Virginia Unarmed Security Officer Practice Test 2026: Practice test 3

1. Question 1 of 20

   A store manager offers you free merchandise if you "look the other way" now and then. What should you do?

   • AAsk for cash instead
   • BRefuse and report it to your supervisor
   • CAccept it but keep doing your job properly
   • DAccept it if the items are small
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Refuse and report it to your supervisor

   Accepting gifts in return for ignoring problems is unethical and may be a crime. Officers must stay honest and neutral.

2. Question 2 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.

3. Question 3 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.

4. Question 4 of 20

   A crime has just happened in a store office. Until police arrive, what should the security officer do?

   • APick up important items and keep them safe in your pocket
   • BLet staff walk through to see what happened
   • CKeep people out of the area and avoid touching anything
   • DClean up so the office looks normal
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Keep people out of the area and avoid touching anything

   Protecting the scene preserves evidence. Officers should note who was there and anything they saw.

5. Question 5 of 20

   In most states, a private security officer's power to arrest is:

   • AGreater than a police officer's while on private property
   • BThe same as any private citizen's, as set by state law
   • CUnlimited while the officer is in uniform
   • DThe same as a police officer's
   Show answer

   Answer: B. The same as any private citizen's, as set by state law

   Unless a state law gives special powers, a security officer has only the arrest powers that any private person has. These rules differ from state to state.

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

   You find a person who has collapsed and is not breathing. What should you do?

   • AWait to see if the person wakes up
   • BMove the person to a car to drive them to the hospital
   • CCall 911 or have someone call, send for an AED and start CPR if you are trained
   • DGive the person sips of water and wait a few minutes to see if they recover
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Call 911 or have someone call, send for an AED and start CPR if you are trained

   Fast action matters in cardiac arrest. Calling 911, CPR and an AED give the person the best chance.

8. Question 8 of 20

   Which description is best for an incident report?

   • AA suspicious-looking guy hanging around
   • BA man who looked like he was up to no good, hanging around the loading dock
   • CA man about 6 feet tall, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans
   • DA tall person wearing normal clothes
   Show answer

   Answer: C. A man about 6 feet tall, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans

   Reports should give facts and details that someone else can use, not opinions or vague words.

9. Question 9 of 20

   An employee forgot their ID badge and says, "Everyone knows me, just let me in." What should you do?

   • ALet them in because they look familiar
   • BLet them in if they promise to bring the badge tomorrow and sign the log
   • CTell them to go home for the day
   • DFollow site procedure to confirm who they are before letting them in
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Follow site procedure to confirm who they are before letting them in

   Access rules apply to everyone. Confirming identity the approved way protects the site from people who only pretend to belong.

10. Question 10 of 20

    What is "deadly force"?

    • ATouching someone's shoulder or arm without their permission
    • BForce likely to cause death or serious bodily injury
    • CAny force used at night
    • DPlacing handcuffs on a person
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Force likely to cause death or serious bodily injury

    State laws allow deadly force only in very narrow situations, such as an immediate threat of death or serious injury.

11. Question 11 of 20

    You find a fire in a storage room. What should you do first?

    • AFinish your patrol first and report it when you get back to the security desk
    • BRaise the alarm and call the fire department, following site procedures
    • CTry to put it out alone, no matter how big it is
    • DOpen all the windows to let the smoke out
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Raise the alarm and call the fire department, following site procedures

    Early warning saves lives. Only try to fight a small fire if you are trained, it is safe and you have a clear way out.

12. Question 12 of 20

    On patrol you find a door open that should be locked, with no sign of a break-in. What should you do?

    • ACheck the area if it is safe, secure the door and report it
    • BLeave it open and mention it to the next officer at shift change
    • CIgnore it because nothing seems wrong
    • DLeave it open in case someone needs it
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Check the area if it is safe, secure the door and report it

    An unlocked door is a security risk. Securing it and reporting it lets the client fix the cause.

13. Question 13 of 20

    A shopper is loud and upset at the service desk. What should the security officer try first?

    • AHolding the shopper's arms
    • BCalm, respectful conversation
    • CThreatening to call the police right away
    • DPepper spray
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Calm, respectful conversation

    Talking is the first and safest option. Physical force is a last resort and only when it is lawful and necessary.

14. Question 14 of 20

    What is good practice when using a two-way radio?

    • AHold long personal conversations
    • BShout into the microphone
    • CUse code words you made up so others cannot understand you
    • DThink before you speak and keep messages short and clear
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Think before you speak and keep messages short and clear

    Others may need the channel for an emergency. Clear, brief messages are easier to understand.

15. Question 15 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.

16. Question 16 of 20

    What is the best way to ask a trespasser to leave?

    • AShout at them in front of other people
    • BTake their ID card and keep it until they leave
    • CExplain politely and clearly that they must leave, and give them time to go
    • DTake their arm firmly and walk them out the nearest door without saying much
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Explain politely and clearly that they must leave, and give them time to go

    A clear, polite request gives the person a chance to comply and reduces the chance of a fight.

17. Question 17 of 20

    Which statement about a security uniform is true?

    • AIt gives the officer the right to search anyone on the client's property
    • BIt allows the officer to direct traffic on any public street
    • CIt shows the officer works for the site, but it gives no police powers
    • DIt allows the officer to hold people for questioning
    Show answer

    Answer: C. It shows the officer works for the site, but it gives no police powers

    A uniform makes an officer easy to find and can deter crime. It does not turn the officer into a law enforcement officer.

18. Question 18 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.

19. Question 19 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.

20. Question 20 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.

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