The private security permit: who needs it, getting and keeping it 25
A background check is still open. For how long can the temporary private security permit run?Wis. Stat. § 440.26(5r)(c)1.
A private security permit covers an agency employee who patrols where, under § 440.26(5)(c)?Wis. Stat. § 440.26(5)(c)
After a conviction for working without the required license or permit, how long is the person ineligible for a license?Wis. Stat. § 440.26(8)
An agency's usher or ticket-taker at a concert is not a "private security person" if which is true?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 30.02(13)(b)2.
Besides crimes, what must a permit holder report to the department under § 440.26(4m)?Wis. Stat. § 440.26(4m)(a)
Can a temporary private security permit be renewed?Wis. Stat. § 440.26(5r)(c)3.
How many sets of fingerprints does an applicant for a private security permit file?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 31.036(1)(b)
How soon must a credential holder tell the department in writing of a change of name or address?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 32.04
How soon must a permit holder notify the department in writing after a judgment of conviction?Wis. Stat. § 440.26(4m)(b)
What address must a private security permit applicant give?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 31.036(1)(d)
What counts as a "uniform" under SPS 30.02(14)?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 30.02(14)
Show all 69 questions (58 more)
The private security permit: who needs it, getting and keeping it, continued
What effect does a misdemeanor conviction have on a permit application under § 440.26(5m)(am)?Wis. Stat. § 440.26(5m)(am)
What fine may be imposed for acting as a private security person without the required permit?Wis. Stat. § 440.26(8)
What is the renewal date for the private security person credential?Wis. Stat. § 440.08(2)(a)63g.
What may a person working under a temporary private security permit not do?Wis. Stat. § 440.26(5r)(b)2.
When does the department issue a temporary private security permit?Wis. Stat. § 440.26(5r)(a)2.
When is a private security person "on duty" under SPS 30.02(7)?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 30.02(7)
Where may the holder of a private security permit work for a qualifying employer?Wis. Stat. § 440.26(5m)(c)
Which agency issues the Wisconsin private security permit?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 30.02(2)
Which applicant may not be issued a private security permit under § 440.26(5m)(a)2.?Wis. Stat. § 440.26(5m)(a)2.
Which guard needs no license or permit under § 440.26(5)(b)?Wis. Stat. § 440.26(5)(b)
Who is a "private security person" under Wis. Stat. § 440.26(1m)?Wis. Stat. § 440.26(1m)
Who may be employed as a private security person without holding a private security permit?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 31.01(3)(b)
Who notifies the department when a private security person's employment ends, and how soon?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 32.06(2)
Whose signed statement must accompany a private security permit application?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 31.036(1)(g)
On duty: uniform, permit, name tag, conduct 11
Employing a person under what age as a private security person is unprofessional conduct?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 35.01(16)
How must a private security person's identification or name tag be worn?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 33.03
What does SPS 35.01(5)(c) forbid about uniforms?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 35.01(5)(c)
What must a private security person holding a permit do while on duty under SPS 33.02?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 33.02
What must a private security person possess while on duty under SPS 33.025?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 33.025
When may an agency employee be armed with a dangerous weapon other than a firearm or electric weapon?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 34.07
Which of these is unprofessional conduct under SPS 35.01(1)?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 35.01(1)
Which refusal of service is unprofessional conduct under SPS 35.01(12)?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 35.01(12)
Which vehicle lights does SPS 35.01(5)(a) treat as pretending to be a peace officer?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 35.01(5)(a)
Who may perform security guard services without wearing a uniform?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 33.02
Who must furnish a private security person's identification or name tag?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 33.03
Discipline 6
A permit holder is convicted of a felony and is not pardoned. What happens to the permit?Wis. Stat. § 440.26(6)(b)
Besides the guard, whom may the department discipline for a guard's violation of chs. SPS 30 to 35?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 35.02
May a guard move to another agency after the employer's agency license is revoked?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 35.03(2)
What happens to an agency's guards when the agency's license is suspended, revoked or not renewed?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 35.03(1)
What must a credential holder send the department after a conviction, under SPS 35.01(2)?Wis. Admin. Code § SPS 35.01(2)
Which of these is a ground for discipline under § 440.26(6)(a)?Wis. Stat. § 440.26(6)(a)3.
Detention and limits of authority 9
Before a peace officer arrives, what may a security agent not do to a person detained for retail theft?Wis. Stat. § 943.50(3)
For what purpose may a suspect be detained under § 943.50(3)?Wis. Stat. § 943.50(3)
Intentionally confining a person without consent, knowing there is no lawful authority to do so, is what offense?Wis. Stat. § 940.30
May a security agent release a detained person before the peace officer arrives?Wis. Stat. § 943.50(3)
What class of offense is impersonating a peace officer with intent to mislead others?Wis. Stat. § 946.70(1)(a)
What must a merchant's security agent have before detaining a person under § 943.50(3)?Wis. Stat. § 943.50(3)
What must a person detained under § 943.50(3) be permitted to do?Wis. Stat. § 943.50(3)
What protects a security agent who detains a suspect as § 943.50(3) allows?Wis. Stat. § 943.50(3)
Where may a retail theft suspect be detained under § 943.50(3)?Wis. Stat. § 943.50(3)
Use of force 7
Besides family or household members, whose property may a person defend under § 939.49(2)?Wis. Stat. § 939.49(2)
How much force does § 939.48(1) privilege in self-defense?Wis. Stat. § 939.48(1)
Section 939.48(5) privileges force, short of deadly force, to prevent a person from doing what?Wis. Stat. § 939.48(5)
What does unlawful conduct that provokes an attack do to the privilege of self-defense?Wis. Stat. § 939.48(2)(a)
What does § 939.49(1) say about deadly force used only to defend property?Wis. Stat. § 939.49(1)
When does § 939.48(1) allow force intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm?Wis. Stat. § 939.48(1)
When may a person use force to defend a third person under § 939.48(4)?Wis. Stat. § 939.48(4)
Trespass, retail theft and disorderly conduct 11
A person who stays on land after the owner or occupant has said to leave is subject to what?Wis. Stat. § 943.13(1m)(b)
Entering another's dwelling without consent, under circumstances tending to provoke a breach of the peace, is what?Wis. Stat. § 943.14(2)
For merchandise held for resale, what is the "value of merchandise" under § 943.50(1)(b)2.?Wis. Stat. § 943.50(1)(b)2.
How large must a sign be for land to count as posted under § 943.13(2)(am)1.?Wis. Stat. § 943.13(2)(am)1.
How may notice not to enter or remain on land be given under § 943.13(2)(am)?Wis. Stat. § 943.13(2)(am)
Retail theft is a Class A misdemeanor when the value of the merchandise does not exceed what amount?Wis. Stat. § 943.50(4)(a)
Retail theft of merchandise worth more than $10,000 is what class of offense?Wis. Stat. § 943.50(4)(c)
Violent, abusive or unreasonably loud conduct that tends to provoke a disturbance is what offense?Wis. Stat. § 947.01(1)
What does § 943.50(1m)(f) add to the acts that are retail theft?Wis. Stat. § 943.50(1m)(f)
Where can disorderly conduct under § 947.01(1) take place?Wis. Stat. § 947.01(1)
Which act is retail theft under § 943.50(1m) when done without consent and with intent to deprive the merchant?Wis. Stat. § 943.50(1m)(d)
How this list was compiled: Wisconsin Statutes ss. 440.26 (private detectives, investigators and security personnel), 440.08(2)(a)63g., 939.48, 939.49, 940.30, 943.13, 943.14, 943.50, 946.70 and 947.01, in the statutes published October 1, 2026 (https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/440/ii/26), and Wisconsin Administrative Code chapters SPS 30 to 35, Register November 2024 No. 827 (https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/sps/professional_services/030). Each was read on October 15, 2026. Each question names its section and links to it. Licence: Own work. Every question, wrong choice and explanation was written for this site from the text of the law, the rules or the agency's own pages. Nothing is taken from any examination, any training provider's course or any other practice test.
How it works
This unofficial Wisconsin security guard practice test asks 69 of our own questions on the private security permit and the state law around a post. Not affiliated with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.
Read the full guide
Is there a Wisconsin security guard test?
No. Wis. Stat. § 440.26(5m) issues a private security permit on an application, a fee, no unpardoned felony conviction and proof of employment by a licensed private detective agency. The department's examination (SPS 31.04) is for private detectives. A guard employed directly by a commercial establishment needs no permit (§ 440.26(5)(b)).
What a permit holder must do on duty
Wear a uniform (SPS 33.02), carry the permit (SPS 33.025) and wear a name tag the public can see (SPS 33.03). Under § 943.50(3) a merchant's security agent may hold a retail theft suspect at the store, in a reasonable manner, for a peace officer.
Report any conviction to the department in writing within 48 hours of the judgment (§ 440.26(4m)).
The credential renews on September 1 of each even-numbered year (§ 440.08(2)(a)63g.).
A temporary permit lasts 30 days, cannot be renewed and does not allow a dangerous weapon (§ 440.26(5r)).
Questions and answers
Do you need a license to be a security guard in Wisconsin?
An employee of a private detective agency that supplies uniformed guards needs a private security permit under Wis. Stat. § 440.26(5m). An employee of a commercial establishment acting within that employment is exempt (§ 440.26(5)(b)).
How long does a Wisconsin private security permit last?
It renews on September 1 of each even-numbered year (§ 440.08(2)(a)63g.). A temporary permit, issued while the background check is still open, is valid for 30 days and may not be renewed.
Can a security guard detain someone in Wisconsin?
For retail theft, § 943.50(3) lets a merchant's security agent with reasonable cause detain a person at the store for a reasonable time, to deliver the person to a peace officer. No interrogation or search against the person's will. Exam practice, not legal advice.
Are these questions from a Wisconsin security guard course?
No. Each was written for this page from the Wisconsin Statutes or chapters SPS 30 to 35 of the Administrative Code. The state sets no course for the permit, and the firearm rules of chapter SPS 34 are not asked.