Can the alarm experience be volunteer or must it be paid?

• A. Must be compensated
• B. Volunteered if allowed by supervisor
• C. Either paid or volunteer
• D. Not required to be paid

Answer: (A)

The requirement being tested is that alarm experience counted toward licensure must be earned in a paid capacity. The licensing rules require verifiable, paid work in the role—unpaid volunteer work does not count as qualifying experience. This ensures there is a formal employer-employee arrangement with payroll records to verify the experience. Therefore, only compensated experience qualifies. The idea that volunteer work could count (or that any paid or volunteer mix is acceptable) would undermine the need for verifiable, paid, hands-on experience. Saying it’s not required to be paid would directly conflict with the rule.