Alabama Security Officer License Practice Test 2026: Practice test 3

1. Question 1 of 20

   A trespasser refuses to leave and becomes angry. What should the officer usually do?

   • AKeep a safe distance and call the police, as the post orders say
   • BBlock the exit so the person has to stay there until the police arrive
   • CLock the person in an office
   • DDrag the person off the property
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Keep a safe distance and call the police, as the post orders say

   Officers should avoid physical confrontation. Police can deal with a person who will not leave.

2. Question 2 of 20

   A person is on private property, is told by the owner's agent to leave, and refuses. What is the person usually doing?

   • AUsing a legal right to stay
   • BCommitting robbery
   • CTrespassing
   • DCommitting burglary
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Trespassing

   In most states, staying on private property after the owner or the owner's agent says to leave is trespass.

3. Question 3 of 20

   What does "active listening" mean?

   • AInterrupting to correct the person's facts
   • BAgreeing with everything the person says so that they calm down faster
   • CPaying full attention, letting the person speak and repeating back what you heard
   • DWaiting quietly for your turn to argue
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Paying full attention, letting the person speak and repeating back what you heard

   People calm down when they feel heard. Repeating back what they said shows you understand.

4. Question 4 of 20

   A visitor asks how to find an office in the building. What should you do?

   • AAsk the visitor to leave the building
   • BIgnore the visitor, because giving directions is not security work
   • CHelp politely and clearly, or find someone who can
   • DTell the visitor to find it alone
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Help politely and clearly, or find someone who can

   Officers are often the first person a visitor meets. Helpful, polite service is part of the job.

5. Question 5 of 20

   In most situations, when may a private security officer look inside a person's bag?

   • AAny time a person refuses to answer the officer's questions politely
   • BWhen the person agrees or it is a posted condition of entry
   • CWhenever the officer has a feeling about them
   • DOnly after the officer takes off the uniform
   Show answer

   Answer: B. When the person agrees or it is a posted condition of entry

   Private officers do not have police search powers. Searches usually depend on consent and the site's posted rules.

6. Question 6 of 20

   A security officer harms someone while doing their job. Who else may be held responsible?

   • AThe local police department
   • BOnly the person who was harmed
   • CThe officer's employer, and sometimes the client
   • DNo one, because the officer was doing their job at the time
   Show answer

   Answer: C. The officer's employer, and sometimes the client

   Employers can be held responsible for what employees do within the scope of their job. This is called vicarious liability.

7. Question 7 of 20

   Why must security reports be accurate and complete?

   • APolice, insurers, lawyers and courts may rely on them
   • BThey are only read by the officer who wrote them, as a memory aid
   • CThey are used mainly for advertising
   • DThey are thrown away after each shift
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Police, insurers, lawyers and courts may rely on them

   A report may become a legal record. Mistakes or missing details can hurt an investigation and the officer's credibility.

8. Question 8 of 20

   You find an unattended, suspicious package. What should you do?

   • AOpen it to see what is inside
   • BPick it up gently and shake it to hear what is inside
   • CCarry it outside to a safer place
   • DDo not touch it, move people away and report it
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Do not touch it, move people away and report it

   A suspicious item may be dangerous. Keep people away and let trained responders deal with it.

9. Question 9 of 20

   The PASS method for using a portable fire extinguisher stands for:

   • APull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
   • BPoint, Activate, Squeeze, Stop
   • CPush, Aim, Spray, Stop
   • DPull, Alert, Spray, Shut
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep

   Pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire, squeeze the handle and sweep from side to side.

10. Question 10 of 20

    An upset person is shouting at you. Which reply is most likely to calm things down?

    • A"I can see you're frustrated. Let's see how I can help."
    • B"Calm down right now, or I'm going to have to ask you to leave!"
    • C"That's not my problem, go ask someone else."
    • D"You're being ridiculous about this."
    Show answer

    Answer: A. "I can see you're frustrated. Let's see how I can help."

    Showing empathy and offering help lowers tension. Orders and insults usually make people angrier.

11. Question 11 of 20

    In "run, hide, fight," when is fighting appropriate?

    • AWhen you want to protect the building and its valuable property
    • BBefore trying anything else
    • CEvery time you see the attacker
    • DOnly as a last resort, when your life is in immediate danger
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Only as a last resort, when your life is in immediate danger

    Escaping or hiding comes first. Fighting is for when there is no other choice and your life is at risk.

12. Question 12 of 20

    Which federal agency sets workplace safety rules for most US employers?

    • AFBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
    • BFEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
    • CTSA (Transportation Security Administration)
    • DOSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
    Show answer

    Answer: D. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

    OSHA sets and enforces safety and health standards for most private-sector workplaces.

13. Question 13 of 20

    You feel very tired during a night shift. What is the professional choice?

    • ATurn off your radio so you can rest
    • BLeave early without telling anyone
    • CTake a short nap in your car during a quiet part of the shift
    • DTell your supervisor and use approved ways to stay alert
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Tell your supervisor and use approved ways to stay alert

    An officer who is asleep cannot protect anyone. Sleeping on duty can lead to dismissal and liability.

14. Question 14 of 20

    A good incident report answers which questions?

    • AOnly who and when
    • BOnly what happened to the officer
    • CWho, what, when, where, why and how
    • DOnly what the client wants to hear about
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Who, what, when, where, why and how

    The six basic questions make sure the reader understands the full incident.

15. Question 15 of 20

    You made a mistake in your field notebook. What is the correct way to fix it?

    • ACover it with correction fluid, then neatly write the right words over the top
    • BTear the page out
    • CDraw a single line through it, write the correction and add your initials
    • DScribble over it until it cannot be read
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Draw a single line through it, write the correction and add your initials

    Notes can be used as evidence. A single line keeps the original words readable and shows the change was honest.

16. Question 16 of 20

    Why do security officers use the phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie) on the radio?

    • ATo spell letters clearly so they are not misheard
    • BTo show the officer's rank
    • CBecause it makes messages shorter
    • DTo keep every message secret from people listening in
    Show answer

    Answer: A. To spell letters clearly so they are not misheard

    Letters like B, D and P sound alike on a radio. Words such as Bravo, Delta and Papa prevent mistakes.

17. Question 17 of 20

    A person walks through a secure door right behind an employee without using their own card. What is this called?

    • ASkimming
    • BTailgating
    • CShoplifting
    • DLoitering
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Tailgating

    Tailgating (also called piggybacking) lets unauthorized people slip into secure areas. Officers should watch for it and challenge it politely.

18. Question 18 of 20

    What is the main job of most private security officers?

    • AObserve, deter and report problems to the right people
    • BInvestigate crimes and arrest suspects in the same way as the police
    • CPunish people who break site rules
    • DEnforce traffic laws on public roads
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Observe, deter and report problems to the right people

    Security officers protect people and property mostly by being visible, watching carefully and reporting what they see. Law enforcement is the job of the police.

19. Question 19 of 20

    Which body language helps calm an angry person?

    • ACrossed arms and a hard stare
    • BStanding close to the person's face to show confidence
    • COpen hands, a relaxed stance and a safe distance
    • DPointing your finger at the person
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Open hands, a relaxed stance and a safe distance

    Calm, non-threatening body language helps lower tension. Keeping a safe distance also protects the officer.

20. Question 20 of 20

    A caller says there is a bomb in the building. What should you do?

    • AIgnore it because most calls are jokes
    • BStay calm, keep the caller talking, write down everything and follow the bomb threat procedure
    • CHang up immediately
    • DSearch the building alone first so that you do not cause a panic
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Stay calm, keep the caller talking, write down everything and follow the bomb threat procedure

    Details from the call help police judge the threat. Follow your site's procedure and notify authorities.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: 70% on the written training test