The guard, the registration card and the uniform 15
A California guard is involved in the discharge of a firearm on duty. How soon must the guard report it to the employer?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.3(d)
Before letting an employee do the work of a security guard, what must a California licensee confirm?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.8
How early must a California registrant send the renewal application and fee to the bureau?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.20(a)
In the California act, what is a "street patrolperson"?California Business and Professions Code section 7582.1(f)
May a person work as a security guard in California on an expired registration?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.20(c)
Under the California Private Security Services Act, where does a security guard perform the work of protecting persons or property?California Business and Professions Code section 7582.1(e)
What impression does the California act forbid a guard to give by a title, uniform, insignia or statement?California Business and Professions Code section 7582.26(d)
What may a California city or county regulate about private patrol uniforms and vehicles?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.38
Show all 72 questions (64 more)
The guard, the registration card and the uniform, continued
What may a person licensed in California only as a private patrol operator investigate?California Business and Professions Code section 7582.1(b)
What must a registered California security guard carry while on duty?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.3(a)
What must appear on the face of a badge worn by an employee of a California licensee?California Business and Professions Code section 7582.28(a)
What must the shoulder patches on a California private patrol uniform read?California Business and Professions Code section 7582.26(f)
When does a California security guard registration expire if it is not renewed?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.20(a)
When may an employee of a California private patrol licensee wear a badge?California Business and Professions Code section 7582.26(f)
Whose consent does a California licensee's employee need to enter a private building that is not commonly open to the public?California Business and Professions Code section 7582.26(e)
A private person's arrest 13
A person has committed a felony in California, but not in the private person's presence. May the private person arrest?California Penal Code section 837
Before breaking open a door to arrest under California Penal Code section 844, what must the person do?California Penal Code section 844
By California law, how is an arrest made?California Penal Code section 835
California limits misdemeanor arrests between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Which arrest does section 840 exempt from that limit?California Penal Code section 840
For which offense may a private person in California break open a door to make an arrest?California Penal Code section 844
How may a person making an arrest in California get help?California Penal Code section 839
In California, at what time may an arrest for a felony be made?California Penal Code section 840
In California, when may a private person arrest someone for a misdemeanor?California Penal Code section 837
Under California Penal Code section 837, a private person with reasonable cause to believe someone committed a felony may arrest only if what else is true?California Penal Code section 837
Under the California Penal Code, who may make an arrest?California Penal Code section 834
What is an arrest, in the words of section 834 of the California Penal Code?California Penal Code section 834
What must a person making an arrest in California tell the person being arrested?California Penal Code section 841
When does California law excuse the statement of intention, cause and authority at an arrest?California Penal Code section 841
Crimes a guard may meet 11
How does California define a felony?California Penal Code section 17(a)
How does the California Penal Code define false imprisonment?California Penal Code section 236
In California, what is a battery?California Penal Code section 242
In California, what is an assault?California Penal Code section 240
In California, what is the punishment for willfully resisting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer when no other punishment is set?California Penal Code section 148(a)(1)
Into which three kinds does the California Penal Code divide crimes and public offenses?California Penal Code section 16
Section 148 of the California Penal Code protects a public officer, a peace officer and which other worker from being resisted or obstructed on duty?California Penal Code section 148(a)(1)
Unless another punishment is prescribed, what is the most a California misdemeanor carries?California Penal Code section 19
What intent makes entering a building a burglary under California law?California Penal Code section 459
What separates robbery from other theft in the California Penal Code?California Penal Code section 211
Who is guilty of theft under California Penal Code section 484?California Penal Code section 484(a)
Detention and search under the merchant's privilege 9
A California merchant sues an adult who took merchandise. What civil damages does section 490.5 allow, besides costs?California Penal Code section 490.5(c)
A detained person in California refuses to hand over an item. What may the merchant search?California Penal Code section 490.5(f)(4)
Does the limited search in the California merchant's privilege extend to clothing the person is wearing?California Penal Code section 490.5(f)(4)
During a merchant's detention in California, which items may be examined without any request?California Penal Code section 490.5(f)(3)
For how long, and how, may a California merchant detain a person suspected of taking merchandise?California Penal Code section 490.5(f)(1)
May a California merchant require a detained person to prove identity?California Penal Code section 490.5(f)(4)
Under the California merchant's privilege, on what ground may a merchant detain a person?California Penal Code section 490.5(f)(1)
What force does the California merchant's privilege allow during a detention?California Penal Code section 490.5(f)(2)
What may a person making an arrest in California take from the person arrested?California Penal Code section 846
After an arrest 6
A person arrested without a warrant in California is taken before which magistrate?California Penal Code section 849(a)
After arresting someone, what must a private person in California do?California Penal Code section 847(a)
California punishes a peace officer who willfully refuses to receive or arrest a person charged with a crime. Does that section apply to a private person's arrest under section 837?California Penal Code section 142(c)
How quickly must a private person in California hand over a person he or she has arrested?California Penal Code section 847(a)
What happens to weapons taken from a person arrested in California?California Penal Code section 846
What must be laid before the magistrate when a person arrested without a warrant is brought in?California Penal Code section 849(a)
Force, training and reports 18
A registered California guard discharges a firearm on duty. Besides the director, who else receives a copy of the written report within seven days?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.4
About how long is the California course in the power to arrest and the appropriate use of force?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.7(a)
How does section 835a of the California Penal Code define "deadly force"?California Penal Code section 835a(e)(1)
How long does a California private patrol operator have to report an on-duty physical altercation with a member of the public to the director?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.2(f)(1)
How many hours of security officer skills training must a new California registrant complete within six months?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.6(b)
How much of the 32 hours must a California registrant finish within 30 days of the registration being issued?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.6(b)
How much resistance may a party about to be injured use under California Penal Code section 693?California Penal Code section 693
How much review or practice of security officer skills must a California registrant complete each year?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.6(e)
How must the use of force part of the California course be taught?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.7(b)(2)
In section 835a, when is a threat of death or serious bodily injury "imminent"?California Penal Code section 835a(e)(2)
May a registered California security guard carry a replica firearm during licensed activity?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.37(a)
What must a California guard have in possession to carry or use a baton on duty?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.37(c)
What restraint may be used on a person arrested in California?California Penal Code section 835
When is no altercation report required of California security officers in a hospital?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.2(f)(4)
Which of these is a use of force topic the California course must cover?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.7(a)(10)
Which result makes an on-duty physical altercation reportable to the California bureau?California Business and Professions Code section 7583.2(f)(2)
Who may lawfully resist the commission of a public offense in California?California Penal Code section 692
Whose use of force does California Penal Code section 835a govern?California Penal Code section 835a(b)
How this list was compiled: California Penal Code sections 16, 17, 19, 142, 148, 211, 236, 240, 242, 459, 484, 490.5, 692, 693, 834, 835, 835a, 837, 839, 840, 841, 844, 846, 847 and 849, and California Business and Professions Code sections 7582.1, 7582.26, 7582.28, 7583.2, 7583.3, 7583.4, 7583.6, 7583.7, 7583.8, 7583.20, 7583.37 and 7583.38 (Private Security Services Act), each read on 2026-10-04 at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov Licence: Questions written for this site from California statutes, which are public law. No question is copied from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, its Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force Manual, its review questions or any course provider.
How it works
This unofficial security guard practice test asks what California law says about arrest, search and force. Every question comes from a Penal Code or Business and Professions Code section read on October 4, 2026.
Read the full guide
What this security guard license practice test covers
The Start from menu has six parts: the guard and the registration card, a private person's arrest, crimes a guard may meet, detention and search under the merchant's privilege, what follows an arrest, and force, training and reports. It works as a security guard sample test before the power to arrest course or as a security guard mock test after it.
What is left out
The bureau's Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force Manual was not opened, so nothing here rests on it or repeats its review questions. This security guard practice exam is statute only, and no question covers how to restrain a person or handle a weapon.
The arrest questions turn on felony or misdemeanor and on "in his presence".
After a miss, open the link and read the whole section.
Wrong answers go to Missed until you answer them right.
Questions and answers
Is this security guard exam practice test the real California examination?
No. It is unofficial practice written from California statutes. The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services did not write or review this page, and no question comes from its manual, its course or any course provider's test.
Can I use it as a security officer practice test in another state?
Only as general reading. Arrest, detention and force law differs by state, and so do licensing and training rules. Every answer here is California law, and a security guard test in another state follows that state's own statutes.
Does California have a security officer exam?
Business and Professions Code section 7583.7 says the power to arrest and appropriate use of force course is administered, tested and certified by a licensee or an approved school. The statute sets no question count or passing score, so this page gives none.
Is this a security guard practice test with answers?
Yes. After each choice the page shows the keyed answer, one or two sentences from the statute, and a link to the section at the California Legislature's site. Nothing here is legal advice.
May a security guard in California arrest someone?
As a private person. Penal Code section 837 allows an arrest for a public offense committed or attempted in the person's presence, and in two felony cases. Section 847 then requires delivery to a magistrate or a peace officer without unnecessary delay.