1|Page
CALIFORNIA ALARM COMPANY QUALIFIED
MANAGER (ACQ) EXAM BANK | ACCURATE
AND EXPERT VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS FOR GUARANTEED PASS | 2026
LATEST UPDATE
TOPIC AREA 1: LICENSING REQUIREMENTS & BSIS REGULATIONS
(Questions 1–40)
1. What is the minimum age requirement to qualify for an ACQ license in
California?
A) 18 years
B) 21 years
C) 25 years
D) No minimum age
Answer: A
Rationale: BPC § 7592.2 – A qualified manager (ACQ) must be at least 18
years old.
2. Which entity issues the Alarm Company Qualified Manager license in
California?
A) Department of Consumer Affairs
B) BSIS – Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
C) California Public Utilities Commission
D) CSLB
Answer: B
Rationale: BSIS, under the Department of Consumer Affairs, issues alarm
company operator and qualified manager licenses.
3. How many years of full-time experience in alarm company operations
are required to qualify for the ACQ exam?
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A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer: B
*Rationale: BPC § 7592.5 – Two years of verifiable full-time experience
within the last five years.*
4. Which of the following counts as qualifying experience for an ACQ?
A) Installing residential doorbells
B) Selling alarm systems door-to-door without installation
C) Managing alarm dispatch records
D) Performing fire alarm system inspections under a licensed contractor
Answer: C
Rationale: Experience must be in alarm company operations – dispatch,
sales, installation management, or supervision. Non-alarm work does not
count.
5. A qualified manager must be employed by how many licensed alarm
companies at the same time?
A) Unlimited
B) Maximum of two
C) Maximum of three
D) Only one
Answer: D
Rationale: BPC § 7592.6 – A qualified manager may act for only one
licensed alarm company at a time.
6. What happens if an ACQ leaves employment with the alarm company?
A) No action needed
B) The company’s license is automatically revoked
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C) The company must notify BSIS within 30 days and find a new QM
within 90 days
D) The company can operate for 6 months without a QM
Answer: C
Rationale: CCR Title 16 § 602 – Company has 30 days to notify BSIS and 90
days to replace QM.
7. Which of the following is a disqualifying criminal conviction for an ACQ
license?
A) Any traffic infraction
B) A misdemeanor unrelated to alarm industry
C) A felony involving fraud or dishonesty within the last 10 years
D) Juvenile offense sealed by court
Answer: C
Rationale: BPC § 7592.3 – Crimes of moral turpitude or fraud are
disqualifying.
8. How often must an ACQ license be renewed?
A) Annually
B) Every 2 years
C) Every 3 years
D) Every 5 years
Answer: B
Rationale: Renewal every 2 years by BSIS.
9. Continuing education (CE) hours required per renewal for ACQ?
A) 0 hours
B) 6 hours
C) 12 hours
D) 24 hours
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Answer: B
Rationale: BPC § 7592.12 – 6 hours of CE every 2 years.
10. Who is ultimately responsible for all acts of alarm company employees
under CA law?
A) The CEO only
B) The Qualified Manager
C) The sales manager
D) The installing technician
Answer: B
Rationale: The QM has legal responsibility for alarm company operations.
11. Can a person with a felony conviction for burglary ever obtain an ACQ
license?
A) Yes, automatically
B) Yes, after a Certificate of Rehabilitation
C) No, never
D) Yes, after 5 years with governor’s pardon
Answer: B
Rationale: Possible after rehabilitation or pardon, but BSIS has discretion.
12. Which application document is NOT required for initial ACQ?
A) Live Scan fingerprinting
B) Proof of experience
C) Financial statement audited by CPA
D) Photograph
Answer: C
Rationale: No audited financial statement needed for QM; that’s for
company license.
13. How long is the ACQ exam?
A) 1 hour
CALIFORNIA ALARM COMPANY QUALIFIED
MANAGER (ACQ) EXAM BANK | ACCURATE
AND EXPERT VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS FOR GUARANTEED PASS | 2026
LATEST UPDATE
TOPIC AREA 1: LICENSING REQUIREMENTS & BSIS REGULATIONS
(Questions 1–40)
1. What is the minimum age requirement to qualify for an ACQ license in
California?
A) 18 years
B) 21 years
C) 25 years
D) No minimum age
Answer: A
Rationale: BPC § 7592.2 – A qualified manager (ACQ) must be at least 18
years old.
2. Which entity issues the Alarm Company Qualified Manager license in
California?
A) Department of Consumer Affairs
B) BSIS – Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
C) California Public Utilities Commission
D) CSLB
Answer: B
Rationale: BSIS, under the Department of Consumer Affairs, issues alarm
company operator and qualified manager licenses.
3. How many years of full-time experience in alarm company operations
are required to qualify for the ACQ exam?
,2|Page
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer: B
*Rationale: BPC § 7592.5 – Two years of verifiable full-time experience
within the last five years.*
4. Which of the following counts as qualifying experience for an ACQ?
A) Installing residential doorbells
B) Selling alarm systems door-to-door without installation
C) Managing alarm dispatch records
D) Performing fire alarm system inspections under a licensed contractor
Answer: C
Rationale: Experience must be in alarm company operations – dispatch,
sales, installation management, or supervision. Non-alarm work does not
count.
5. A qualified manager must be employed by how many licensed alarm
companies at the same time?
A) Unlimited
B) Maximum of two
C) Maximum of three
D) Only one
Answer: D
Rationale: BPC § 7592.6 – A qualified manager may act for only one
licensed alarm company at a time.
6. What happens if an ACQ leaves employment with the alarm company?
A) No action needed
B) The company’s license is automatically revoked
,3|Page
C) The company must notify BSIS within 30 days and find a new QM
within 90 days
D) The company can operate for 6 months without a QM
Answer: C
Rationale: CCR Title 16 § 602 – Company has 30 days to notify BSIS and 90
days to replace QM.
7. Which of the following is a disqualifying criminal conviction for an ACQ
license?
A) Any traffic infraction
B) A misdemeanor unrelated to alarm industry
C) A felony involving fraud or dishonesty within the last 10 years
D) Juvenile offense sealed by court
Answer: C
Rationale: BPC § 7592.3 – Crimes of moral turpitude or fraud are
disqualifying.
8. How often must an ACQ license be renewed?
A) Annually
B) Every 2 years
C) Every 3 years
D) Every 5 years
Answer: B
Rationale: Renewal every 2 years by BSIS.
9. Continuing education (CE) hours required per renewal for ACQ?
A) 0 hours
B) 6 hours
C) 12 hours
D) 24 hours
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Answer: B
Rationale: BPC § 7592.12 – 6 hours of CE every 2 years.
10. Who is ultimately responsible for all acts of alarm company employees
under CA law?
A) The CEO only
B) The Qualified Manager
C) The sales manager
D) The installing technician
Answer: B
Rationale: The QM has legal responsibility for alarm company operations.
11. Can a person with a felony conviction for burglary ever obtain an ACQ
license?
A) Yes, automatically
B) Yes, after a Certificate of Rehabilitation
C) No, never
D) Yes, after 5 years with governor’s pardon
Answer: B
Rationale: Possible after rehabilitation or pardon, but BSIS has discretion.
12. Which application document is NOT required for initial ACQ?
A) Live Scan fingerprinting
B) Proof of experience
C) Financial statement audited by CPA
D) Photograph
Answer: C
Rationale: No audited financial statement needed for QM; that’s for
company license.
13. How long is the ACQ exam?
A) 1 hour
