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California Alarm Company Operator (ACO) Exam
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR
California Alarm Company Operator (ACO) Exam,
POINT-FORM SHORT COVERAGE (\
• BSIS under DCA regulates ACO, QM, Alarm Agent licenses
• ACO = owns/operates alarm company; QM = supervises daily ops
• Minimum age 21; high school diploma or GED required
• QM: 2 years full-time alarm experience in last 10 years
• ACO: 1,000 hours on-the-job training under QM
• Fingerprints + DOJ background check; no disqualifying felonies
• Application $35, original $280, QM fee $105, re-exam $165
• License valid 2 years; renewal $335; 60-day grace period
• CE: 6 hours every 2 years
• Unregistered alarm agent = misdemeanor, up to $10,000 fine
• Surety bond $15,000; fidelity bond $15,000
• Records: 1 year service, 2 years business
• Notify BSIS within 30 days of QM or address change
• No license = misdemeanor, $10,000 fine per violation
• Random BSIS inspections allowed
• Intrusion alarms: contacts + motion detectors
• Fire alarms: NFPA 72
• Control panel = CPU; backup battery required
• Motion detectors at 6-8 ft; separation 10-15 ft
• Tamper switch on panel
• Monitoring center: verify alarm then dispatch
• Verified alarm response ≤1 minute
• Duress/panic = immediate dispatch, no verification
• False alarm = no emergency; residential max $100 fee
• Door-to-door sales: 3-day right to cancel, 100% refund
• Advertising: no false/misleading statements
• POTS, IP, cellular, encryption for signal security
• Commercial fire alarms may need C-10/C-16 license
• Customer alarm codes confidential
• CCPA applies; data breach notification within 72 hours
• Employee: meal/rest breaks, overtime, workers comp
• Independent contractor: ABC test (Dynamex)
• Harassment training: 2 hrs supervisors, 1 hr staff
• License revocation for felonies, child support default
• C-7 low voltage, C-10 electrical, C-16 fire alarm contractor licenses
• Do Not Call, robocall, text marketing consent required
• Verified response = police may delay for unverified alarms
• Stay mode = interior protection while home
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• Away mode = full protection
• Duress code = silent alarm
• Glass break = acoustic; shock = vibration; contact = door/window
• Wireless: frequency hopping, encryption, rolling code
• Battery backup: 24 hr residential, 60 hr commercial
• Plenum-rated cable for air spaces; fiber for long distance
• User manual and quick reference card required for customer
1. Which California agency issues Alarm Company Operator licenses and enforces the Alarm Company
Act?
A) Department of Justice
B) Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
C) Public Utilities Commission
D) Contractors State License Board
Answer: B – BSIS under DCA regulates all alarm company licenses per B&P Chapter 11.5.
2. A person who owns and operates an alarm company must obtain which specific license from BSIS?
A) Qualified Manager
B) Alarm Agent
C) Alarm Company Operator
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D) Private Patrol Operator
Answer: C – ACO license is required for individuals who own or operate an alarm company.
3. What is the minimum age requirement for an Alarm Company Operator license applicant in
California?
A) 18 years
B) 21 years
C) 25 years
D) No minimum
Answer: B – B&P §7599.46 establishes minimum age of 21 for ACO and QM licenses.
4. An applicant for Qualified Manager must show how many years of full-time alarm industry experience
within the last 10 years?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
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D) 5 years
Answer: B – CCR Title 16 §1069 requires 2 years verifiable full-time alarm experience.
5. Which experience qualifies for the Qualified Manager two-year requirement?
A) Retail sales of alarm systems
B) Installation, service, maintenance, or monitoring of alarm systems
C) Alarm system manufacturing only
D) Telephone sales for alarm contracts
Answer: B – Experience must be in installation, service, maintenance, or monitoring per CCR §1069.
6. An ACO applicant must complete how many hours of on-the-job training under a Qualified Manager?
A) 500 hours
B) 1,000 hours
C) 2,000 hours
D) No training required
Answer: B – ACO requires 1,000 hours supervised on-the-job training.
California Alarm Company Operator (ACO) Exam
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR
California Alarm Company Operator (ACO) Exam,
POINT-FORM SHORT COVERAGE (\
• BSIS under DCA regulates ACO, QM, Alarm Agent licenses
• ACO = owns/operates alarm company; QM = supervises daily ops
• Minimum age 21; high school diploma or GED required
• QM: 2 years full-time alarm experience in last 10 years
• ACO: 1,000 hours on-the-job training under QM
• Fingerprints + DOJ background check; no disqualifying felonies
• Application $35, original $280, QM fee $105, re-exam $165
• License valid 2 years; renewal $335; 60-day grace period
• CE: 6 hours every 2 years
• Unregistered alarm agent = misdemeanor, up to $10,000 fine
• Surety bond $15,000; fidelity bond $15,000
• Records: 1 year service, 2 years business
• Notify BSIS within 30 days of QM or address change
• No license = misdemeanor, $10,000 fine per violation
• Random BSIS inspections allowed
• Intrusion alarms: contacts + motion detectors
• Fire alarms: NFPA 72
• Control panel = CPU; backup battery required
• Motion detectors at 6-8 ft; separation 10-15 ft
• Tamper switch on panel
• Monitoring center: verify alarm then dispatch
• Verified alarm response ≤1 minute
• Duress/panic = immediate dispatch, no verification
• False alarm = no emergency; residential max $100 fee
• Door-to-door sales: 3-day right to cancel, 100% refund
• Advertising: no false/misleading statements
• POTS, IP, cellular, encryption for signal security
• Commercial fire alarms may need C-10/C-16 license
• Customer alarm codes confidential
• CCPA applies; data breach notification within 72 hours
• Employee: meal/rest breaks, overtime, workers comp
• Independent contractor: ABC test (Dynamex)
• Harassment training: 2 hrs supervisors, 1 hr staff
• License revocation for felonies, child support default
• C-7 low voltage, C-10 electrical, C-16 fire alarm contractor licenses
• Do Not Call, robocall, text marketing consent required
• Verified response = police may delay for unverified alarms
• Stay mode = interior protection while home
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• Away mode = full protection
• Duress code = silent alarm
• Glass break = acoustic; shock = vibration; contact = door/window
• Wireless: frequency hopping, encryption, rolling code
• Battery backup: 24 hr residential, 60 hr commercial
• Plenum-rated cable for air spaces; fiber for long distance
• User manual and quick reference card required for customer
1. Which California agency issues Alarm Company Operator licenses and enforces the Alarm Company
Act?
A) Department of Justice
B) Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
C) Public Utilities Commission
D) Contractors State License Board
Answer: B – BSIS under DCA regulates all alarm company licenses per B&P Chapter 11.5.
2. A person who owns and operates an alarm company must obtain which specific license from BSIS?
A) Qualified Manager
B) Alarm Agent
C) Alarm Company Operator
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D) Private Patrol Operator
Answer: C – ACO license is required for individuals who own or operate an alarm company.
3. What is the minimum age requirement for an Alarm Company Operator license applicant in
California?
A) 18 years
B) 21 years
C) 25 years
D) No minimum
Answer: B – B&P §7599.46 establishes minimum age of 21 for ACO and QM licenses.
4. An applicant for Qualified Manager must show how many years of full-time alarm industry experience
within the last 10 years?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
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D) 5 years
Answer: B – CCR Title 16 §1069 requires 2 years verifiable full-time alarm experience.
5. Which experience qualifies for the Qualified Manager two-year requirement?
A) Retail sales of alarm systems
B) Installation, service, maintenance, or monitoring of alarm systems
C) Alarm system manufacturing only
D) Telephone sales for alarm contracts
Answer: B – Experience must be in installation, service, maintenance, or monitoring per CCR §1069.
6. An ACO applicant must complete how many hours of on-the-job training under a Qualified Manager?
A) 500 hours
B) 1,000 hours
C) 2,000 hours
D) No training required
Answer: B – ACO requires 1,000 hours supervised on-the-job training.
