CALIFORNIA ALARM COMPANY OPERATOR (ACO) - LICENSING PRACTICE EXAM
1. What is the primary agency responsible for licensing Alarm Company Operators in
California?
A) California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)
B) Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
C) California Department of Justice
D) California Alarm Association (CAA)
Answer: B
Explanation: The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), under the
Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), regulates alarm companies and operators in
California.
2. What is the minimum age requirement to obtain an Alarm Company Operator license in
California?
A) 18 years old
B) 21 years old
C) 25 years old
D) No minimum age
Answer: A
Explanation: An applicant for an ACO license must be at least 18 years old per California
Business and Professions Code (BPC) §7590.9.
3. How many years of experience are required to qualify for the ACO license?
A) 1 year (2,000 hours) of compensated experience in the alarm industry
B) 2 years (4,000 hours) of compensated experience in the alarm industry
C) 3 years as a salesperson
D) No experience required
,Answer: B
Explanation: BPC §7590.9 requires at least two years (4,000 hours) of compensated
experience in the alarm agent business.
4. Which of the following qualifies as acceptable experience for the ACO license?
A) Installing, maintaining, monitoring, selling, or responding to alarm systems
B) General construction work
C) Retail sales unrelated to alarms
D) Military service with no alarm duties
Answer: A
Explanation: Experience must be in the alarm industry and can include installation,
maintenance, altering, selling, monitoring, or responding to alarm systems.
5. The Alarm Company Operator (ACO) license examination covers which of the following?
A) Federal communication laws only
B) California laws and regulations pertaining to alarm companies
C) Advanced electronics engineering
D) Only company management procedures
Answer: B
Explanation: The ACO exam tests knowledge of the California Alarm Company Act (BPC
§7590 et seq.) and related regulations (Title 16, Division 7 of the California Code of
Regulations).
6. An Alarm Company Operator license must be renewed every:
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
,D) 5 years
Answer: B
Explanation: The ACO license is valid for two years from the last day of the month of
issuance.
7. A licensed Alarm Company Operator is permitted to:
A) Operate their own alarm company without further licensing
B) Manage an alarm company branch office
C) Both A and B
D) Only install systems under another's license
Answer: C
Explanation: The ACO license qualifies an individual to be the qualified manager for an
alarm company or a branch office.
8. An "alarm agent" is defined as a person employed by an alarm company to perform
duties that may include:
A) Only sales
B) Only installation
C) Selling, installing, maintaining, servicing, monitoring, or responding to alarm systems
D) Only managing the office
Answer: C
Explanation: BPC §7590.1 defines an alarm agent broadly to include those who sell, install,
service, monitor, or respond to alarm systems.
9. What is required for an individual to work as an alarm agent in California?
A) Must hold an ACO license
B) Must be registered with BSIS and carry a valid alarm agent registration card
, C) No requirements
D) Must be a licensed electrician
Answer: B
Explanation: All alarm agents must be registered with BSIS (BPC §7596). The ACO license is
for managers/operators, while agents need a registration.
10. An alarm agent's registration card must be:
A) Kept at the office
B) Carried on their person when working
C) Mailed to BSIS
D) Given to the customer
Answer: B
Explanation: BPC §7596.5 requires a registered alarm agent to carry their valid registration
card and show it upon request.
11. An alarm agent's registration expires:
A) Never
B) After one year
C) Concurrently with the employing alarm company's license
D) After five years
Answer: C
Explanation: The registration is tied to employment with a specific licensed company and
expires when the company's license expires or if the agent leaves the company.
12. The Alarm Company Act requires an alarm company to maintain a register of all its
agents at each location. This register must be available for inspection by:
A) The general public
1. What is the primary agency responsible for licensing Alarm Company Operators in
California?
A) California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)
B) Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
C) California Department of Justice
D) California Alarm Association (CAA)
Answer: B
Explanation: The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), under the
Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), regulates alarm companies and operators in
California.
2. What is the minimum age requirement to obtain an Alarm Company Operator license in
California?
A) 18 years old
B) 21 years old
C) 25 years old
D) No minimum age
Answer: A
Explanation: An applicant for an ACO license must be at least 18 years old per California
Business and Professions Code (BPC) §7590.9.
3. How many years of experience are required to qualify for the ACO license?
A) 1 year (2,000 hours) of compensated experience in the alarm industry
B) 2 years (4,000 hours) of compensated experience in the alarm industry
C) 3 years as a salesperson
D) No experience required
,Answer: B
Explanation: BPC §7590.9 requires at least two years (4,000 hours) of compensated
experience in the alarm agent business.
4. Which of the following qualifies as acceptable experience for the ACO license?
A) Installing, maintaining, monitoring, selling, or responding to alarm systems
B) General construction work
C) Retail sales unrelated to alarms
D) Military service with no alarm duties
Answer: A
Explanation: Experience must be in the alarm industry and can include installation,
maintenance, altering, selling, monitoring, or responding to alarm systems.
5. The Alarm Company Operator (ACO) license examination covers which of the following?
A) Federal communication laws only
B) California laws and regulations pertaining to alarm companies
C) Advanced electronics engineering
D) Only company management procedures
Answer: B
Explanation: The ACO exam tests knowledge of the California Alarm Company Act (BPC
§7590 et seq.) and related regulations (Title 16, Division 7 of the California Code of
Regulations).
6. An Alarm Company Operator license must be renewed every:
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
,D) 5 years
Answer: B
Explanation: The ACO license is valid for two years from the last day of the month of
issuance.
7. A licensed Alarm Company Operator is permitted to:
A) Operate their own alarm company without further licensing
B) Manage an alarm company branch office
C) Both A and B
D) Only install systems under another's license
Answer: C
Explanation: The ACO license qualifies an individual to be the qualified manager for an
alarm company or a branch office.
8. An "alarm agent" is defined as a person employed by an alarm company to perform
duties that may include:
A) Only sales
B) Only installation
C) Selling, installing, maintaining, servicing, monitoring, or responding to alarm systems
D) Only managing the office
Answer: C
Explanation: BPC §7590.1 defines an alarm agent broadly to include those who sell, install,
service, monitor, or respond to alarm systems.
9. What is required for an individual to work as an alarm agent in California?
A) Must hold an ACO license
B) Must be registered with BSIS and carry a valid alarm agent registration card
, C) No requirements
D) Must be a licensed electrician
Answer: B
Explanation: All alarm agents must be registered with BSIS (BPC §7596). The ACO license is
for managers/operators, while agents need a registration.
10. An alarm agent's registration card must be:
A) Kept at the office
B) Carried on their person when working
C) Mailed to BSIS
D) Given to the customer
Answer: B
Explanation: BPC §7596.5 requires a registered alarm agent to carry their valid registration
card and show it upon request.
11. An alarm agent's registration expires:
A) Never
B) After one year
C) Concurrently with the employing alarm company's license
D) After five years
Answer: C
Explanation: The registration is tied to employment with a specific licensed company and
expires when the company's license expires or if the agent leaves the company.
12. The Alarm Company Act requires an alarm company to maintain a register of all its
agents at each location. This register must be available for inspection by:
A) The general public
