California Guard Card Practice Test 2026

1. Question 1 of 22

   Which California agency issues security guard registrations (guard cards)?

   • ACalifornia Highway Patrol
   • BCalifornia Department of Justice
   • CDepartment of Motor Vehicles
   • DBureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
   Show answer

   Answer: 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.

2. Question 2 of 22

   What is the minimum age for a California security guard registration?

   • A19
   • B18
   • C21
   • D16
   Show answer

   Answer: B. 18

   Business and Professions Code section 7582.8 requires applicants to be at least 18 years old.

3. Question 3 of 22

   Which training must be finished before BSIS will issue a guard registration?

   • AAn exposed firearms course
   • BPower to Arrest training
   • CAll 32 hours of security officer skills training
   • DAn 8-hour first aid and CPR course
   Show answer

   Answer: 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.

4. Question 4 of 22

   The Power to Arrest course is 3 hours long. How long is the Appropriate Use of Force course that goes with it?

   • A16 hours
   • B5 hours
   • C8 hours
   • D2 hours
   Show answer

   Answer: B. 5 hours

   BSIS lists Power to Arrest at 3 hours and Appropriate Use of Force at 5 hours, for 8 hours in total.

5. Question 5 of 22

   What score must you get on the Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force exam to complete the training?

   • A70%
   • B80%
   • C75%
   • D100%
   Show answer

   Answer: D. 100%

   BSIS requires a score of 100% on the exam provided in the training manual.

6. Question 6 of 22

   How many hours of security officer skills training must a new guard complete within the first six months?

   • A32 hours
   • B8 hours
   • C40 hours
   • D16 hours
   Show answer

   Answer: A. 32 hours

   New guards must complete 32 hours of skills training within six months, made up of mandatory and elective courses.

7. Question 7 of 22

   Which list shows California's four mandatory skills courses?

   • AFirst Aid; Fire Safety; Courtroom Demeanor; Supervision
   • BTrespass; Access Control; Parking Control; Evacuation Procedures
   • CPublic Relations; Observation and Documentation; Communication and its Significance; Liability and Legal Aspects
   • DCrowd Control; Driver Safety; Radio Procedures; Chemical Agents
   Show answer

   Answer: 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.

8. Question 8 of 22

   How much continuing training must a California security guard complete every year?

   • A4 hours each year on any topic
   • BNone after the first year of work
   • C16 hours each year, including at least 8 hours of firearms range training
   • D8 hours, including at least 2 hours reviewing appropriate use of force
   Show answer

   Answer: 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.

9. Question 9 of 22

   Who may provide the required security guard training in California?

   • AAny guard who has held a California guard card for at least one year
   • BOnly a California community college
   • COnly the local police department
   • DA private patrol operator or a BSIS-certified or approved provider
   Show answer

   Answer: 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.

10. Question 10 of 22

    What must a California security guard carry while on duty?

    • AA valid guard registration card
    • BA copy of the client's contract
    • CA passport
    • DA firearms permit, even when unarmed
    Show answer

    Answer: A. A valid guard registration card

    Business and Professions Code section 7583.3 requires guards to carry a valid registration card while on duty.

11. Question 11 of 22

    Your registration has been approved, but the card has not arrived by mail. How can you work in the meantime?

    • AWith your Power to Arrest training certificate and nothing else
    • BYou cannot work until the card arrives
    • CWith a printout of the BSIS approval and a valid photo ID
    • DWith a letter from a friend who is a guard
    Show answer

    Answer: 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.

12. Question 12 of 22

    How are applicants for a California guard card fingerprinted?

    • ABy the employer, using ink fingerprint cards at the job site on day one
    • BThey are not fingerprinted
    • CBy Live Scan, for checks by the California Department of Justice and the FBI
    • DBy the training school only
    Show answer

    Answer: 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.

13. Question 13 of 22

    How early should you submit your guard registration renewal?

    • AOn the day it expires
    • BAt least 60 days before it expires
    • CAt least 1 year before it expires
    • DWithin 30 days after it expires
    Show answer

    Answer: B. At least 60 days before it expires

    BSIS asks guards to submit the renewal at least 60 days before the expiration date.

14. Question 14 of 22

    What happens if a guard registration is not renewed within 60 days after it expires?

    • AIt stays valid for another year
    • BIt turns into a firearms permit
    • CThe employer can still renew it at any time by paying a late fee
    • DIt is canceled and cannot be renewed, so you must apply again
    Show answer

    Answer: 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.

15. Question 15 of 22

    What does a California guard need to carry an exposed firearm on duty?

    • AA hunting license
    • BA separate BSIS exposed firearms permit
    • COnly a guard card
    • DWritten permission from the client and the local police
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A separate BSIS exposed firearms permit

    A guard card alone does not allow carrying a firearm. A separate BSIS firearms permit is required.

16. Question 16 of 22

    Before carrying a baton on duty, a California guard must:

    • AWatch an online video only
    • BComplete baton training at a BSIS-approved baton training facility
    • CGet written permission from the county sheriff or the local police chief
    • DHave worked as a guard for five years
    Show answer

    Answer: 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.

17. Question 17 of 22

    Under California Penal Code section 837, a private person may arrest someone for a public offense that was:

    • ADescribed by an anonymous caller
    • BCommitted or attempted in the private person's presence
    • CReported in the news
    • DCommitted by anyone at any time in the past, even years ago
    Show answer

    Answer: 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.

18. Question 18 of 22

    Under Penal Code section 837, when may a private person arrest someone for a felony that did not happen in their presence?

    • AWhen a felony has in fact been committed and they have reasonable cause to believe that person did it
    • BWhenever they suspect someone might commit a felony later
    • CNever, under any circumstances
    • DOnly if the person confesses to a friend
    Show answer

    Answer: 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.

19. Question 19 of 22

    After making a citizen's arrest in California, what must the private person do?

    • ATake the person's photo and let them go
    • BQuestion the person until they confess
    • CTake the person before a magistrate or hand them to a peace officer without unnecessary delay
    • DHold the person in a locked office on site until the next business day
    Show answer

    Answer: 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.

20. Question 20 of 22

    The "duty to intercede" is part of which required California course?

    • APublic Relations
    • BParking and Traffic Control
    • CAppropriate Use of Force
    • DRadio Procedures
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Appropriate Use of Force

    Appropriate Use of Force covers the duty to intercede, de-escalation, objectively reasonable force and related topics.

21. Question 21 of 22

    Under Penal Code section 490.5, a merchant who has probable cause to believe a person is stealing merchandise may:

    • AHold the person for as long as needed to get a written confession
    • BDetain the person for a reasonable time to investigate in a reasonable manner
    • CFine the person on the spot
    • DSearch the person's car in the parking lot
    Show answer

    Answer: 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.

22. Question 22 of 22

    How long must a guard keep their training certificates?

    • AFor 30 days after the course ends
    • BUntil the end of the first patrol
    • CCertificates do not need to be kept after the guard card is issued
    • DUntil the registration expires or is canceled
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Until the registration expires or is canceled

    Section 7583.6 requires guards to keep training certificates until the registration expires or is canceled.

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The real test: 100%