Ultimate Practice Exam with Answers & Explanations.
This practice exam prepares candidates for the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Alarm Systems
Contractors Qualifying Agent certification, focusing on CCTV system design, installation, wiring, transmission,
recording, testing, codes, Tennessee licensing law, customer service, and jobsite safety. It mirrors the rigor of
accredited US professional licensing exams and aligns with 2026 standards including NEC 2023 and NFPA 731
(2023). It contains 50 multiple-choice questions, each with four distractors and a fully worked rationale that
explains why the keyed answer is correct. Questions are organized into clearly labelled sections that mirror the
major content areas of the course. Targeted learning outcomes include: Apply Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62,
Chapter 32 and related Rules to alarm contractor licensing scenarios; Design and troubleshoot CCTV systems in
compliance with NEC 2023, NFPA 731, and industry best practices; Evaluate video transmission, recording, and
storage technologies for given surveillance requirements; Implement proper testing, maintenance, and
documentation procedures for CCTV installations. Every item has been reviewed for clinical accuracy, current
guidelines, and clarity so that students can study with confidence and self-correct as they work through the bank.
Use it as a high-yield review immediately before the exam, or as a structured practice tool during the unit - the
rationales double as concise teaching notes. The recommended writing time is 2 hours, with a passing score of
70%. Aligned with Aligned with US university-level professional certification standards and Tennessee
Section 1: General (Questions 1-50)
1 Under Tennessee alarm contractor rules, which action is required before assigning
a qualifying agent to a new branch?
A) Notify the commissioner in writing within 10 days
B) File a supplemental application and pay the required fee
C) Submit proof of 2 years of experience only
D) Post a $10,000 surety bond for the branch
Answer: B
Rationale: Tennessee Rules require a supplemental application and fee to add a
branch or qualifying agent. Notification alone (A) is insufficient; experience proof
(C) is part of initial licensure, not branch addition; and a separate bond (D) is not
mandated for each branch.
2 A 120 VAC camera circuit in a wet location requires GFCI protection. Which
NEC 2023 article applies?
A) Article 725
B) Article 800
C) Article 210.8
D) Article 820
Answer: C
Rationale: NEC 2023 Article 210.8 mandates GFCI protection for 120 VAC outlets
in wet locations. Article 725 covers Class 1-3 circuits, Article 800 covers
,communications, and Article 820 covers CATV-none specifically require GFCI for
this scenario.
3 Which transmission method best preserves video integrity over 500 meters in
high-EMI industrial settings?
A) RG-59 coaxial cable
B) Unshielded twisted pair (UTP)
C) Fiber optic cable
D) Wireless 2.4 GHz bridge
Answer: C
Rationale: Fiber optic cable is immune to EMI and supports long distances without
signal degradation. Coax (A) and UTP (B) are susceptible to interference over 500m,
and wireless (D) may suffer latency and interference in industrial environments.
4 For an IP camera system with 30-day retention at 4 Mbps per camera, which
storage calculation is correct?
A) 4 Mbps × 30 days × 86400 s = 10.4 TB per camera
B) 4 Mbps × 30 days × 3600 s = 0.43 TB per camera
C) 4 Mbps × 30 days × 24 h = 2.88 TB per camera
D) 4 Mbps × 30 days × 1024 = 0.12 TB per camera
Answer: A
Rationale: Storage = bitrate × seconds × days. 4 Mbps × 86,400 s/day × 30 days =
10,368,000 Mb = 10.4 TB. Options B, C, and D use incorrect time conversions or
omit unit conversions.
5 During a CCTV installation, which NFPA 731 requirement applies to exposed
cabling in a plenum ceiling?
A) Cable must be plenum-rated or installed in EMT
B) Cable must be supported every 10 feet
C) Cable must be color-coded orange
D) Cable must be grounded at both ends
Answer: A
Rationale: NFPA 731 (2023) requires plenum-rated cable or metallic raceway in
plenum spaces to reduce fire hazard. Support spacing (B) and color-coding (C) are
not NFPA 731 requirements; grounding both ends (D) can cause ground loops.
6 A client requests video verification for police dispatch. Which feature is essential?
A) Continuous recording at 30 fps
, B) Motion-activated recording with pre-alarm buffer
C) Two-way audio communication
D) Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) capability
Answer: B
Rationale: Video verification requires capturing the event with pre-alarm buffer to
provide context. Continuous recording (A) may not alert, audio (C) is not required,
and PTZ (D) is optional for verification.
7 Which test confirms proper grounding of a CCTV camera housing per NEC 2023?
A) Measure resistance between housing and ground, <1 ohm
B) Check voltage between housing and ground, <1 VAC
C) Verify continuity between housing and ground, <0.1 ohm
D) Measure current on ground conductor, <5 mA
Answer: C
Rationale: NEC 2023 requires grounding continuity; a resistance of 0.1 ohm or less
ensures a low-impedance path. Voltage (B) or current (D) measurements do not
directly confirm grounding integrity, and 1 ohm (A) is too high.
8 A Tennessee licensed alarm contractor must maintain records of CCTV
installations for how long?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer: C
Rationale: Tennessee Rules require alarm contractors to keep records for at least 3
years. Options A and B are too short, and D exceeds the requirement.
9 Which lens specification provides the widest field of view for a given sensor size?
A) 2.8 mm fixed lens
B) 4 mm fixed lens
C) 6 mm fixed lens
D) 12 mm varifocal lens
Answer: A
Rationale: A shorter focal length (2.8 mm) yields a wider field of view. Lenses B, C,
and D have longer focal lengths, resulting in narrower views.