California Guard Card Practice Exam (2026)
100 free questions on Power to Arrest, Use of Force, report writing, emergencies, and California’s new 2026 licensing rules — with the right answer, a plain-English explanation, and the code section for every one.
How many questions are on the California guard card exam?
BSIS does not publish a fixed number of questions. Your BSIS-approved training provider gives a final exam drawn from the BSIS Power to Arrest & Appropriate Use of Force manual. What matters: you must score 100%, the exam is open-book, and you can review and retake anything you miss. This free practice test has 100 questions covering the same topics plus the skills you'll need on the job.
How the real exam works (straight from the regulations)
You need 100%. The exam is open-book, based on the BSIS Power to Arrest & Appropriate Use of Force manual, and missed questions can be reviewed and retaken. Since January 1, 2026 (SB 652), the course and exam must come from one provider and be completed within 6 months before you apply. What changed in 2026 →
Topics covered
Study list: every question, answer & explanation
Prefer to read? Tap any question to see the answer and why.
1.What is a security officer's primary role before an incident happens?
Answer: Prevention — being a visible, alert presence that deters problems
The BSIS manual describes the job as prevention before an incident (high-visibility presence) and "observe and report" during and after one. Security officers are not general law enforcement.
Source: BSIS Power to Arrest & AUOF Manual, Part A
2.A California security guard has the same arrest powers as a sworn peace officer.
Answer: False
Security officers make arrests as private persons under Penal Code 837. Peace officers have broader authority, different training, and different legal protections.
Source: PC 834, 837
3.Wearing a uniform and badge and telling someone "I'm the police" when you are a security guard is:
Answer: A crime that can also cost you your guard card
Impersonating a peace officer is a criminal offense and grounds for discipline against your registration. Always identify yourself accurately.
Source: PC 538d; BSIS manual, Part A
4.When deciding whether to act in a situation, the BSIS manual tells you to weigh which three things?
Answer: Facts, law, and your employer's policy
The manual's decision framework is FACTS (who, what, when, where, how, why), the LAW that applies, and your employer's POLICY.
Source: BSIS manual, Part A — Encounters
5.As an agent of the property owner, a security officer may ask a person on the property who they are and what they are doing, and may ask them to leave.
Answer: True
Acting for the owner, you can question people and require them to leave. If they refuse to leave property not open to the public, they may be committing trespass.
Source: BSIS manual, Part A; PC 602(o)
6.An employee "inspection" of a bag at the exit, done properly, means:
Answer: You ask the employee to open the bag and you look without touching their property
Inspections depend on cooperation: ask the person to open the bag and do not handle their belongings. If they refuse, document it (date, time, name, description) and report to your employer.
Source: BSIS manual, Part A — Inspections
7.A proprietary private security officer (an in-house officer employed by the business itself) may carry a baton if they took a baton course.
Answer: False
Proprietary private security officers are unarmed by law. They may not carry firearms, batons, chemical agents, stun devices or other deadly weapons on duty.
Source: BSIS manual, Registration Requirements
8.Under Penal Code 834, an arrest is:
Answer: Taking a person into custody in a case and manner authorized by law
PC 834 defines arrest as taking a person into custody, in a case and in the manner authorized by law. It can be made by a peace officer or a private person.
Source: PC 834
9.A private person (including a security guard) may arrest someone for a MISDEMEANOR only when:
Answer: The offense was committed or attempted in their presence
For a misdemeanor, the offense must be committed or attempted in your presence. Arresting someone for a misdemeanor you did not witness exposes you to false-arrest liability.
Source: PC 837(1)
10.A private person may arrest for a FELONY that was NOT committed in their presence when:
Answer: The felony was in fact committed and they have reasonable cause to believe this person committed it
PC 837 allows a private arrest when the person has committed a felony (even out of your presence), or when a felony has in fact been committed and you have reasonable cause to believe the person did it.
Source: PC 837(2)–(3)
11.When making a private person's arrest, you should tell the person:
Answer: That they are under arrest, the reason (charge), and your authority to arrest
The manual teaches you to state your intention to arrest, the cause, and your authority. This makes it clear the person is under arrest.
Source: PC 841; BSIS manual, Making a Citizen's Arrest
12.You may use force during a private person's arrest:
Answer: Only reasonable force, and only if the person resists
Force is permitted only when the subject resists, and only the degree that is reasonable — not excessive — to complete the arrest and protect yourself.
Source: PC 835; BSIS manual
13.After you make a lawful arrest, you must:
Answer: Deliver the person to a peace officer or magistrate without unnecessary delay
A private person who arrests someone must, without unnecessary delay, turn them over to a peace officer (or take them before a magistrate). Waiting hours with a phone nearby is unreasonable.
Source: PC 847; BSIS manual, After the Arrest
14.A person you have arrested may be searched by you for:
Answer: Offensive weapons only
Any person making a lawful arrest may take offensive weapons from the person arrested. Security officers should avoid general searches; if you find contraband while frisking for weapons, leave it and tell police.
Source: PC 846; BSIS manual, Searching a Subject
15.If police arrive and decide to release the person you arrested, under PC 849 the arrest is treated as:
Answer: A detention only, not an arrest, on the person's record
When an officer releases a person without charges, the arrest is deemed a detention only. Police — not security — decide whether to take custody, cite, or release.
Source: PC 849(c), 849.5
16.Refusing to leave private property that is not open to the public, after the owner's agent asks you to leave, is generally:
Answer: A misdemeanor (trespass)
Refusing or failing to leave property not open to the general public after being asked by the owner or their agent is misdemeanor trespass.
Source: PC 602(o)
17.The biggest legal risk of an arrest you were not authorized to make is:
Answer: False arrest — criminal and civil liability for you, and civil liability for your employer
An unlawful arrest can bring criminal charges and civil lawsuits naming you, your employer, and potentially the client.
Source: BSIS manual, Criminal & Civil Liability
18.Under the BSIS manual, a security officer generally may NOT detain a person against their will without arresting them, EXCEPT:
Answer: Under the merchant's privilege of Penal Code 490.5
Security officers are not police. Outside of an arrest, the main exception allowing a temporary detention is the merchant's privilege in PC 490.5 for suspected theft of merchandise.
Source: PC 490.5; BSIS manual, Detention vs. Arrest
19.Under PC 490.5, a merchant's agent who has probable cause to believe someone is stealing merchandise may:
Answer: Detain them for a reasonable time to investigate, using reasonable non-deadly force
The merchant's privilege allows a reasonable detention, in a reasonable manner, for a reasonable time — with only the non-deadly force needed to protect yourself and prevent escape or loss of property.
Source: PC 490.5(f)
20.During a PC 490.5 detention, if the person refuses to hand over the item you saw them take, you may search:
Answer: Packages, shopping bags, handbags, or other property in their immediate possession — but not clothing worn
You first request voluntary surrender. If refused, the search is limited to bags and packages in their immediate possession. You may not search the clothing they are wearing.
Source: PC 490.5(f)
21.You may require a detained shoplifting suspect to show you ID.
Answer: False
You may request identification, but you cannot require it. Police can establish identity when they arrive.
Source: BSIS manual, PC 490.5 procedures
22.Mall security working for the mall owner wants to use the merchant's privilege inside one of the mall's stores. They can do this:
Answer: Only if there is an agreement with that store
Mall security protecting mall property cannot invoke PC 490.5 inside individual stores unless there is a written agreement with those merchants.
Source: BSIS manual, Merchant's Privilege
23.If you reasonably believe a person you are dealing with is armed and dangerous, you may:
Answer: Pat down the outside of their clothing for weapons only
The manual allows a limited frisk for weapons when you have reasonable cause to believe you are in danger. Pat the outer clothing and remove only items that feel like weapons.
Source: BSIS manual, Searching a Subject
24.While patting someone down for weapons, you feel what seems to be a bag of drugs. Best practice is to:
Answer: Leave it in place and report it to police
A weapons frisk is not an evidence search. Leave non-weapon items, including suspected narcotics, where they are and tell law enforcement.
Source: BSIS manual, Searching a Subject
25.A person on a public sidewalk is recording your post with their phone. You may physically stop them.
Answer: False
Recording from a public place is generally lawful. Physically interfering would be unlawful force and could expose you and your employer to liability. Observe, report, and follow post orders.
Source: BSIS manual, Criminal Liability (excessive force)
26.Which situation is most likely trespass you can act on?
Answer: A person blocking store entrances and harassing customers refuses to leave when you ask
The manual contrasts someone interfering with the business who refuses to leave (trespass) with someone lawfully present whose appearance others dislike (not trespass).
Source: BSIS manual, Trespass Law
27.If you use excessive force on duty, who can be sued?
Answer: You, your employer, and possibly the client
Civil suits commonly name the officer, the security company and the client. Employers are responsible for employees' wrongful acts on the job.
Source: BSIS manual, Civil Liability
28.A good incident report is:
Answer: Factual, objective, detailed, and written as soon as possible
Reports should be written promptly while details are fresh, stick to observable facts (who, what, when, where, how), and avoid opinions. Your report may become evidence.
Source: BSIS skills training: Observation & Documentation
29.If you make a misdemeanor arrest that leads to prosecution, you may be required to:
Answer: Give a statement to the district attorney and testify in court
The manual explains you may meet with the DA, attend hearings, and testify. Accurate notes and reports protect you.
Source: BSIS manual, After the Arrest
30.Someone is injured during an incident and you are not trained in first aid. The manual says to:
Answer: Call 911 and keep the area safe for emergency responders
Call 911 and keep the scene safe for emergency personnel. Avoid lifesaving measures you are not trained or certified to perform (CPR training is strongly recommended).
Source: BSIS manual, Emergency Medical Response
31.You see another officer from your company using clearly excessive force on a subject who has stopped resisting. Under your use-of-force training you should:
Answer: Intervene if you safely can, and report it
The 2023 Appropriate Use of Force curriculum includes a duty to intercede: when safe, step in to stop clearly excessive force and report it to your supervisor.
Source: BSIS AUOF curriculum — Duty to Intercede
32.Under Graham v. Connor, whether force was reasonable is judged:
Answer: From the perspective of a reasonable person on the scene, based on the totality of circumstances at that moment
Reasonableness is fact-specific and judged from the perspective of a reasonable person at the scene, not hindsight. The officer's underlying intent does not make unreasonable force reasonable.
Source: Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989); PC 835a
33."Objectively reasonable force" means:
Answer: The force a reasonable person would find necessary under the circumstances — no more
Force must be appropriate to the threat at that moment and not excessive. As the threat decreases, force must decrease.
Source: BSIS AUOF manual, Part B
34.To claim self-defense under California law, which must be true?
Answer: All of the above
All three elements must be present. Missing any one of them can defeat a self-defense claim.
Source: PC 197; CALCRIM 505
35.An "imminent" threat is one that is:
Answer: Immediate and present
Imminent means immediate or present — not a future possibility. A threat to "get you next week" is not imminent.
Source: CALCRIM 505
36.Once a subject stops resisting and the threat has ended, you may continue using force to make sure they learned their lesson.
Answer: False
Force must stop when the threat stops. Force on a restrained, compliant, or incapacitated person is excessive and can be criminal.
Source: BSIS AUOF manual, Part B
37.Deadly force may be used to stop someone from stealing property, as long as the property is valuable.
Answer: False
Deadly force is only justified against an imminent threat of death or great bodily injury to you or another person — never to protect property alone.
Source: PC 197; CALCRIM 505
38.Which is the best example of de-escalation?
Answer: Using time, distance, and cover while speaking calmly and giving clear options
The manual teaches using time, distance, cover and concealment, plus calm, clear communication, to avoid situations that escalate to violence. De-escalation is a tactic, not weakness.
Source: BSIS AUOF manual — De-escalation
39.Implicit bias is:
Answer: An unconscious attitude or stereotype that can affect decisions without us noticing
Implicit bias is unconscious; explicit bias is conscious. Recognizing implicit bias helps officers base decisions on behavior and facts, not appearance.
Source: BSIS AUOF manual — Bias & Cultural Competency
40.A person appears to be in a mental health crisis and is shouting but not threatening anyone. Your best first approach is:
Answer: Keep a safe distance, speak calmly, give time, and call for appropriate help
AUOF training covers people with disabilities or behavioral health issues: slow down, create space, communicate simply and calmly, and request the right resources.
Source: BSIS AUOF manual — Behavioral Health
41.When restraining someone face-down, the major safety risk you must avoid is:
Answer: Positional asphyxia — weight on the back or neck restricting breathing
Prolonged prone restraint with pressure on the back or neck can kill. Get the person into a recovery or seated position as soon as it is safe and monitor breathing.
Source: BSIS AUOF curriculum — Restraint techniques
42.In an active-shooter situation, the recommended order of response for security personnel and the public is:
Answer: Run, Hide, Fight
Evacuate if you can (Run); shelter if you can't (Hide); and as an absolute last resort when your life is in danger, Fight. When police arrive, follow their commands and keep your hands visible.
Source: BSIS AUOF manual — Active Shooter
43.What score is required to pass the Power to Arrest & Appropriate Use of Force exam?
Answer: 100%
California regulations require a perfect score. The exam is open-book, and you may review and retake missed questions.
Source: 16 CCR §628(b)
44.Starting January 1, 2026 (SB 652), the 8-hour Power to Arrest & Use of Force training must be:
Answer: Administered and certified by a single course provider
SB 652 requires the training to be administered and certified by one course provider. Piecing it together from multiple providers can get your application rejected.
Source: B&P 7583.6, as amended by SB 652 (2025)
45.Under SB 652, how recent must your 8-hour training be when you submit your guard card application?
Answer: Within 6 months
The training must be completed within the six months preceding the date your application is submitted to BSIS.
Source: B&P 7583.6 & 7583.10 (SB 652)
46.After your guard card is issued, how much security-officer skills training must you complete, and when?
Answer: 32 hours: 16 within 30 days and 16 more within 6 months
On top of the 8 pre-registration hours, new guards complete 32 hours of skills training: 16 hours within 30 days and the remaining 16 within six months of registration.
Source: B&P 7583.6; BSIS Security Guard Training Regulation
47.Every year after that, a registered guard must complete:
Answer: 8 hours of training, including at least 2 hours reviewing use-of-force topics
Annual training is 8 hours and must include a minimum of two hours of appropriate-use-of-force review.
Source: BSIS Security Guard Training Regulation (16 CCR)
48.When can you legally start working as a security guard?
Answer: Once BSIS approves your registration — carrying the website printout and photo ID until the card arrives
Per BSIS, you may work pending receipt of the card once the Bureau has approved you, if you carry a printout of the approval from the BSIS website and valid photo ID. A training certificate alone is not a license to work.
Source: BSIS Security Guard Fact Sheet
49.The BSIS fee for an initial security guard registration (effective October 1, 2025) is:
Answer: $60
BSIS raised fees about 10% on October 1, 2025. Initial guard registration is $60 and renewal is $44. Live Scan fees are separate and paid to the fingerprinting site.
Source: BSIS fee schedule eff. 10/1/2025
50.If you move, you must notify BSIS of your new address within:
Answer: 30 days
Registrants must notify the Bureau of an address change within 30 days. Missing notices is a common cause of renewal problems.
Source: BSIS manual, Registration Requirements
51.To carry a firearm while working as a guard in California you need:
Answer: A guard card plus a BSIS exposed firearm permit (firearms training, range qualification, psychological assessment, age 21+)
Armed guards need an active guard registration and a BSIS firearm permit. The permit requires training and range qualification through a BSIS-licensed firearms facility and instructor, a psychological assessment, and you must be at least 21.
Source: B&P 7583.5; BSIS firearm permit requirements
52.BSIS will automatically deny anyone with any criminal conviction, no matter how old or minor.
Answer: False
BSIS reviews convictions case by case, considering whether they are substantially related to the duties of a guard and evidence of rehabilitation. Always disclose honestly — false statements are themselves grounds for denial.
Source: BSIS application instructions; B&P 480
53.The six questions every incident report should answer are:
Answer: Who, what, when, where, why, and how
Good reports answer who, what, when, where, why and how, using facts you personally observed. If you don't know the "why," say so rather than guessing.
Source: BSIS skills training: Observation & Documentation
54.When describing a suspect, the most useful approach is to:
Answer: Describe from head to toe: sex, approximate age, height, build, hair, clothing, distinguishing marks, direction of travel
A systematic head-to-toe description gives police something they can act on. Scars, tattoos, and how the person walked or left are especially valuable.
Source: BSIS skills training: Observation & Documentation
55.You realize you made an error in your field notes. The correct way to fix it is to:
Answer: Draw a single line through it, write the correction, and initial it
Notes and reports can become evidence. A single line through the error keeps the original readable and shows you weren't hiding anything.
Source: BSIS skills training: Observation & Documentation
56.Which statement belongs in a professional incident report?
Answer: "The subject was swaying, slurring his words, and smelled of an alcoholic beverage."
Write what you saw, heard and smelled — observable facts — and avoid conclusions, labels and opinions. Facts hold up in court; opinions get picked apart.
Source: BSIS skills training: Observation & Documentation
57.The best time to write your notes about an incident is:
Answer: As soon as possible after the incident, while details are fresh
Memory fades and gets influenced by other people's versions. Write it down right away, in your own words.
Source: BSIS skills training: Observation & Documentation
58.When noting a suspect vehicle, the single most important detail to get is usually:
Answer: The license plate (state and number), plus make, model, color and direction of travel
A plate number lets police identify the vehicle. Add make, model, color, body style, damage and direction of travel.
Source: BSIS skills training: Observation & Documentation
59.On a security post, you represent:
Answer: Your employer and the client whose property you protect
To the public, you are the face of both the security company and the client. Professional appearance and courtesy are part of the job.
Source: BSIS skills training: Public Relations
60.Active listening includes:
Answer: Giving full attention, letting the person finish, and repeating back what you heard
Active listening — attention, patience, and paraphrasing — makes people feel heard and is one of the most effective de-escalation tools you have.
Source: BSIS skills training: Communication and Its Significance
61.When using a two-way radio, you should:
Answer: Think before keying the mic, speak clearly and briefly, and use plain language your team understands
Radio traffic should be short, clear and professional. Assume anything you say on the radio may be overheard or recorded.
Source: BSIS skills training: Communication and Its Significance
62.Your body language when approaching an upset person should be:
Answer: Relaxed, open hands visible, at a safe distance, slightly angled
Non-verbal signals can calm or inflame. Open posture, visible hands, and a safe reactionary gap communicate control without threat.
Source: BSIS AUOF & Communication curriculum
63.A visitor asks you a question you don't know the answer to. The best response is:
Answer: "I'm not sure, but let me find out for you" — then follow up or direct them to someone who knows
Honesty plus helpfulness builds trust. Guessing can create liability for you and the client.
Source: BSIS skills training: Public Relations
64.Talking about confidential client information (alarm codes, schedules, incidents) with friends on social media is:
Answer: A breach of confidentiality that can cost you your job and create liability
Protecting client information is part of a security officer's ethical duty. Leaks can enable crimes and expose you and your employer to lawsuits.
Source: BSIS manual, Part A — Ethical communication
65.Negligence means:
Answer: Failing to use the care a reasonable person would use, causing harm
Negligence is a failure to act as a reasonably careful person would under the circumstances. Sleeping on post or skipping required patrols are classic examples.
Source: BSIS skills training: Liability / Legal Aspects
66.Holding someone against their will without legal authority is called:
Answer: False imprisonment
Unlawfully restraining someone's freedom of movement is false imprisonment — a basis for both civil suits and criminal charges.
Source: PC 236; BSIS skills training: Liability
67.Your employer can be held responsible for your actions on duty mainly because:
Answer: You were acting within the scope of your employment
Under the legal principle of "respondeat superior," employers are generally liable for what employees do within the scope of their job.
Source: BSIS manual, Civil Liability
68.Post orders are:
Answer: The written instructions for a specific post: duties, patrol routes, contacts, and emergency procedures
Post orders tell you exactly what the client expects. Read them at the start of every assignment and follow them — departing from them increases liability.
Source: BSIS skills training: Liability / Legal Aspects
69.Sleeping, using drugs or alcohol, or leaving your post without relief can result in:
Answer: Discipline, termination, civil liability, and action against your registration
These are among the most common reasons guards are fired and sued. They can also be grounds for BSIS discipline.
Source: BSIS skills training: Liability / Legal Aspects
70.The fire tetrahedron consists of:
Answer: Heat, fuel, oxygen, and a chemical chain reaction
Remove any one of the four elements and the fire goes out. Extinguishers work by cooling, smothering, or interrupting the chain reaction.
Source: Fire safety curriculum (elective skills training)
71."PASS" for using a fire extinguisher stands for:
Answer: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side. Only fight small fires with a clear exit behind you.
Source: NFPA / OSHA fire extinguisher training
72.A Class C fire involves:
Answer: Energized electrical equipment
Class A = ordinary combustibles, B = flammable liquids, C = energized electrical, D = combustible metals, K = cooking oils. Never use water on a Class C fire.
Source: NFPA 10 fire classes
73.When a fire alarm sounds in your building, a security officer should generally:
Answer: Follow the emergency plan: call 911, help evacuate using stairs (not elevators), and guide responders
Life safety comes first. Follow your site's emergency plan, assist evacuation, keep exits clear, and meet the fire department with keys and information.
Source: Emergency procedures curriculum
74.You receive a bomb threat by phone. You should:
Answer: Stay calm, keep the caller talking, and write down exact words, voice details, and background noises
The caller's exact words and any clues (accent, background sounds, time) help police assess the threat. Follow your site's bomb-threat checklist and notify authorities.
Source: DHS/CISA bomb threat guidance
75.Near a suspicious package, why should you avoid using your radio or cell phone?
Answer: Radio transmissions could potentially trigger some explosive devices
Standard guidance is to move away before transmitting. Don't touch or move the item, clear the area, and call 911 from a safe distance.
Source: DHS/CISA suspicious item guidance
76.Someone collapses and is not breathing. If you are trained, the first steps are:
Answer: Call (or have someone call) 911, get an AED, and start CPR
Fast action saves lives: call 911, send for the AED, and begin CPR if trained. CPR/First Aid/AED certification is one of the most requested add-ons by employers.
Source: American Heart Association guidelines
77.During an earthquake indoors, the recommended action is:
Answer: Drop, Cover, and Hold On
"Drop, Cover, and Hold On" is the recommended response in California. After shaking stops, check for injuries and hazards and follow your site's plan.
Source: California Office of Emergency Services
78."If you see something, say something" means a security officer should:
Answer: Report suspicious behavior — not appearance — to the right authority
Report behaviors (such as surveillance of entrances or testing security) to supervisors or law enforcement. Judging by race, religion or appearance is both wrong and ineffective.
Source: DHS "If You See Something, Say Something"
79.Which behavior is a possible sign of pre-attack surveillance?
Answer: Someone repeatedly photographing entrances, cameras, and guard posts and taking notes on shift changes
Repeated, focused interest in security measures, access points and schedules is a classic surveillance indicator worth documenting and reporting.
Source: DHS suspicious activity indicators
80."CBRNE" refers to:
Answer: Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats
CBRNE covers the categories of weapons of mass destruction. Security officers are trained to recognize, isolate, and report — not handle — these threats.
Source: Terrorism awareness curriculum
81.If you suspect a chemical release outdoors, you should move people:
Answer: Upwind and uphill, away from the source
Many hazardous vapors are heavier than air and drift with the wind. Move upwind, uphill and away, then call 911.
Source: Terrorism / hazmat awareness curriculum
82.Someone tries to follow an employee through a secured door without badging in. This is called:
Answer: Tailgating (or piggybacking)
Tailgating defeats access control and is a common way intruders get in. Politely stop the person and verify credentials per your post orders.
Source: Access control curriculum
83.Why should patrol routes and times be varied?
Answer: So someone watching can't predict when areas are unguarded
Predictable patrols are easy to time around. Varying routes and timing (within post orders) increases deterrence.
Source: Patrol techniques curriculum
84.While patrolling at night you find an exterior door unlocked that should be locked. You should:
Answer: Check the area for signs of entry, secure it if safe, and document and report it per post orders
An unsecured door may be an oversight or a sign of intrusion. Approach cautiously, call for backup or police if something is wrong, then document it.
Source: Patrol techniques curriculum
85.Proper key control includes:
Answer: Signing keys out and in, never leaving them unattended, and reporting lost keys immediately
Keys are access. A lost or copied key can compromise the entire site, so track every key and report problems right away.
Source: Access control curriculum
86.Checking a visitor in at an access point properly involves:
Answer: Verifying identity and purpose, logging the visit, and issuing a visitor badge per site rules
Consistent ID verification and logging is the backbone of access control — and your logbook is a record if something goes wrong later.
Source: Access control curriculum
87.A daily activity report (DAR) is used to:
Answer: Document your shift: patrols, incidents, visitors, maintenance issues, and times
A DAR is a running record of your shift. Serious events still need a separate, detailed incident report.
Source: BSIS skills training: Observation & Documentation
88.While on patrol you notice a maintenance hazard (water leak, broken light). You should:
Answer: Report and document it, and mark or guard the hazard if needed
Safety hazards create liability for the client. Reporting them is part of protecting people and property.
Source: Patrol techniques curriculum
89.Does BSIS require a drug test to get a guard card?
Answer: No — BSIS does not require one, although many employers do
BSIS doesn't drug-test applicants, but many security companies and clients require pre-employment and random testing.
Source: BSIS guidance (via industry FAQ)
90.How long is a California guard card valid?
Answer: 2 years
Registrations are valid for two years. Renew on time — BSIS asks for renewals at least 60 days before expiration.
Source: BSIS Security Guard Fact Sheet
91.You change security companies. What happens to your guard card?
Answer: Nothing — your registration lets you work for any licensed employer
A guard registration belongs to you, not your employer. It authorizes you to work for any licensed private patrol operator or in-house employer.
Source: BSIS guidance
92.Can you work security for more than one company at the same time?
Answer: Yes, as long as you are on each employer's payroll
Many guards work two posts. You must be an actual employee of each company, not an independent contractor.
Source: BSIS guidance
93.Your plastic guard card is lost. To replace it you:
Answer: Request a replacement from BSIS and pay the $25 replacement fee
Replacement certificates are $25. Meanwhile, your registration status is visible on the DCA License Search.
Source: BSIS fee schedule
94.Does completing a police academy PC 832 course replace BSIS guard card training?
Answer: No — you still need to complete the Bureau's required training and registration
BSIS registration requires BSIS training. PC 832 knowledge helps, but it doesn't substitute for the Bureau's course.
Source: BSIS guidance
95.If BSIS denies your application, when can you generally submit a new one?
Answer: One year from the date of denial
You can appeal a denial quickly, or reapply one year after the denial date. Address whatever caused the denial before reapplying.
Source: BSIS guidance
96.Can a 17-year-old with an emancipation order get a California guard card?
Answer: No — applicants must be at least 18, with no exceptions
The minimum age is 18 for a guard card (21 for a firearm permit). There are no exceptions.
Source: BSIS Security Guard Fact Sheet
97.To carry a baton on duty, a California guard needs:
Answer: A BSIS baton permit, earned through an approved baton course
Batons require a BSIS baton permit from an approved course and facility (SOTC holds BSIS baton facility license TFB-1122).
Source: BSIS manual, Registration Requirements
98.Before carrying pepper spray (tear gas) on duty, a guard must:
Answer: Complete the required chemical agent training
California requires approved training before guards carry tear gas/OC weapons on duty.
Source: PC 22835; BSIS Security Guard Fact Sheet
99.Which combination most often qualifies a San Diego guard for higher-paying posts?
Answer: Guard card plus firearm permit, CPR/First Aid, and specialty certifications such as baton, OC and handcuffing
Armed and specialty-certified guards are eligible for more posts, and those posts typically pay more. Stacking certifications is the fastest way to move up.
Source: San Diego job-market data; earnings vary
100.Is a California guard card valid in other states?
Answer: No — each state sets its own licensing rules
Guard licensing is state-by-state. If you move, check the new state's requirements.
Source: State licensing laws
Guard card exam questions
There is no single state-published question count. Your BSIS-approved training provider gives a final exam drawn from the BSIS Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force Training Manual (July 2023). What matters more: you must score 100%, the exam is open-book, and you may review and retake questions you miss. This free practice test has 100 questions on the same subjects and the job skills that follow.
100%. California regulations (16 CCR section 628) require a perfect score on the Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force exam. Because it is open-book and missed questions can be reviewed and retaken, almost everyone who pays attention in class passes.
Yes. The BSIS manual describes an open-book exam. Applicants use the manual and an answer sheet, and the instructor reviews weak areas before a retake.
Part A covers Power to Arrest: the role of a security officer, Penal Code 834 and 837, misdemeanor versus felony arrests, the merchant's privilege (PC 490.5), searches, trespass, and liability. Part B covers Appropriate Use of Force: objectively reasonable force, self-defense, de-escalation, bias, behavioral health, duty to intercede, and active-shooter response. Our practice test also covers the 2026 licensing rules under SB 652.
The subject matter is the same 2023 BSIS curriculum, but SB 652 (effective January 1, 2026) changed how the training is delivered: the 8-hour course must be administered and certified by a single provider and completed within six months before you apply. Splitting it between schools or relying on an old certificate can get an application rejected.
No. These are original practice questions written by SOTC on the same topics, with explanations and citations. BSIS and training providers do not publish their exams.
Ready for the real thing?
Take the in-person, SB 652-compliant class at SOTC. We file your BSIS application for you.
More answers: 35 guard card questions answered. Also try the CCW practice test or read the step-by-step guard card guide.
Pass it once. Get licensed. Start working.
One in-person class, one provider, paperwork filed for you. Weekday and Saturday dates in Spring Valley.