California Qualified Manager (QM) Exam
– Latest 2026/2027 Preparation
Questions with Correct Answers
Question 1:
Which California state agency is directly responsible for the licensing, regulation, and
disciplinary oversight of Private Patrol Operators (PPOs) and Qualified Managers?
A) California Department of Justice (DOJ)
B) Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
C) Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)
D) California Highway Patrol (CHP)
Answer: B) Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
Rationale: The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), which operates
under the umbrella of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, is the statutory
body designated to administer and enforce the Private Security Services Act. The BSIS
issues licenses, registrations, and certificates, and can fine, suspend, or revoke licenses
for violations .
Question 2:
What is the criminal penalty for conducting Private Patrol Operator (PPO) business while
unlicensed?
A) Infraction with $500 fine
B) Misdemeanor with up to $1,000 fine
C) Felony with up to $10,000 fine
D) Civil penalty only
Answer: C) Felony with up to $10,000 fine
,Rationale: Operating a PPO business without an active, valid license issued by the BSIS
is a violation of the Private Security Services Act and can result in a misdemeanor and a
$10,000 fine .
Question 3:
The Private Security Services Act is found in which section of California law?
A) Business and Professions Code 7580-7588
B) Penal Code 836.5
C) Civil Code 1689
D) Health and Safety Code 1500
Answer: A) Business and Professions Code 7580-7588
Rationale: The Private Security Services Act is codified in California Business and
Professions Code (BPC) Sections 7580 through 7588. This act governs private patrol
operators, security guards, qualified managers, and related security services .
Question 4:
What is the purpose of the Department of Consumer Affairs?
A) To regulate private patrol operators
B) To protect consumers from unfair business practices
C) To issue security guard cards
D) To enforce criminal laws
Answer: B) To protect consumers from unfair business practices
Rationale: The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is responsible for protecting
consumers from unfair and malicious business practices. The BSIS operates under the
DCA .
Question 5:
What is the purpose of the Bureau of Security & Investigative Services (BSIS)?
,A) To protect consumers from unfair business practices
B) To regulate private patrol operators
C) To issue driver's licenses
D) To enforce immigration laws
Answer: B) To regulate private patrol operators
Rationale: The purpose of the Bureau of Security & Investigative Services (BSIS) is to
regulate private patrol operators, alarm companies, repossession agencies, and related
security industries. They issue licenses, registrations, and certificates .
B. Qualified Manager (QM) Requirements
Question 6:
What is the minimum age requirement to apply to become a licensed PPO Qualified
Manager in California?
A) 18 years old
B) 21 years old
C) 25 years old
D) 30 years old
Answer: B) 21 years old
Rationale: To qualify for the QM exam and subsequent certification, an applicant must
be at least 21 years of age .
Question 7:
What is the statutory experience requirement for a PPO Qualified Manager?
A) One year of full-time experience (2,000 hours)
B) Two years of full-time experience (4,000 hours)
C) Three years of experience (6,000 hours) as a registrant or PPO employee
D) Five years of experience with at least 10,000 hours
, Answer: C) Three years of experience (6,000 hours) as a registrant or PPO
employee
Rationale: California requires a minimum of three years of experience (equivalent to
6,000 hours) as a registered security guard, or as an owner, partner, or manager of a
PPO .
Question 8:
Which document must be submitted by a QM applicant to verify their qualifying
experience hours to the BSIS?
A) A self-signed affidavit summarizing past work
B) IRS Form 1099 contracts exclusively
C) A Certificate of Experience (Form 31A-9) completed and signed under penalty of
perjury by a qualified employer or reference
D) A copy of the applicant's high school diploma and a letter of recommendation
Answer: C) A Certificate of Experience (Form 31A-9) completed and signed under
penalty of perjury by a qualified employer or reference
Rationale: The Certificate of Experience must be completed by a qualified individual
(such as a PPO licensee, employer, or law enforcement official) who can personally verify
the applicant's 6,000 hours of qualifying security work .
Question 9:
What is the standard renewal cycle for a California Private Patrol Operator (PPO) license
and the associated Qualified Manager active status?
A) Every year on the anniversary of issuance
B) Every two years (biennially)
C) Every three years on a fixed calendar cycle
D) Every five years
Answer: B) Every two years (biennially)
Rationale: PPO licenses and Qualified Manager certificates must be renewed every two
years prior to the expiration date listed on the license registration .
– Latest 2026/2027 Preparation
Questions with Correct Answers
Question 1:
Which California state agency is directly responsible for the licensing, regulation, and
disciplinary oversight of Private Patrol Operators (PPOs) and Qualified Managers?
A) California Department of Justice (DOJ)
B) Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
C) Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)
D) California Highway Patrol (CHP)
Answer: B) Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
Rationale: The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), which operates
under the umbrella of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, is the statutory
body designated to administer and enforce the Private Security Services Act. The BSIS
issues licenses, registrations, and certificates, and can fine, suspend, or revoke licenses
for violations .
Question 2:
What is the criminal penalty for conducting Private Patrol Operator (PPO) business while
unlicensed?
A) Infraction with $500 fine
B) Misdemeanor with up to $1,000 fine
C) Felony with up to $10,000 fine
D) Civil penalty only
Answer: C) Felony with up to $10,000 fine
,Rationale: Operating a PPO business without an active, valid license issued by the BSIS
is a violation of the Private Security Services Act and can result in a misdemeanor and a
$10,000 fine .
Question 3:
The Private Security Services Act is found in which section of California law?
A) Business and Professions Code 7580-7588
B) Penal Code 836.5
C) Civil Code 1689
D) Health and Safety Code 1500
Answer: A) Business and Professions Code 7580-7588
Rationale: The Private Security Services Act is codified in California Business and
Professions Code (BPC) Sections 7580 through 7588. This act governs private patrol
operators, security guards, qualified managers, and related security services .
Question 4:
What is the purpose of the Department of Consumer Affairs?
A) To regulate private patrol operators
B) To protect consumers from unfair business practices
C) To issue security guard cards
D) To enforce criminal laws
Answer: B) To protect consumers from unfair business practices
Rationale: The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is responsible for protecting
consumers from unfair and malicious business practices. The BSIS operates under the
DCA .
Question 5:
What is the purpose of the Bureau of Security & Investigative Services (BSIS)?
,A) To protect consumers from unfair business practices
B) To regulate private patrol operators
C) To issue driver's licenses
D) To enforce immigration laws
Answer: B) To regulate private patrol operators
Rationale: The purpose of the Bureau of Security & Investigative Services (BSIS) is to
regulate private patrol operators, alarm companies, repossession agencies, and related
security industries. They issue licenses, registrations, and certificates .
B. Qualified Manager (QM) Requirements
Question 6:
What is the minimum age requirement to apply to become a licensed PPO Qualified
Manager in California?
A) 18 years old
B) 21 years old
C) 25 years old
D) 30 years old
Answer: B) 21 years old
Rationale: To qualify for the QM exam and subsequent certification, an applicant must
be at least 21 years of age .
Question 7:
What is the statutory experience requirement for a PPO Qualified Manager?
A) One year of full-time experience (2,000 hours)
B) Two years of full-time experience (4,000 hours)
C) Three years of experience (6,000 hours) as a registrant or PPO employee
D) Five years of experience with at least 10,000 hours
, Answer: C) Three years of experience (6,000 hours) as a registrant or PPO
employee
Rationale: California requires a minimum of three years of experience (equivalent to
6,000 hours) as a registered security guard, or as an owner, partner, or manager of a
PPO .
Question 8:
Which document must be submitted by a QM applicant to verify their qualifying
experience hours to the BSIS?
A) A self-signed affidavit summarizing past work
B) IRS Form 1099 contracts exclusively
C) A Certificate of Experience (Form 31A-9) completed and signed under penalty of
perjury by a qualified employer or reference
D) A copy of the applicant's high school diploma and a letter of recommendation
Answer: C) A Certificate of Experience (Form 31A-9) completed and signed under
penalty of perjury by a qualified employer or reference
Rationale: The Certificate of Experience must be completed by a qualified individual
(such as a PPO licensee, employer, or law enforcement official) who can personally verify
the applicant's 6,000 hours of qualifying security work .
Question 9:
What is the standard renewal cycle for a California Private Patrol Operator (PPO) license
and the associated Qualified Manager active status?
A) Every year on the anniversary of issuance
B) Every two years (biennially)
C) Every three years on a fixed calendar cycle
D) Every five years
Answer: B) Every two years (biennially)
Rationale: PPO licenses and Qualified Manager certificates must be renewed every two
years prior to the expiration date listed on the license registration .
