Australia Security Guard Test (Cert II) Practice 2026

1. Question 1 of 25

   Which qualification is the usual entry-level training for unarmed security guards and crowd controllers in Australia?

   • AA Certificate II in Hospitality
   • BCPP40719 Certificate IV in Security Management
   • CCPP20218 Certificate II in Security Operations
   • DCPP30619 Certificate III in Investigative Services
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   Answer: C. CPP20218 Certificate II in Security Operations

   States such as Victoria and Queensland list the Certificate II in Security Operations (CPP20218) as the training for unarmed guard and crowd control work.

2. Question 2 of 25

   Who issues security licences in Australia?

   • AOne federal agency issues a single national licence
   • BYour employer issues your licence
   • CEach state and territory runs its own licensing system
   • DYour training provider issues your licence
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   Answer: C. Each state and territory runs its own licensing system

   Security licensing is a state and territory matter. For example, Victoria Police licenses guards in Victoria and the Office of Fair Trading does so in Queensland.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Who is allowed to deliver and assess the Certificate II in Security Operations?

   • AA local council
   • BA private tutor who is not registered
   • CA registered training organisation (RTO)
   • DAny licensed security company
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   Answer: C. A registered training organisation (RTO)

   Nationally recognised security training must be completed with a registered training organisation, and some states also keep their own list of approved RTOs.

4. Question 4 of 25

   Besides the security units, what other training do states such as Victoria and Queensland require for an unarmed security licence?

   • AA university degree in criminology
   • BA current first aid unit
   • CA firearms licence
   • DA heavy vehicle licence
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   Answer: B. A current first aid unit

   The required training for unarmed security work includes a first aid unit (HLTAID011 Provide first aid) alongside the security units.

5. Question 5 of 25

   Security training in Australia is competency-based. What does that mean?

   • AYou only need to read the course notes
   • BYou must score in the top 10% of your class
   • CYou must show you can do each task to the required standard
   • DYou only need to attend a set number of hours
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   Answer: C. You must show you can do each task to the required standard

   Licensing bodies ask applicants to demonstrate competency, so assessors check that you can actually perform each skill and know the law behind it.

6. Question 6 of 25

   Which of these topics is part of the Certificate II in Security Operations?

   • AInstalling alarm systems
   • BManaging intoxicated persons
   • CFirearm handling
   • DRunning a security business
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   Answer: B. Managing intoxicated persons

   The Certificate II units include applying security procedures to manage intoxicated persons. Alarm installation, business management and firearms belong to other qualifications.

7. Question 7 of 25

   In general, what legal powers does an unarmed security officer have in Australia?

   • AThe same powers as a police officer
   • BMostly the same powers as any other person, plus authority given by the owner or occupier
   • CMore powers than police while on private property
   • DNo legal powers at all
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   Answer: B. Mostly the same powers as any other person, plus authority given by the owner or occupier

   A security licence does not make you a police officer. Your powers come from the general law that applies to everyone and from the authority your client gives you over their property.

8. Question 8 of 25

   A citizen's arrest is generally only allowed when…

   • Aa person breaks a venue's dress code
   • Byou find the person committing an offence or they have just committed one
   • Ca customer owes your client money
   • Dyou have a vague feeling that someone looks suspicious
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   Answer: B. you find the person committing an offence or they have just committed one

   Every state lets ordinary people arrest without a warrant in limited cases, usually when the person is caught in the act or has just committed an offence. The exact wording differs between state laws.

9. Question 9 of 25

   After making a citizen's arrest, what must you do?

   • AQuestion the person in your office for several hours
   • BHold the person until the end of your shift
   • CTake a photo of the person and let them go
   • DHand the person over to police as soon as you reasonably can
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   Answer: D. Hand the person over to police as soon as you reasonably can

   A private person may only hold someone long enough to hand them to police. Delaying without good reason can turn a lawful arrest into unlawful detention.

10. Question 10 of 25

    How should a security officer treat the power of arrest?

    • AAs a way to make people pay debts
    • BAs a last resort when other options will not work
    • CAs the first response to any rule breach
    • DAs a way to enforce venue rules such as dress codes
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    Answer: B. As a last resort when other options will not work

    Arrest carries high legal and safety risks. Observing, reporting and calling police are usually safer and more effective options.

11. Question 11 of 25

    When you arrest someone, what should you tell them?

    • AOnly the phone number of your company
    • BThat they are under arrest and the reason for it
    • CNothing, so they do not argue
    • DOnly your first name
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    Answer: B. That they are under arrest and the reason for it

    A person has a right to know they are under arrest and why. Saying it clearly also helps prevent the situation from escalating.

12. Question 12 of 25

    A person refuses to leave private premises after the occupier's authorised representative asks them to go. What is the general legal position?

    • AThey have done nothing wrong as long as they are quiet
    • BThey may be committing an offence of trespass under state law
    • CThey automatically become a police matter only if CCTV records them
    • DThey can be fined by the security officer on the spot
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    Answer: B. They may be committing an offence of trespass under state law

    Each state has laws that make it an offence to stay on premises after being lawfully told to leave. Security officers record what happened and call police if needed.

13. Question 13 of 25

    Who can give a security officer authority to ask people to leave a property?

    • AAny member of the public
    • BThe owner or occupier, or someone they authorise
    • CAnother customer who is upset
    • DA journalist covering an event
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    Answer: B. The owner or occupier, or someone they authorise

    Your authority over a property comes from the person in lawful control of it. Your assignment instructions should tell you what that authority covers.

14. Question 14 of 25

    A patron refuses to let you look in their bag. There is no court order and no law requiring a search. What can you generally do?

    • AHold them until police arrive
    • BTake the bag and search it anyway
    • CRefuse them entry or ask them to leave, following site procedure
    • DArrest them for refusing
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    Answer: C. Refuse them entry or ask them to leave, following site procedure

    Searches by security officers generally need the person's consent, often as a condition of entry. If they refuse, you can refuse entry, but you cannot force a search.

15. Question 15 of 25

    What is the best way to protect a crime scene until police arrive?

    • ATidy the area so it is safe
    • BMove items to your office for safe keeping
    • CLet staff walk through to check for damage
    • DKeep people out, touch nothing and record who enters
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    Answer: D. Keep people out, touch nothing and record who enters

    Evidence can be lost or contaminated very easily. Keep the area secure, note times and names, and hand over to police.

16. Question 16 of 25

    What does 'continuity of evidence' (chain of custody) mean?

    • AA list of every officer on the roster
    • BA record showing who held an item of evidence from the moment it was found
    • CA copy of CCTV footage kept at home
    • DThe order in which witnesses are interviewed
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    Answer: B. A record showing who held an item of evidence from the moment it was found

    Courts need to know that evidence was not changed or swapped. Recording each person who handled it, and when, shows that it is reliable.

17. Question 17 of 25

    How should you treat personal information you collect at work, such as names in a visitor log?

    • AUse it only for the job and keep it secure
    • BPost it online to warn others
    • CTake copies home to save time
    • DShare it with friends if they ask
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    Answer: A. Use it only for the job and keep it secure

    Personal information must be handled carefully and only for its purpose. Misusing it can breach privacy law and your licence conditions.

18. Question 18 of 25

    A manager tells you to refuse entry to people because of their race. What should you do?

    • ARefuse to follow the instruction, because race discrimination is unlawful
    • BFollow it if the dress code allows
    • CFollow it because the manager is in charge
    • DFollow it only on busy nights
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    Answer: A. Refuse to follow the instruction, because race discrimination is unlawful

    Federal and state anti-discrimination laws make it unlawful to refuse service because of race. Entry decisions must be based on fair and lawful reasons such as intoxication or behaviour.

19. Question 19 of 25

    When you give evidence in court, how should you use your notebook?

    • ARead out a script your manager wrote
    • BAsk the court's permission to refer to notes you made at the time
    • CRely on memory and guess any gaps
    • DAdd new details to your notes the night before
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    Answer: B. Ask the court's permission to refer to notes you made at the time

    Notes made at or soon after the event help you give accurate evidence. Changing them later would damage your credibility.

20. Question 20 of 25

    What does 'duty of care' mean for a security officer?

    • ACaring only for your client's property
    • BBeing responsible for every accident on site
    • CFollowing any order from a customer
    • DTaking reasonable care to avoid causing harm to people
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    Answer: D. Taking reasonable care to avoid causing harm to people

    You must act with reasonable care so that what you do, or fail to do, does not cause foreseeable harm to others.

21. Question 21 of 25

    What can happen to a security officer who acts outside the law, for example by using too much force?

    • ANothing, because the employer is always responsible
    • BThey are protected because they hold a licence
    • CThey only receive a verbal warning
    • DThey can face criminal charges, be sued and lose their licence
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    Answer: D. They can face criminal charges, be sued and lose their licence

    Holding a licence does not protect you from the law. Officers who break the law can be personally prosecuted, sued and disciplined by the regulator.

22. Question 22 of 25

    In general terms, what is an assault?

    • AApplying force to someone, or threatening it, without lawful excuse
    • BOnly an attack using a weapon
    • COnly an attack that causes serious injury
    • DOnly an attack on a police officer
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    Answer: A. Applying force to someone, or threatening it, without lawful excuse

    Assault can include touching someone or making them fear immediate force, without their consent or a lawful excuse. Injury is not required.

23. Question 23 of 25

    If there is a dispute about whether a security officer's force was reasonable, who finally decides?

    • AA court, looking at all the circumstances
    • BThe crowd who watched
    • CThe client who hired the company
    • DThe security officer alone
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    Answer: A. A court, looking at all the circumstances

    Whether force was reasonable is judged by a court on the facts. Good notes and reports help show what you saw and why you acted.

24. Question 24 of 25

    You are not sure whether an offence has been committed. What is usually the best action?

    • AObserve, record details and contact police or your supervisor
    • BMake an arrest to be safe
    • CIgnore it completely
    • DSearch the person to find out
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Observe, record details and contact police or your supervisor

    If you are unsure, an arrest could be unlawful. Watching, noting descriptions and calling police keeps you within your powers.

25. Question 25 of 25

    What is the key principle for any use of force by a security officer?

    • AUse as much force as it takes to win
    • BUse force whenever you are insulted
    • CUse force only after it is approved in writing
    • DUse only force that is reasonable and necessary in the circumstances
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Use only force that is reasonable and necessary in the circumstances

    Australian laws on self-defence and arrest only protect force that is reasonable in the circumstances. Anything more can be a criminal offence.

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