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Security Officer Practice Test

47 questions from our free Security Officer Basics course, grouped by lesson. Answer as many as you like, then check them: each one shows the right answer and why.

This free course is general information to help you get started. It is not state-approved security officer training: to get licensed in any state, you will still complete that state's approved training.

Lesson 1: What a security officer does

1. Which best describes the core of most security officer jobs? Deter, observe, report, and help the people on the property Deter, observe, detain, and report anyone who breaks the rules Patrol, investigate, detain, and hand suspects over to police Watch the cameras, enforce the rules, and report to the client

2. In Washington DC, where does a commissioned Special Police Officer have arrest authority? Only after a supervisor approves the arrest by radio Only on the property they are assigned to Anywhere in the District while on duty and in uniform On any property their company is contracted to protect

3. What does the BLS project for security guard openings each year through 2034? About 38,390 a year, mostly to replace people who retire About 162,300 a year, mostly from new jobs as the field grows About 162,300 a year, mostly to replace people who leave the job About 127,000 a year, mostly from new jobs at events and warehouses

4. What was the BLS median pay for security guards in 2024? $38,390 a year ($18.46 an hour) $32,400 a year ($15.58 an hour) $46,250 a year ($22.24 an hour) $52,100 a year ($25.05 an hour)

5. On most posts, what fills more of an officer's shift than incidents do? Watching alarm panels and live camera feeds from the desk Checking IDs and bags at the entrance Customer service: directions, escorts and questions Writing incident reports for the client

6. A man has walked the same grocery aisle three times. What's the best first move? Follow him a few steps behind so he knows he's being watched Stay visible, note what he's wearing, and let the manager know Ask him politely whether he needs help finding something, then leave him be Ask to check his bag before he gets to the register

Lesson 2: Getting licensed in your state

7. Does completing this free online course count toward a security license? No. Each state requires its own approved training Yes in Virginia, toward the 18-hour 01E course Yes in DC, toward the 24-hour second part Yes in Maryland, toward the 12 initial hours

8. How much initial training does Maryland require for a new security guard (since January 1, 2025)? 12 hours from a state-approved provider 18 hours of core subjects 8 hours from a state-approved provider 16 hours, then 24 more within a year

9. How much entry-level training does Virginia require for an unarmed security officer? 12 hours (course 01E) 8 hours (course 05E) 4 hours (course 01I) 18 hours (course 01E)

10. Who can apply for a Maryland Security Guard Certification? Anyone 18 or older employed by, or applying with, a licensed employer Anyone 21 or older who is employed by a licensed employer Anyone 18 or older who has finished 12 hours with any online provider Anyone 18 or older, applying on their own through the state portal

11. How often is a Maryland Security Guard Certification renewed, and with how much training? Every 3 years, with 18 hours of core subjects Every year, with 4 hours of in-service training Every 3 years, with 8 hours of approved training Every 2 years, with 12 hours of approved training

12. In Virginia, can a new unarmed officer start working before finishing training? Yes, up to 30 days once the state background check has cleared Yes, up to 90 days on any post, as long as a supervisor is on site Yes, up to 90 days with prints filed and a written employer OK No. Training must be finished before the first paid shift

13. Which agency licenses Security Officers and Special Police Officers in Washington DC? The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) The Police Training and Standards Commission The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Private Security Section

14. An online academy sells a "nationally recognized security license" in one weekend. What's true? It counts once your employer files it with your state It counts for unarmed posts, but not for armed posts It counts in states that accept licenses from other states There is no national license; check your state's agency

15. For a Maryland application, how long are Livescan fingerprints valid, and how long should you allow for processing? Valid 90 days; allow 30 days for processing Valid 30 days; allow about 2 weeks for processing Valid 60 days; allow 60 days for processing Valid 30 days; allow 90 days for processing

16. What does an armed officer in Virginia need beyond the unarmed training? A 12-hour arrest authority course (05E) and a firearms endorsement renewed every 3 years A 4-hour in-service course (01I) and a one-time firearms qualification A second 18-hour core course (01E) and a firearms endorsement renewed every 2 years An 8-hour arrest authority course (05E) and a firearms endorsement renewed yearly

Lesson 3: Your authority and its limits

17. Where does an unarmed security officer's authority mainly come from? The post orders, the client's managers and federal law State law, the local police and the officer's own license The property owner, the post orders and state law The property owner, the local police and the employer's insurer

18. A man walks out of a pharmacy with unpaid items and jogs across the lot. What should an unarmed officer usually do? Get between him and his car so he has to stop and talk Follow at a safe distance to get his plate, then call police Note his description, direction and any vehicle, then call it in and report Call out for him to stop and wait for the manager, without touching him

19. When can a security officer normally search someone's bag? When the store manager asks for it, even if the person refuses When there's reasonable suspicion of theft and a witness With consent, or under a clear condition of entry After warning the person they'll be banned if they refuse

20. A guest refuses the bag check at an event entrance. What should you do? Don't force it; follow post orders and report it Check the outside pockets only, then let them in Call police to complete the search for you Hold them at the gate until a supervisor arrives

21. Which statement about use of force is correct for unarmed officers? Force is the next step after a person ignores two clear instructions Force is a last resort to protect people, never property alone Force is allowed on private property when the owner approves it Reasonable force is allowed to recover high-value merchandise

22. In most states, how much arrest power does an unarmed security officer have? Full arrest power once state training is done No more than any private person The same as police, while on the property The same as a DC Special Police Officer

23. What are the realistic tools for an unarmed officer facing a tense situation? Presence, distance, calm words and calling for help Presence, firm verbal commands, escorts and holds Pepper spray, calm words, distance and backup Presence, a guiding hand on the arm, and the radio

24. Why do most employers not want unarmed officers chasing or grabbing people? Stolen goods are already covered by insurance Police prefer to make every arrest themselves Officers can't leave their post without approval It puts officers, bystanders and the company at risk

Lesson 4: Patrols, post orders and staying alert

25. What should you do with your post orders? Follow them, except when the client's manager tells you otherwise Keep them at the post and look up the section that fits each incident Read them during training; after that, your supervisor briefs any changes Read them before your first shift, ask questions, and check for updates

26. Why should you vary your patrol times and routes? A predictable patrol is easy for someone to avoid It helps the checkpoint system record more scans It keeps you more alert during a long shift It lets you cover the whole property in less time

27. What's the recommended order for describing a person you saw? Clothing first, since it's the easiest thing for police to spot The most noticeable feature first, then whatever else you remember Top to bottom: hair, face, clothing, shoes, then height and build Height and build first, then face, then clothing from the shoes up

28. Which vehicle description is complete? Color and plate number only, so the radio call stays short Color, make, model, body, plate state and number, damage, direction Color, make, model, the driver's description, and where it was parked Make, model, year, plate number, and the time and place you saw it

29. In an emergency radio call, what should you give first? What help you need Your location Who you are and your post number What is happening, in one sentence

30. What is the pass-down log for? Logging every visitor who came in during your shift Showing the client which checkpoints you scanned and when Telling the next officer about open issues, like a broken door Recording the hours you worked so payroll is accurate

31. At 1:40 AM you find the pool gate propped open and a car idling in the fire lane with its lights off. Best response? Close the gate, then stand beside the car until the driver explains why it's there Leave both as you found them, and tell the morning manager at shift change Close the gate, note the car's details from a safe distance, call it in, and log both Close the gate, then knock on the car window and politely ask the driver to move

Lesson 5: Writing a clear report

32. Which sentence belongs in an incident report? "He shouted and pushed the door hard enough to crack the glass." "He was angry and out of control and pushed the door." "He became aggressive and damaged the door." "He pushed the door, probably because he had been drinking."

33. Which questions should an incident report answer? Who, what, when, where and why, written in your own words Who, what, when, where and how; quote people, don't guess why Who, what and why, plus your honest view of who was at fault What, when and where; leave out names to protect people's privacy

34. When should you write an incident report? Within 24 hours of the incident At the start of your next shift Before the end of your shift When the client asks for it

35. What's the difference between a daily activity report and an incident report? They're the same report; companies just use different names An activity report goes to police; an incident report goes to the client An activity report is written weekly; an incident report is written monthly Activity reports log the whole shift; incident reports cover one event

36. You remember a detail after you've turned in a report. What should you do? Edit the report yourself, since it's your report Tell the next shift so they can add it to their log Leave it out, because changing a report looks bad Add it through your company's correction process

Lesson 6: Emergencies, safety and professional conduct

37. Someone collapses in the lobby. You have no first aid training. What first? Call 911, then send someone to meet the ambulance Ask the crowd for a nurse, then call 911 if there isn't one Move the person somewhere quieter, then call 911 Call your supervisor, then call 911 if they agree

38. You find an unattended bag that looks suspicious. What should you do? Check the tag for an owner, then call 911 if there isn't one Photograph it up close for the report, then call 911 Leave it, move people away, and call 911 from a safe distance Carry it outside, away from people, then call 911

39. The fire alarm goes off in a busy hotel lobby. What should you do? Keep guests together in the lobby until firefighters say where to go Use the elevators to clear the upper floors as fast as possible Find out where the fire is before you start moving anyone out Direct people to the exits and assembly point, not the elevators

40. What should you learn about a site on your first shift? Exits, assembly points, alarms, extinguishers, the address and your role The most common incidents at the site and the people who usually cause them The parking rules, the visitor log, the key holders, and the lost and found The client's names, the camera locations, and the break and meal schedule

41. When can you leave your post? When your relief arrives or your supervisor says so When the client's manager says it's fine During a slow hour, if you stay reachable by radio When your shift ends, even if your relief is late

42. Can you post about an incident at your site on social media? Yes, as long as you don't name the client or the site Yes, but only on a private account with people you know No; keep site, client and incident details private Yes, once the incident is closed and police are done

43. Someone with a weapon threatens people in the building. What's expected of an unarmed officer? Lock the entrance so they can't go further in Keep them talking until police arrive Get yourself and others to safety and call 911 Follow at a distance to tell police where they go

Lesson 7: Getting hired and growing a career

44. What is the number one complaint about security staff, and so the easiest way to stand out? Phone use and sleeping on post Sloppy or late incident reports Reliability: being on time, every time Rudeness to customers and visitors

45. Which is a real, accredited credential that helps on almost any security post? This course's certificate of completion, once you pass CPR and first aid from the Red Cross or the AHA An online customer service certificate A weekend "security license" course with a final exam

46. What's the best way to start looking for a security job? Apply to licensed security companies; ask how they handle training Apply to the state licensing agency first, then to employers Finish state training on your own first, then start applying to jobs Apply directly to stores and buildings that use security

47. An interviewer asks about a time you dealt with an upset customer. What's the strongest answer? An explanation of the company policy you would follow in that situation A short real story: what happened, what you said, how it ended A general statement that you always stay calm and patient under pressure A description of how you would handle it now, with what you know today

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Take the free Security Officer Basics course and pass its 15-question quiz to download a free certificate of completion.