- The exam is 50 questions, open-book, 2 hours, with a 70% passing threshold.
- The standalone qualified-manager registration ended September 1, 2019 - company representative is now a designated role, not a separate license.
- Bring printed Chapter 1702 and Chapter 35 statutes/rules, a driver license or state ID, and two sharpened pencils with erasers.
- One exam attempt is included in the original company license fee; retakes cost $100 each, subject to appointment availability inside the 90-day application...
What This Cheat Sheet Covers
This page is a compressed, one-stop reference for anyone preparing for the Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Program's Company Representative Examination - the credential search engines and industry veterans still commonly call the Texas Qualified Manager Exam, or TX-QM. Note the naming history up front: the separate qualified-manager registration ended on September 1, 2019. Today, "company representative" is a designated role tied to a company license, not a standalone license or pocket card. If you want the full backstory and terminology breakdown, read What Is TX-QM? and TX-QM Meaning before diving into this cheat sheet.
Use this article as a quick-reference companion, not a substitute for full preparation. For a structured walkthrough of how to study, see the TX-QM Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and if you want practice questions that mirror the real format, run through sets on the main practice test site.
Exam Format at a Glance
Knowing the mechanics of the test itself is half the battle. Here's the format distilled to the essentials:
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Question count | 50 questions |
| Question types | Multiple-choice and true/false |
| Time limit | 2 hours |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Format | Written, open-book |
| Administered by | Texas Department of Public Safety, Private Security Program |
The open-book nature is a defining feature of this exam - it changes how you should prepare. Instead of memorizing statute numbers word-for-word, you need to know where information lives in Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 and Texas Administrative Code Chapter 35, and how quickly you can navigate to it under time pressure. For a deeper breakdown of how difficult the exam actually is given this format, see How Hard Is the TX-QM Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026. For exact scoring mechanics, see TX-QM Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Because the exam is open-book, invest your prep time in tabbing and indexing your printed Chapter 1702 and Chapter 35 copies rather than trying to memorize every clause verbatim.
Fees and Registration Mechanics
Understanding what you're paying for - and when - prevents surprises during the application window. The exam itself is included with the original company license fee; you don't pay a separate exam fee the first time.
| License Class | Fee (includes subscription charges) |
|---|---|
| Class A | $361 |
| Class B | $412 |
| Class C | $556 |
These figures cover the company license and its included examination attempt. Applicant fees, fingerprint processing, and insurance requirements are billed separately and are not part of the license fee schedule above. If you fail on the first attempt, retakes cost $100 each, and scheduling depends on appointment availability within the 90-day application window - so don't wait until the last week to request a retest slot. Applications are submitted through TOPS with both company and representative documentation, and some service categories require additional qualified representatives beyond the primary one. For the complete cost breakdown across every scenario, including multi-attempt budgeting, see TX-QM Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. Scheduling logistics and the 90-day window are covered in more detail in TX-QM Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Eligibility Quick Reference
Eligibility requirements differ depending on whether you're pursuing the representative role for a guard company or an investigation company. Full details, including edge cases and degree-combination paths, are covered in TX-QM Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify, but here is the condensed version.
Guard-Company Representative Path
Candidates must meet all of the following before applying through TOPS:
- At least 21 years of age
- Three years of relevant accumulated employment experience
- At least one year of managerial or supervisory experience
Investigation-Company Representative Path
Eligibility can be satisfied through any one of several routes:
- Three consecutive years of investigative experience
- A qualifying criminal-justice or related bachelor's degree
- Specified combinations of degree plus relevant experience
- A qualifying university-affiliated specialized course of at least 200 instructional hours
Because eligibility determines which exam version and application path you follow, confirm your qualifying route before you request an exam appointment. Applications flow through TOPS, and companies offering additional service categories may need to designate additional qualified representatives beyond the primary one on file.
Legal Sources You Must Know Cold
The written exam draws directly from two legal sources, and the open-book format only helps if you're already familiar with where topics live inside them.
- Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 - the foundational statute governing private security regulation in Texas.
- Texas Administrative Code Chapter 35 - the implementing rules, including licensing-document changes effective July 2, 2026, which candidates should fold into their understanding of current application and documentation procedures.
Within these sources, the exam emphasizes a specific set of practical topics rather than abstract legal theory:
Individual-License Eligibility
Understand who qualifies for individual licenses, what disqualifies an applicant, and how eligibility interacts with company-level licensing.
- Age, experience, and background criteria
- Interaction between individual and company license status
Pre-Employment Procedures
Know the required steps a company must complete before placing someone in a licensed security role.
- Background and documentation checks
- Timing requirements before an individual begins work
Applications
Be comfortable with the TOPS-based application process for both companies and individual representatives.
- Required company and representative documentation
- Additional qualified representatives for extra service categories
Employee and Business Records
Know what records companies must maintain and for how long, and what must be produced on request.
- Recordkeeping obligations tied to employees
- Business-level documentation standards
Disciplinary Actions and Administrative Fines
Understand the range of enforcement tools DPS can use and the general process behind them.
- Grounds for disciplinary action
- How administrative fines are applied
For a full expansion of how these topic areas map to exam weighting and study order, see TX-QM Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 0 Content Areas.
Test Day Checklist
The materials you bring are as much a part of exam readiness as the studying itself, since this is an open-book test.
- Printed copy of Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 and Texas Administrative Code Chapter 35 (tabbed and organized)
- A driver license or other state-issued ID
- Two sharpened pencils with erasers
Key Takeaway
Tab your printed statutes and rules by topic area before exam day - with only 2 hours for 50 questions, flipping through an unmarked document costs valuable minutes.
One-Week Final Review Plan
If you've already worked through full preparation and just need a final structured pass, spread your remaining time across the exam's core topic areas rather than re-reading everything cover to cover.
Eligibility and Applications
- Review individual-license eligibility rules and TOPS application requirements
- Confirm your own qualifying route if you haven't finalized it
Records and Pre-Employment Procedures
- Study employee/business recordkeeping obligations
- Review required steps before placing someone in a licensed role
Disciplinary Actions and Fines
- Review grounds for discipline and the fine framework
- Cross-check July 2026 Chapter 35 documentation changes
Mock Test and Materials Check
- Take timed practice questions on the main practice test site
- Finalize tabbed statute printouts and confirm ID and pencils are ready
This kind of short-cycle review works because it maps directly onto the exam's actual emphasis areas rather than generic test-taking habits. If you're earlier in your prep timeline and need the full multi-week version, the TX-QM Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt lays out a longer plan.
Common Mix-Ups to Avoid
A few misunderstandings show up repeatedly among candidates researching this exam, largely because of legacy terminology and because the acronym "TX-QM" is shared with unrelated credentials in other industries. Keep these distinctions straight:
- "Qualified Manager" is a legacy term. The standalone registration ended September 1, 2019. The current structure uses "company representative" as a designated role attached to a company license.
- There is no separate QM pocket card. Company representative status is not issued as its own individual license or card.
- Company licenses and individual licenses renew on different cycles. Company licenses renew annually, while individual licenses generally run for two years.
- Continuing education is role-based, not QM-specific. It's tied to the individual's licensed role, not to a separate qualified-manager credential.
If you're still sorting out what the acronym refers to in this context versus other industries, What Does TX-QM Stand For? and What Does TX-QM Mean? walk through the terminology in more depth. For a broader look at who actually hires people with this background and what the credential opens up career-wise, see TX-QM Jobs and TX-QM Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis.
FAQ
Informally, yes - many people still search for "Texas Qualified Manager" or "TX-QM," but the standalone qualified-manager registration ended September 1, 2019. Today the role is officially the company representative, tied to the company license rather than issued as a separate credential.
The written exam has 50 multiple-choice and true/false questions, and you have 2 hours to complete it. It is open-book, and the passing threshold is 70%.
One examination attempt is included with the original company license fee. The posted schedule lists Class A at $361, Class B at $412, and Class C at $556, including subscription charges. Applicant, fingerprint, and insurance costs are separate. If you need to retake, each attempt costs $100, subject to appointment availability within the 90-day application window.
Bring printed copies of the relevant statutes and rules (Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 and Texas Administrative Code Chapter 35), a driver license or other state-issued ID, and two sharpened pencils with erasers.
Guard-company representatives must be at least 21, with three years of relevant employment experience and one year of managerial or supervisory experience. Investigation-company eligibility can be met through three consecutive years of investigative experience, a qualifying criminal-justice-related bachelor's degree, a qualifying degree-plus-experience combination, or a university-affiliated specialized course of at least 200 instructional hours.