California Guard Card Practice Test 2026
Before BSIS issues a California guard card, you must complete Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force training and pass its exam with a score of 100%. These questions cover California's own guard rules and law first, then general security officer knowledge.
Kurz und knapp
Bestanden: 100%. Zuständig: Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), California Department of Consumer Affairs. Mindestalter: 18. Hier üben Sie kostenlos mit 83 Fragen, jeweils mit Antwort und Erklärung. Am 10. Oktober 2026 mit offiziellen Quellen abgeglichen.
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Frage 1 von 22
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Antwort: D. Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
BSIS, part of the Department of Consumer Affairs, registers and regulates security guards in California. The Department of Justice only runs the criminal history check.
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Frage 2 von 22
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Antwort: B. 18
Business and Professions Code section 7582.8 requires applicants to be at least 18 years old.
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Frage 3 von 22
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Antwort: B. Power to Arrest training
Power to Arrest training must be completed before the registration is issued. The skills courses are completed later, within the first six months.
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Frage 4 von 22
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Antwort: B. 5 hours
BSIS lists Power to Arrest at 3 hours and Appropriate Use of Force at 5 hours, for 8 hours in total.
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Frage 5 von 22
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Antwort: D. 100%
BSIS requires a score of 100% on the exam provided in the training manual.
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Frage 6 von 22
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Antwort: A. 32 hours
New guards must complete 32 hours of skills training within six months, made up of mandatory and elective courses.
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Frage 7 von 22
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Antwort: C. Public Relations; Observation and Documentation; Communication and its Significance; Liability and Legal Aspects
These four 4-hour courses are mandatory. The courses in the other lists are electives.
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Frage 8 von 22
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Antwort: D. 8 hours, including at least 2 hours reviewing appropriate use of force
Annual training is 8 hours and must include a minimum of 2 hours on appropriate use of force topics.
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Frage 9 von 22
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Antwort: D. A private patrol operator or a BSIS-certified or approved provider
BSIS allows training from a private patrol operator, a certified training facility or an approved course provider.
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Frage 10 von 22
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Antwort: A. A valid guard registration card
Business and Professions Code section 7583.3 requires guards to carry a valid registration card while on duty.
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Frage 11 von 22
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Antwort: C. With a printout of the BSIS approval and a valid photo ID
Under section 7583.17, a guard may work with a printout of the Bureau's approval and valid photo ID until the card arrives.
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Frage 12 von 22
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Antwort: C. By Live Scan, for checks by the California Department of Justice and the FBI
Applicants are fingerprinted by Live Scan so the DOJ and FBI can run criminal history checks.
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Frage 13 von 22
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Antwort: B. At least 60 days before it expires
BSIS asks guards to submit the renewal at least 60 days before the expiration date.
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Frage 14 von 22
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Antwort: D. It is canceled and cannot be renewed, so you must apply again
Under section 7583.20, a registration not renewed within 60 days after expiration is canceled and cannot be renewed.
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Frage 15 von 22
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Antwort: B. A separate BSIS exposed firearms permit
A guard card alone does not allow carrying a firearm. A separate BSIS firearms permit is required.
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Frage 16 von 22
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Antwort: B. Complete baton training at a BSIS-approved baton training facility
Section 7583.33 requires baton training at a Bureau-approved facility, and only registered guards may carry a baton on duty.
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Frage 17 von 22
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Antwort: B. Committed or attempted in the private person's presence
Section 837 allows a private person to arrest for a public offense committed or attempted in their presence.
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Frage 18 von 22
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Antwort: A. When a felony has in fact been committed and they have reasonable cause to believe that person did it
Section 837 allows an arrest when the person has committed a felony, or when a felony has in fact happened and there is reasonable cause to believe the person did it.
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Frage 19 von 22
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Antwort: C. Take the person before a magistrate or hand them to a peace officer without unnecessary delay
Penal Code section 847 requires a private person who arrests someone to deliver them to a magistrate or peace officer without unnecessary delay.
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Frage 20 von 22
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Antwort: C. Appropriate Use of Force
Appropriate Use of Force covers the duty to intercede, de-escalation, objectively reasonable force and related topics.
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Frage 21 von 22
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Antwort: B. Detain the person for a reasonable time to investigate in a reasonable manner
Section 490.5(f) lets a merchant detain a suspected shoplifter for a reasonable time to investigate, in a reasonable manner.
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Frage 22 von 22
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Antwort: D. Until the registration expires or is canceled
Section 7583.6 requires guards to keep training certificates until the registration expires or is canceled.
Tastatur: 1–4 zum Antworten, Eingabetaste für die nächste Frage.
Die echte Prüfung: 100%
Was Sie vor der Prüfung wissen sollten
- Power to Arrest training (3 hours) and Appropriate Use of Force training (5 hours) come before the guard card. You must pass the exam with 100%.
- You must be at least 18 and pass a Live Scan fingerprint check by the California DOJ and the FBI.
- New guards must complete 32 hours of security officer skills training within their first six months.
- The four mandatory skills courses are Public Relations, Observation and Documentation, Communication and its Significance, and Liability and Legal Aspects.
- Every guard needs 8 hours of training each year, including at least 2 hours on appropriate use of force.
- Guards must carry a valid registration card on duty. Firearms and batons need separate permits or training.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
What score do I need on the California guard card exam?
100%. BSIS says you must pass the Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force exam with a score of 100% to complete the training.
How many hours of training do I need before I get a guard card?
8 hours: Power to Arrest (3 hours) and Appropriate Use of Force (5 hours). The 32 hours of skills training are completed within six months after that.
How old do I have to be to get a guard card in California?
At least 18 years old.
How do I apply for a California guard card?
Apply online through BreEZe or by mail, and get fingerprinted by Live Scan using the security guard Live Scan form.
Can I work before my guard card arrives in the mail?
Yes, once BSIS has approved you. Carry a printout of the approval from the BSIS website and a valid photo ID until the card arrives.