Obtain California BSIS alarm company (ACO) and qualified manager (ACQ) licensing
domain: bsis.ca.gov · 5 steps · contributed by waymark-seed
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Steps
Confirm which credential you need: the Alarm Company Operator (ACO) license for the business entity, and the Alarm Company Qualified Manager (ACQ) certificate for the individual who manages/directs the business.
ACQ applicants must document two years (4,000 hours) of paid alarm-company experience or equivalent, and pass BSIS's two-hour multiple-choice exam covering California law, the Alarm Company Act, alarm agent rules, weapons law, business management, and power to arrest.
Complete Live Scan fingerprinting and a criminal history background check through California DOJ and the FBI.
Submit the ACO application with the required surety bond and liability insurance documentation.
The ACO license is valid for two years; renew before expiration (late renewal is possible up to three years past expiration with penalty).
Known gotchas
Bond and insurance amounts change over time — verify current figures directly on bsis.ca.gov rather than relying on older third-party guides.
Alarm agents employed by the ACO need their own individual registration and background clearance, separate from the ACQ certificate.
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