Under California Penal Code §835, an arrest is made by which of the following?

An actual restraint of the person, or by submission to the custody of an officer

Verbally informing the person they are under arrest

Calling the police to the scene

Identifying the suspect to a witness

Under Penal Code §849(a), what must occur after a peace officer takes custody of a person arrested by a private security guard?

The peace officer must, without unnecessary delay, take the person before the nearest magistrate in the county where the offense was triable

The peace officer must immediately release the arrestee on the guard's recognizance

The peace officer becomes the arresting party for all purposes and the guard's involvement ends

The peace officer must wait 24 hours before booking the arrestee

Under SB 652 (effective January 1, 2026), the 8-hour Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force course must now be:

Administered and certified by a single BSIS-licensed training provider, with proof of completion presented to BSIS

Split across two providers — 4 hours each, freely chosen

Completed online with no in-person component

Self-certified by the applicant

Verbal de-escalation should generally be attempted:

First — before resorting to physical force, when time and circumstances permit, even when the legal authority to use some force exists

Only after physical force has failed

Never — verbal contact escalates situations

Time, distance, and cover are critical de-escalation tools because they:

Reduce the perceived imminence of threat, expand decision-making time, provide tactical safety, and often allow situations to resolve without force

Have no effect on use-of-force analysis

Are required only when interacting with peace officers

A guard privately reports a suspected shoplifter to the store manager and to responding police. The shopper turns out to be innocent and sues for slander. What defense most likely applies?

Qualified ('common interest') privilege under Civil Code §47(c) — the communication was made without malice between parties with a common interest in loss prevention and law enforcement

Workers' compensation exclusivity

Why is contemporaneous note-taking (taking notes during or immediately after an event) so important for security guards?

Memory degrades quickly — contemporaneous notes preserve accurate detail, are admissible to refresh recollection at trial, support the report's credibility, and reduce the risk of damaging contradictions on cross-examination

It allows the guard to take longer breaks

Contemporaneous notes replace the formal incident report

Notes taken later are inadmissible at trial

Arriving first at the scene of a likely crime, the guard's primary preservation duty is to:

Render any needed first aid and call 911/employer, then secure the perimeter, prevent unauthorized entry, avoid touching or moving evidence except where necessary for safety or first aid, identify and detain available witnesses, and brief responding officers — minimizing contamination is paramount

Begin a full forensic search of the area

Clean up the scene to restore appearance

Interview the suspect at length before police arrive

A clearly intoxicated and confused person is sitting in the lobby. Best-practice BSIS guidance for a security officer is to:

Speak calmly, ensure the person is safe, request medical or police evaluation if needed (intoxication can mask diabetic emergency, head injury, or other medical issues), and document

Forcibly escort the person to the street regardless of medical condition

Lock the person in a back office until they sober up

Search the person's pockets for identification without consent

An officer observes a suspected hazardous-material spill or release with strong chemical odor. The correct immediate response is:

Move upwind and uphill, evacuate the area, deny entry, call 911 / hazmat, and provide observed details (color, smell, container labels) from a safe distance

Investigate closely to identify the chemical

Use a broom and water to spread the substance for dilution

Touch the substance to assess texture

California Guard Card Practice Test

Frequently asked questions

How many California Guard Card practice questions are here?+

200 original practice questions across all 7 topics of the BSIS Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force exam, with full explanations and statute citations on every question (Cal. Penal Code §§834-851, §835a, §490.5(f); BPC §7583.6; 16 CCR §628).

Is this Guard Card practice test free?+

Yes — completely free with no signup required. You can take unlimited practice rounds and the full 40-question mock exam without creating an account.

Are these the real BSIS exam questions?+

No. All 200 questions are original prose authored from public-domain sources (Penal Code, Business & Professions Code, Title 16 California Code of Regulations, BSIS course manuals). We never copy from the real BSIS exam.

What's the passing score for the BSIS Power to Arrest exam?+

100% per 16 CCR §628. The regulation requires a perfect score on the certification exam — but retakes are permitted. Most training providers let you study weak areas and re-test until you reach 100%. It's a competency standard, not a one-shot test.

Is the California Guard Card exam offered in Chinese, Spanish, or Vietnamese?+

The BSIS exam is administered by your training provider, not BSIS itself. Many providers in LA, Orange County, San Jose, and the Bay Area offer the course and exam in Spanish, Vietnamese, and Mandarin. PrepPass provides all 200 practice questions in English, 中文, Español, and Tiếng Việt so you can study in whichever language you'll be tested in.

What 2026 changes does SB 652 bring?+

Effective January 1, 2026, the entire 8-hour Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force course must be delivered by a single BSIS-licensed training provider, start to finish — you can no longer split the course across providers. The course must be completed within 6 months before submitting your Guard Card application.

Sample practice questions

A few real questions from this free bank, with full explanations. Use the practice tool above for the whole set.

1. Powers to Arrest
Under California Penal Code §835, an arrest is made by which of the following?
- a.Verbally informing the person they are under arrest
- b.An actual restraint of the person, or by submission to the custody of an officer
- c.Calling the police to the scene
- d.Identifying the suspect to a witness
Answer: b
Explanation: Penal Code §835 defines an arrest as being made by 'an actual restraint of the person, or by submission to the custody of an officer.' The person arrested may be subjected to such restraint as is reasonable for the arrest and detention. Verbal statements (a), summoning police (c), and witness identification (d) do not by themselves constitute an arrest under §835.
Source: Cal. Penal Code §835
2. Powers to Arrest
Under Penal Code §849(a), what must occur after a peace officer takes custody of a person arrested by a private security guard?
- a.The peace officer must immediately release the arrestee on the guard's recognizance
- b.The peace officer becomes the arresting party for all purposes and the guard's involvement ends
- c.The peace officer must, without unnecessary delay, take the person before the nearest magistrate in the county where the offense was triable
- d.The peace officer must wait 24 hours before booking the arrestee
Answer: c
Explanation: Penal Code §849(a) requires that when a person arrested without a warrant is delivered into custody, the arresting or receiving officer 'shall, without unnecessary delay, take the person arrested before the nearest or most accessible magistrate in the county in which the offense is triable.' This is the back-end counterpart to §847's delivery duty. The guard's report and testimony remain relevant (b is overbroad); booking timelines are governed by Penal Code §825 (48-hour rule, excluding Sundays/holidays), not 24 hours (d); release under §849(b) is discretionary, not automatic (a).
Source: Cal. Penal Code §849(a)
3. Powers to Arrest
Under SB 652 (effective January 1, 2026), the 8-hour Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force course must now be:
- a.Split across two providers — 4 hours each, freely chosen
- b.Administered and certified by a single BSIS-licensed training provider, with proof of completion presented to BSIS
- c.Completed online with no in-person component
- d.Self-certified by the applicant
Answer: b
Explanation: SB 652 amended the BSIS training scheme to require the 8-hour Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force course be administered and certified by a single BSIS-licensed training provider. The legislative intent was to prevent fragmentation, ensure curriculum integrity, and produce a verifiable certificate of completion. Splitting across providers (a), pure-online delivery without the in-person component (c), and self-certification (d) are inconsistent with the SB 652 framework and BSIS implementing guidance.
Source: SB 652 (2025); Cal. Business & Professions Code §7583.6
4. Use of Force
Verbal de-escalation should generally be attempted:
- a.Only after physical force has failed
- b.Only when backup is on scene
- c.First — before resorting to physical force, when time and circumstances permit, even when the legal authority to use some force exists
- d.Never — verbal contact escalates situations
Answer: c
Explanation: SB 230 and §835a(a)(2) embed de-escalation as the preferred first approach: clear verbal commands, time, distance, and tactical positioning aim to resolve incidents without force. Even where some level of force would be lawful, beginning with verbal techniques aligns with California's policy and reduces civil and criminal exposure. Many incidents resolve through calm, clear instruction without any need for physical contact. Options (a), (b), (d) invert the order or wrongly characterize verbal contact, and contradict modern training standards.
Source: Cal. Penal Code §835a; SB 230 training principles
5. Use of Force
Time, distance, and cover are critical de-escalation tools because they:
- a.Reduce the perceived imminence of threat, expand decision-making time, provide tactical safety, and often allow situations to resolve without force
- b.Have no effect on use-of-force analysis
- c.Are required only when interacting with peace officers
- d.Apply only inside buildings
Answer: a
Explanation: Time/distance/cover are core de-escalation principles emphasized in §835a(a)(2)-(a)(4) and SB 230 training. Creating distance reduces threat imminence and allows verbal techniques to work; cover protects the guard while options are considered; time often resolves crises as adrenaline subsides. Reasonableness under Graham v. Connor explicitly considers whether these alternatives were feasible. Options (b), (c), (d) misstate the tactical-legal interaction or wrongly limit applicability.
Source: Cal. Penal Code §835a(a)(2)-(a)(4); SB 230 training principles
6. Liability & Legal
A guard privately reports a suspected shoplifter to the store manager and to responding police. The shopper turns out to be innocent and sues for slander. What defense most likely applies?
- a.Qualified ('common interest') privilege under Civil Code §47(c) — the communication was made without malice between parties with a common interest in loss prevention and law enforcement
- b.Absolute legislative privilege
- c.Statute of frauds
- d.Workers' compensation exclusivity
Answer: a
Explanation: Civil Code §47(c) provides a qualified privilege for communications made without malice between parties sharing a common interest. A guard's private report to a store manager (employer common interest) and to police (law enforcement common interest) typically falls within §47(c). The privilege is defeated by malice — knowing falsity or reckless disregard for truth. Public, loud accusations to uninvolved bystanders exceed the privilege's scope. Absolute legislative privilege (b) protects statements in official proceedings, not field reports. Statute of frauds (c) and workers' comp exclusivity (d) are unrelated. Truth is also a complete defense to defamation, separate from privilege.
Source: Cal. Civil Code §47(c); Sanborn v. Chronicle Publishing Co. (1976) 18 Cal.3d 406
7. Observation & Reports
Why is contemporaneous note-taking (taking notes during or immediately after an event) so important for security guards?
- a.Memory degrades quickly — contemporaneous notes preserve accurate detail, are admissible to refresh recollection at trial, support the report's credibility, and reduce the risk of damaging contradictions on cross-examination
- b.It allows the guard to take longer breaks
- c.Contemporaneous notes replace the formal incident report
- d.Notes taken later are inadmissible at trial
Answer: a
Explanation: Human memory degrades sharply within hours of an event, with details — exact words, sequence, time, descriptions — eroding fastest. Contemporaneous notes (made during or shortly after the event) preserve those details while still fresh. Under Evidence Code §771 (writings used to refresh recollection) and §1235 (prior inconsistent statements), notes carry significant evidentiary weight and can be used in court. Notes do not replace the formal incident report (c) — they are the raw material for it. Notes taken later are admissible but carry less weight than contemporaneous notes (d). Breaks (b) are unrelated. Best practice: notepad always carried, key facts captured in real time.
Source: BSIS Power to Arrest training; common-law contemporaneous-record doctrine
8. Observation & Reports
Arriving first at the scene of a likely crime, the guard's primary preservation duty is to:
- a.Begin a full forensic search of the area
- b.Render any needed first aid and call 911/employer, then secure the perimeter, prevent unauthorized entry, avoid touching or moving evidence except where necessary for safety or first aid, identify and detain available witnesses, and brief responding officers — minimizing contamination is paramount
- c.Clean up the scene to restore appearance
- d.Interview the suspect at length before police arrive
Answer: b
Explanation: First-responder duties at a likely crime scene, in order: (1) ensure safety — your own, then others, rendering first aid if trained; (2) call 911 and notify supervisor/dispatch; (3) secure the perimeter with whatever materials are available; (4) prevent entry by anyone unauthorized — including coworkers and curious bystanders; (5) avoid touching or moving anything unless required for life safety; (6) note witnesses and ask them to remain; (7) brief arriving officers on what you saw, did, and where. Forensic search (a) is the detectives' role. Cleaning (c) destroys evidence. Suspect interviews (d) are best left to police given Miranda and §841 considerations.
Source: Crime-scene preservation doctrine
9. Communication & PR
A clearly intoxicated and confused person is sitting in the lobby. Best-practice BSIS guidance for a security officer is to:
- a.Forcibly escort the person to the street regardless of medical condition
- b.Speak calmly, ensure the person is safe, request medical or police evaluation if needed (intoxication can mask diabetic emergency, head injury, or other medical issues), and document
- c.Lock the person in a back office until they sober up
- d.Search the person's pockets for identification without consent
Answer: b
Explanation: Intoxication can mask life-threatening conditions including diabetic emergencies, head injuries, stroke, hypothermia, and overdose. BSIS guidance and officer-survival principles call for a calm tone, safety assessment, and prompt request for medical or law-enforcement evaluation (paramedics, fire, or peace officers who can invoke W&I §5150 if applicable). Forcible removal (a) risks injury and false-imprisonment / battery claims; isolation in a locked room (c) is unlawful detention; searches without consent (d) exceed limited-search authority. Document observations factually.
Source: BSIS training; vulnerable-population guidelines; W&I Code §5150 reference
10. Emergency & Safety
An officer observes a suspected hazardous-material spill or release with strong chemical odor. The correct immediate response is:
- a.Investigate closely to identify the chemical
- b.Use a broom and water to spread the substance for dilution
- c.Move upwind and uphill, evacuate the area, deny entry, call 911 / hazmat, and provide observed details (color, smell, container labels) from a safe distance
- d.Touch the substance to assess texture
Answer: c
Explanation: Standard hazmat awareness — NFPA 472 / OSHA 1910.120 First Responder Awareness Level — directs untrained personnel to evacuate, isolate, and notify. Move UPWIND and UPHILL to escape vapor/liquid flow; evacuate occupants from the affected area; deny entry; call 911 specifying possible hazmat; and provide identifying information observed from safe distance (placards, NFPA 704 diamond, container shape, color, odor). Close approach (a), spreading (b), or contact (d) put the officer at risk and may worsen contamination. Officers do NOT mitigate the release — trained hazmat teams do.
Source: EPA / Cal-EPA hazmat response; NFPA 472