TEXAS PRIVATE SECURITY CONSULTANT
LICENSING EXAM – PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALE
1. Which Texas agency regulates the licensing of private security consultants?
A. Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
B. Texas Attorney General's Office
C. Texas Department of Insurance
D. Texas Secretary of State
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), through its Private
Security Program, oversees the licensing and regulation of security consultants.
Under Texas Occupations Code Section 1702.005(a), the board created under
Section 1702.021 is part of the department, and the department administers
Chapter 1702 through the board.
2. What is the minimum age requirement to apply for a Texas Private Security
Consultant license?
A. 18
B. 19
C. 20
D. 21
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Applicants must be at least 21 years old to qualify for a consultant
license. This age requirement is established to ensure that applicants have
1
,sufficient maturity and life experience to handle the responsibilities of a security
consultant.
3. According to the Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1702, which of the
following is a key duty of the Texas Private Security Board?
A. To commission all Texas peace officers
B. To license investigations companies and security services contractors
C. To manage the state's public school security systems
D. To oversee the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under Texas Occupations Code Section 1702.004(a)(1), the board
licenses investigations companies and security services contractors. This is one of
the primary regulatory functions of the board.
4. The Texas Private Security Board is a part of which state department for
administrative purposes?
A. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
B. Texas Department of Public Safety
C. Texas Secretary of State's Office
D. Texas Commission on Law Enforcement
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Section 1702.005(a) explicitly states that the board created under
Section 1702.021 is part of the Department of Public Safety. The department
administers Chapter 1702 through the board.
5. How many members does the Texas Private Security Board consist of, and who
appoints them?
A. Five members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor
2
,B. Seven members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the
Senate
C. Nine members appointed by the Public Safety Commission
D. Eleven members appointed by the Attorney General
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under Texas Occupations Code Section 1702.021(a), the Texas Private
Security Board consists of seven members appointed by the governor with the
advice and consent of the senate.
6. How many public members must be on the Texas Private Security Board?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Section 1702.021(a)(1) specifies that the board consists of three public
members, each of whom is a citizen of the United States.
7. A licensed security consultant must be employed by which type of entity to
perform regulated activities?
A. A sole proprietorship with no other employees
B. A company license holder
C. A government agency
D. Any business registered with the state
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under Section 1702.221, an individual must obtain an individual license
for each service they perform and must be employed by a company license holder.
3
, To perform an activity regulated by Chapter 1702, an individual must obtain the
proper license and be employed by a company license holder.
8. A private security professional's authority to conduct a search is best described
by which principle?
A. They have the same search authority as a police officer
B. They can conduct a search if they have a warrant
C. They must have the consent of the individual or detain the person and request
law enforcement assistance if consent is not given
D. They can search anyone on the property they are protecting
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Private security professionals do not have the same search authority as
police officers. If a potential criminal does not agree to allow a search, it is wise to
detain the individual and request law enforcement assistance.
9. The arrest authority for a private security professional, often known as a
"citizen's arrest," generally requires what condition?
A. A warrant issued by a judge
B. The crime to be committed or attempted in the presence of the arresting person
C. Permission from the property owner
D. A reasonable suspicion of criminal activity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A citizen's arrest by a private person (which includes private security
professionals) requires that the crime for which the arrest is made is committed or
attempted in the presence of the arresting person.
10. Which constitutional amendment protects individuals from unreasonable
searches and seizures, a key consideration for security professionals?
4
LICENSING EXAM – PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALE
1. Which Texas agency regulates the licensing of private security consultants?
A. Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
B. Texas Attorney General's Office
C. Texas Department of Insurance
D. Texas Secretary of State
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), through its Private
Security Program, oversees the licensing and regulation of security consultants.
Under Texas Occupations Code Section 1702.005(a), the board created under
Section 1702.021 is part of the department, and the department administers
Chapter 1702 through the board.
2. What is the minimum age requirement to apply for a Texas Private Security
Consultant license?
A. 18
B. 19
C. 20
D. 21
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Applicants must be at least 21 years old to qualify for a consultant
license. This age requirement is established to ensure that applicants have
1
,sufficient maturity and life experience to handle the responsibilities of a security
consultant.
3. According to the Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1702, which of the
following is a key duty of the Texas Private Security Board?
A. To commission all Texas peace officers
B. To license investigations companies and security services contractors
C. To manage the state's public school security systems
D. To oversee the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under Texas Occupations Code Section 1702.004(a)(1), the board
licenses investigations companies and security services contractors. This is one of
the primary regulatory functions of the board.
4. The Texas Private Security Board is a part of which state department for
administrative purposes?
A. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
B. Texas Department of Public Safety
C. Texas Secretary of State's Office
D. Texas Commission on Law Enforcement
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Section 1702.005(a) explicitly states that the board created under
Section 1702.021 is part of the Department of Public Safety. The department
administers Chapter 1702 through the board.
5. How many members does the Texas Private Security Board consist of, and who
appoints them?
A. Five members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor
2
,B. Seven members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the
Senate
C. Nine members appointed by the Public Safety Commission
D. Eleven members appointed by the Attorney General
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under Texas Occupations Code Section 1702.021(a), the Texas Private
Security Board consists of seven members appointed by the governor with the
advice and consent of the senate.
6. How many public members must be on the Texas Private Security Board?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Section 1702.021(a)(1) specifies that the board consists of three public
members, each of whom is a citizen of the United States.
7. A licensed security consultant must be employed by which type of entity to
perform regulated activities?
A. A sole proprietorship with no other employees
B. A company license holder
C. A government agency
D. Any business registered with the state
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under Section 1702.221, an individual must obtain an individual license
for each service they perform and must be employed by a company license holder.
3
, To perform an activity regulated by Chapter 1702, an individual must obtain the
proper license and be employed by a company license holder.
8. A private security professional's authority to conduct a search is best described
by which principle?
A. They have the same search authority as a police officer
B. They can conduct a search if they have a warrant
C. They must have the consent of the individual or detain the person and request
law enforcement assistance if consent is not given
D. They can search anyone on the property they are protecting
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Private security professionals do not have the same search authority as
police officers. If a potential criminal does not agree to allow a search, it is wise to
detain the individual and request law enforcement assistance.
9. The arrest authority for a private security professional, often known as a
"citizen's arrest," generally requires what condition?
A. A warrant issued by a judge
B. The crime to be committed or attempted in the presence of the arresting person
C. Permission from the property owner
D. A reasonable suspicion of criminal activity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A citizen's arrest by a private person (which includes private security
professionals) requires that the crime for which the arrest is made is committed or
attempted in the presence of the arresting person.
10. Which constitutional amendment protects individuals from unreasonable
searches and seizures, a key consideration for security professionals?
4
