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CALIFORNIA ALARM COMPANY QUALIFIED MANAGER (ACQ) EXAM
ACTUAL 2026/2027 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE ACCURATE EXAM APPROVED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS
1.
A California alarm company is applying for an Alarm Company Operator Qualified
Manager (ACQ) certificate. The prospective qualified manager is 19 years old and
has accumulated more than two years of paid alarm-company experience totaling
more than 4,000 hours. The applicant understands that the position involves day-
to-day control and management of the alarm business and has completed the
required background-check process. Which statement most accurately describes
the basic eligibility requirement applicable to this applicant?
A. The applicant must be at least 21 years old and have five years of experience
B. The applicant must be at least 18 years old, satisfy the applicable paid-
experience requirement, undergo the required criminal-history review, and pass
the written examination
C. The applicant only needs to be 18 years old because experience is not required
D. The applicant must hold a California electrical contractor license before
applying
Answer: B
2.
A newly licensed Alarm Company Operator is establishing its management
structure and must identify the individual who will have active responsibility for
managing the company's daily operations. The owner wants to appoint an
experienced individual who will supervise business activities, installation work,
service operations, and monitoring-related responsibilities. Which person most
appropriately fulfills the ACQ role?
A. A salesperson who occasionally visits customers
B. A subcontractor who performs installations for several companies
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C. The individual designated to manage the alarm company business on a day-to-
day basis and who meets the applicable qualified-manager requirements
D. Any alarm agent who has completed basic alarm training
Answer: C
3.
An alarm company qualified manager is reviewing the company's licensing
structure and discovers that the company is expanding its activities into additional
alarm-related services. The manager wants to ensure the company remains within
the activities authorized by its licensing status. Which approach is most
appropriate?
A. Assume any security-related activity is automatically authorized
B. Review the applicable Alarm Company Act and BSIS requirements to determine
whether the proposed activities fall within the company's authorized scope
C. Allow employees to decide which services require licensing
D. Begin the new service immediately and seek approval only if BSIS raises an
objection
Answer: D
4.
A qualified manager is preparing advertising for an alarm company. The marketing
department proposes an advertisement stating that the company provides
“guaranteed police response within five minutes for every alarm.” The manager
knows that response depends on circumstances outside the company's control.
What should the manager do?
A. Approve the advertisement because strong claims increase sales
B. Modify the advertisement so that it accurately represents the company's
services and does not contain misleading or untrue claims
C. Publish the statement but place a disclaimer in very small print
D. Permit the salesperson to make the claim verbally instead of printing it
Answer: B
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5.
A customer asks an alarm company to install a system at a residence. During the
consultation, the customer explains that the primary concerns are unauthorized
entry, fire-related hazards, and immediate notification of designated contacts.
Before proposing equipment, what should the qualified manager expect the
company representative to do?
A. Recommend the most expensive equipment package
B. Determine the customer's needs, evaluate the property and risks, and develop
an appropriate system design
C. Install standard equipment without considering the property
D. Ask the customer to select individual devices without professional guidance
Answer: B
6.
An alarm company is preparing a proposal for a commercial customer. The
salesperson wants to promise that the system will prevent all burglaries because
the proposed equipment uses advanced technology. The qualified manager knows
that alarm systems provide detection and notification functions rather than
absolute prevention of criminal activity. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Permit the claim because it is a normal sales technique
B. Require the proposal to accurately describe system capabilities and limitations
C. Remove all discussion of system capabilities
D. Tell the customer that alarm equipment eliminates the need for physical
security measures
Answer: B
7.
A qualified manager is reviewing personnel assignments and discovers that an
employee is performing alarm-related duties without the required authorization
or registration. The employee claims that the work is minor and therefore does
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not require compliance with licensing requirements. What should the manager
do?
A. Allow the employee to continue because the employee is supervised
B. Verify the individual's required status and ensure the person performs only
duties permitted by law and company procedures
C. Permit the work if the customer signs a waiver
D. Permit the employee to perform the work only after business hours
Answer: B
8.
An alarm company is considering opening another office in California. The
qualified manager wants to ensure that the new location and personnel comply
with applicable BSIS requirements. Which principle should guide the manager's
decision?
A. A branch location is automatically covered by the principal office regardless of
applicable licensing requirements
B. The company should review applicable branch-office, personnel, registration,
and operational requirements before conducting regulated activities from the new
location
C. Only the building owner needs to approve the branch
D. The company can operate the branch indefinitely before notifying BSIS
Answer: B
9.
A qualified manager discovers that a company employee has been using the
company's license information in a manner that could cause customers to believe
the employee independently operates a licensed alarm company. What is the
most appropriate management response?
A. Ignore the conduct because the employee works for the company
B. Correct the representation and ensure company advertising and licensing
information accurately identify the licensed business and authorized relationships
CALIFORNIA ALARM COMPANY QUALIFIED MANAGER (ACQ) EXAM
ACTUAL 2026/2027 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE ACCURATE EXAM APPROVED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS
1.
A California alarm company is applying for an Alarm Company Operator Qualified
Manager (ACQ) certificate. The prospective qualified manager is 19 years old and
has accumulated more than two years of paid alarm-company experience totaling
more than 4,000 hours. The applicant understands that the position involves day-
to-day control and management of the alarm business and has completed the
required background-check process. Which statement most accurately describes
the basic eligibility requirement applicable to this applicant?
A. The applicant must be at least 21 years old and have five years of experience
B. The applicant must be at least 18 years old, satisfy the applicable paid-
experience requirement, undergo the required criminal-history review, and pass
the written examination
C. The applicant only needs to be 18 years old because experience is not required
D. The applicant must hold a California electrical contractor license before
applying
Answer: B
2.
A newly licensed Alarm Company Operator is establishing its management
structure and must identify the individual who will have active responsibility for
managing the company's daily operations. The owner wants to appoint an
experienced individual who will supervise business activities, installation work,
service operations, and monitoring-related responsibilities. Which person most
appropriately fulfills the ACQ role?
A. A salesperson who occasionally visits customers
B. A subcontractor who performs installations for several companies
,2
C. The individual designated to manage the alarm company business on a day-to-
day basis and who meets the applicable qualified-manager requirements
D. Any alarm agent who has completed basic alarm training
Answer: C
3.
An alarm company qualified manager is reviewing the company's licensing
structure and discovers that the company is expanding its activities into additional
alarm-related services. The manager wants to ensure the company remains within
the activities authorized by its licensing status. Which approach is most
appropriate?
A. Assume any security-related activity is automatically authorized
B. Review the applicable Alarm Company Act and BSIS requirements to determine
whether the proposed activities fall within the company's authorized scope
C. Allow employees to decide which services require licensing
D. Begin the new service immediately and seek approval only if BSIS raises an
objection
Answer: D
4.
A qualified manager is preparing advertising for an alarm company. The marketing
department proposes an advertisement stating that the company provides
“guaranteed police response within five minutes for every alarm.” The manager
knows that response depends on circumstances outside the company's control.
What should the manager do?
A. Approve the advertisement because strong claims increase sales
B. Modify the advertisement so that it accurately represents the company's
services and does not contain misleading or untrue claims
C. Publish the statement but place a disclaimer in very small print
D. Permit the salesperson to make the claim verbally instead of printing it
Answer: B
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5.
A customer asks an alarm company to install a system at a residence. During the
consultation, the customer explains that the primary concerns are unauthorized
entry, fire-related hazards, and immediate notification of designated contacts.
Before proposing equipment, what should the qualified manager expect the
company representative to do?
A. Recommend the most expensive equipment package
B. Determine the customer's needs, evaluate the property and risks, and develop
an appropriate system design
C. Install standard equipment without considering the property
D. Ask the customer to select individual devices without professional guidance
Answer: B
6.
An alarm company is preparing a proposal for a commercial customer. The
salesperson wants to promise that the system will prevent all burglaries because
the proposed equipment uses advanced technology. The qualified manager knows
that alarm systems provide detection and notification functions rather than
absolute prevention of criminal activity. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Permit the claim because it is a normal sales technique
B. Require the proposal to accurately describe system capabilities and limitations
C. Remove all discussion of system capabilities
D. Tell the customer that alarm equipment eliminates the need for physical
security measures
Answer: B
7.
A qualified manager is reviewing personnel assignments and discovers that an
employee is performing alarm-related duties without the required authorization
or registration. The employee claims that the work is minor and therefore does
, 4
not require compliance with licensing requirements. What should the manager
do?
A. Allow the employee to continue because the employee is supervised
B. Verify the individual's required status and ensure the person performs only
duties permitted by law and company procedures
C. Permit the work if the customer signs a waiver
D. Permit the employee to perform the work only after business hours
Answer: B
8.
An alarm company is considering opening another office in California. The
qualified manager wants to ensure that the new location and personnel comply
with applicable BSIS requirements. Which principle should guide the manager's
decision?
A. A branch location is automatically covered by the principal office regardless of
applicable licensing requirements
B. The company should review applicable branch-office, personnel, registration,
and operational requirements before conducting regulated activities from the new
location
C. Only the building owner needs to approve the branch
D. The company can operate the branch indefinitely before notifying BSIS
Answer: B
9.
A qualified manager discovers that a company employee has been using the
company's license information in a manner that could cause customers to believe
the employee independently operates a licensed alarm company. What is the
most appropriate management response?
A. Ignore the conduct because the employee works for the company
B. Correct the representation and ensure company advertising and licensing
information accurately identify the licensed business and authorized relationships
