it is loaded is the universal primary
rule of firearm safety, preventing accidental discharges caused by human
error or assumption. This establishes the correct baseline safety mindset.
