TN BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEMS QUALIFYING
AGENT — 250 PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS, Answers
& rationales
1. Under Tennessee law, which state agency is responsible for licensing burglar alarm
companies? A. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) B. Tennessee Department of
Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) (Correct Answer) C. Tennessee Alarm Systems Council D.
Tennessee Fire Marshal's OfficeA
RATIONALE: The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) oversees
the licensing and regulation of alarm systems contractors and qualifying agents under TCA
Title 62, Chapter 32.
2. What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a Tennessee Qualifying Agent license
for burglar alarm systems? A. 18 years old (Correct Answer) B. 21 years old C. 25 years old
D. No age requirement
RATIONALE: Tennessee requires applicants for a Qualifying Agent license to be at least
18 years of age as part of the basic eligibility requirements under state licensing law.
3. How many hours of approved training are required before a burglar alarm technician
can work unsupervised in Tennessee? A. 40 hours B. 80 hours (Correct Answer) C. 120 hours
D. 200 hours
RATIONALE: Tennessee requires 80 hours of approved training before an alarm
technician may work without direct supervision, ensuring adequate competency before
independent installation work.
4. A Tennessee Qualifying Agent license must be renewed every: A. 1 year B. 2 years
(Correct Answer) C. 3 years D. 5 years
,RATIONALE: Tennessee Qualifying Agent licenses have a two-year renewal cycle under
TDCI regulations. License holders must complete continuing education and pay renewal
fees before the expiration date.
5. Which of the following is NOT a requirement to obtain a Tennessee burglar alarm
Qualifying Agent license? A. Pass a written examination B. Submit a complete application with
fees C. Provide proof of insurance D. Hold a college degree in electronics (Correct Answer)
RATIONALE: A college degree is not required. Tennessee requires applicants to pass an
examination, submit a completed application with required fees, and demonstrate financial
responsibility through insurance.
6. If a Qualifying Agent leaves a company, how many days does the company have to
designate a new Qualifying Agent? A. 15 days B. 30 days (Correct Answer) C. 45 days D. 60
days
RATIONALE: Under Tennessee law, an alarm company has 30 days to designate a new
Qualifying Agent when the existing one leaves. Failure to do so can result in suspension of
the company's license.
7. An alarm company operating in Tennessee without a license is subject to: A. A warning
letter only B. Civil penalties only C. Criminal charges only D. Both civil penalties and possible
criminal charges (Correct Answer)
RATIONALE: Operating an alarm systems business without a license in Tennessee can
result in both civil monetary penalties and criminal charges, reflecting the seriousness of
this violation.
8. Which document must a Tennessee licensed alarm company display at its principal place
of business? A. Surety bond certificate B. State business license only C. TDCI-issued alarm
contractor license (Correct Answer) D. Federal contractor registration
RATIONALE: Tennessee alarm contractors must prominently display their TDCI-issued
alarm contractor license at their principal place of business, making it available for
inspection.
,9. Tennessee law requires that alarm company employees who perform installations carry
which of the following? A. A business card B. A photo ID badge showing company affiliation
(Correct Answer) C. A copy of the company's insurance policy D. A federal background check
clearance card
RATIONALE: Tennessee requires that employees of alarm companies carry photo
identification badges showing their company affiliation when performing alarm
installations or service, for customer protection.
10. A person convicted of which type of crime would be automatically disqualified from
obtaining a Tennessee alarm license? A. A traffic misdemeanor B. A felony involving moral
turpitude (Correct Answer) C. Any misdemeanor within 5 years D. A civil judgment
RATIONALE: Felonies involving moral turpitude (crimes involving dishonesty, fraud, or
breach of trust) are disqualifying under Tennessee alarm licensing statutes, reflecting the
trust placed in alarm technicians who enter homes and businesses.
11. What is the purpose of requiring a Qualifying Agent for an alarm company in
Tennessee? A. To handle all customer billing B. To serve as the licensed individual responsible
for technical compliance (Correct Answer) C. To manage marketing efforts D. To oversee non-
licensed employees only
RATIONALE: The Qualifying Agent is the individual who holds the required license and
bears legal responsibility for ensuring the company's alarm work complies with Tennessee
law and technical standards.
12. A Tennessee alarm contractor license is required for which of the following activities?
A. Selling alarm equipment only at retail B. Installing intrusion detection systems for
compensation (Correct Answer) C. Monitoring alarms from a remote location D. Manufacturing
alarm control panels
RATIONALE: Installing intrusion detection (burglar alarm) systems for compensation is
specifically a licensed activity under Tennessee Code. Retail sales, monitoring, and
manufacturing have separate regulatory frameworks.
13. Continuing education hours required for renewal of a Tennessee Qualifying Agent
license must be: A. Self-taught and documented B. Completed through TDCI-approved
, providers (Correct Answer) C. Earned from any online source D. Waived after 10 years of
licensure
RATIONALE: Continuing education for Tennessee alarm license renewal must be
completed through TDCI-approved providers to ensure quality and relevance of the
training content.
14. A Tennessee alarm company wishes to open a second branch office. Which of the
following is required? A. A new Qualifying Agent for each branch B. Only the original
company license C. A branch office registration with TDCI (Correct Answer) D. Separate
insurance for each branch
RATIONALE: Branch office registrations are required with TDCI for each separate
location of a licensed alarm company to maintain proper regulatory oversight of all
business locations.
15. Under Tennessee regulations, the Qualifying Agent is responsible for: A. Only office
administration tasks B. All technical and regulatory compliance of the alarm company (Correct
Answer) C. Marketing and sales activities exclusively D. Payroll management
RATIONALE: The Qualifying Agent bears responsibility for all technical work and
regulatory compliance performed by the alarm company, making this role critical to legal
operation under Tennessee law.
16. Which of the following best describes a 'false alarm' in the context of Tennessee burglar
alarm regulations? A. Any alarm that sounds for longer than 10 minutes B. An alarm activation
not caused by an actual emergency or intrusion (Correct Answer) C. A system test conducted
without notification D. A monitoring company error in dispatching
RATIONALE: A false alarm is defined as an alarm activation not caused by an actual
emergency, criminal act, or intrusion. This definition is used by jurisdictions to track and
penalize excessive false activations.
17. Excessive false alarms from a single location can result in: A. Mandatory system
replacement only B. Fines levied against the property owner or alarm user (Correct Answer) C.
Automatic license suspension of the monitoring company D. No consequences under Tennessee
law
AGENT — 250 PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS, Answers
& rationales
1. Under Tennessee law, which state agency is responsible for licensing burglar alarm
companies? A. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) B. Tennessee Department of
Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) (Correct Answer) C. Tennessee Alarm Systems Council D.
Tennessee Fire Marshal's OfficeA
RATIONALE: The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) oversees
the licensing and regulation of alarm systems contractors and qualifying agents under TCA
Title 62, Chapter 32.
2. What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a Tennessee Qualifying Agent license
for burglar alarm systems? A. 18 years old (Correct Answer) B. 21 years old C. 25 years old
D. No age requirement
RATIONALE: Tennessee requires applicants for a Qualifying Agent license to be at least
18 years of age as part of the basic eligibility requirements under state licensing law.
3. How many hours of approved training are required before a burglar alarm technician
can work unsupervised in Tennessee? A. 40 hours B. 80 hours (Correct Answer) C. 120 hours
D. 200 hours
RATIONALE: Tennessee requires 80 hours of approved training before an alarm
technician may work without direct supervision, ensuring adequate competency before
independent installation work.
4. A Tennessee Qualifying Agent license must be renewed every: A. 1 year B. 2 years
(Correct Answer) C. 3 years D. 5 years
,RATIONALE: Tennessee Qualifying Agent licenses have a two-year renewal cycle under
TDCI regulations. License holders must complete continuing education and pay renewal
fees before the expiration date.
5. Which of the following is NOT a requirement to obtain a Tennessee burglar alarm
Qualifying Agent license? A. Pass a written examination B. Submit a complete application with
fees C. Provide proof of insurance D. Hold a college degree in electronics (Correct Answer)
RATIONALE: A college degree is not required. Tennessee requires applicants to pass an
examination, submit a completed application with required fees, and demonstrate financial
responsibility through insurance.
6. If a Qualifying Agent leaves a company, how many days does the company have to
designate a new Qualifying Agent? A. 15 days B. 30 days (Correct Answer) C. 45 days D. 60
days
RATIONALE: Under Tennessee law, an alarm company has 30 days to designate a new
Qualifying Agent when the existing one leaves. Failure to do so can result in suspension of
the company's license.
7. An alarm company operating in Tennessee without a license is subject to: A. A warning
letter only B. Civil penalties only C. Criminal charges only D. Both civil penalties and possible
criminal charges (Correct Answer)
RATIONALE: Operating an alarm systems business without a license in Tennessee can
result in both civil monetary penalties and criminal charges, reflecting the seriousness of
this violation.
8. Which document must a Tennessee licensed alarm company display at its principal place
of business? A. Surety bond certificate B. State business license only C. TDCI-issued alarm
contractor license (Correct Answer) D. Federal contractor registration
RATIONALE: Tennessee alarm contractors must prominently display their TDCI-issued
alarm contractor license at their principal place of business, making it available for
inspection.
,9. Tennessee law requires that alarm company employees who perform installations carry
which of the following? A. A business card B. A photo ID badge showing company affiliation
(Correct Answer) C. A copy of the company's insurance policy D. A federal background check
clearance card
RATIONALE: Tennessee requires that employees of alarm companies carry photo
identification badges showing their company affiliation when performing alarm
installations or service, for customer protection.
10. A person convicted of which type of crime would be automatically disqualified from
obtaining a Tennessee alarm license? A. A traffic misdemeanor B. A felony involving moral
turpitude (Correct Answer) C. Any misdemeanor within 5 years D. A civil judgment
RATIONALE: Felonies involving moral turpitude (crimes involving dishonesty, fraud, or
breach of trust) are disqualifying under Tennessee alarm licensing statutes, reflecting the
trust placed in alarm technicians who enter homes and businesses.
11. What is the purpose of requiring a Qualifying Agent for an alarm company in
Tennessee? A. To handle all customer billing B. To serve as the licensed individual responsible
for technical compliance (Correct Answer) C. To manage marketing efforts D. To oversee non-
licensed employees only
RATIONALE: The Qualifying Agent is the individual who holds the required license and
bears legal responsibility for ensuring the company's alarm work complies with Tennessee
law and technical standards.
12. A Tennessee alarm contractor license is required for which of the following activities?
A. Selling alarm equipment only at retail B. Installing intrusion detection systems for
compensation (Correct Answer) C. Monitoring alarms from a remote location D. Manufacturing
alarm control panels
RATIONALE: Installing intrusion detection (burglar alarm) systems for compensation is
specifically a licensed activity under Tennessee Code. Retail sales, monitoring, and
manufacturing have separate regulatory frameworks.
13. Continuing education hours required for renewal of a Tennessee Qualifying Agent
license must be: A. Self-taught and documented B. Completed through TDCI-approved
, providers (Correct Answer) C. Earned from any online source D. Waived after 10 years of
licensure
RATIONALE: Continuing education for Tennessee alarm license renewal must be
completed through TDCI-approved providers to ensure quality and relevance of the
training content.
14. A Tennessee alarm company wishes to open a second branch office. Which of the
following is required? A. A new Qualifying Agent for each branch B. Only the original
company license C. A branch office registration with TDCI (Correct Answer) D. Separate
insurance for each branch
RATIONALE: Branch office registrations are required with TDCI for each separate
location of a licensed alarm company to maintain proper regulatory oversight of all
business locations.
15. Under Tennessee regulations, the Qualifying Agent is responsible for: A. Only office
administration tasks B. All technical and regulatory compliance of the alarm company (Correct
Answer) C. Marketing and sales activities exclusively D. Payroll management
RATIONALE: The Qualifying Agent bears responsibility for all technical work and
regulatory compliance performed by the alarm company, making this role critical to legal
operation under Tennessee law.
16. Which of the following best describes a 'false alarm' in the context of Tennessee burglar
alarm regulations? A. Any alarm that sounds for longer than 10 minutes B. An alarm activation
not caused by an actual emergency or intrusion (Correct Answer) C. A system test conducted
without notification D. A monitoring company error in dispatching
RATIONALE: A false alarm is defined as an alarm activation not caused by an actual
emergency, criminal act, or intrusion. This definition is used by jurisdictions to track and
penalize excessive false activations.
17. Excessive false alarms from a single location can result in: A. Mandatory system
replacement only B. Fines levied against the property owner or alarm user (Correct Answer) C.
Automatic license suspension of the monitoring company D. No consequences under Tennessee
law
