CPI Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CPI facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the primary purpose of a 'man-trap' or airlock entry system in a secure facility? → Prevent tailgating and unauthorized access
2. Which term describes a policy that requires officers to use the least amount of force necessary to achieve a lawful objective? → Proportionality requirement
3. A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is required by the NEC in all of the following locations EXCEPT: → Living room receptacles 6 feet from a window
4. In loss prevention, 'shrinkage' refers to: → The loss of inventory due to theft, damage, administrative error, or vendor fraud
5. Which condition typically justifies escalating from chemical agents to impact weapons under a use of force continuum? → Chemical agents are ineffective and the subject continues active physical aggression
6. In property loss investigation, what is the purpose of conducting a 'timeline reconstruction'? → To establish the chronological sequence of events leading to and during the loss
7. An inspector notices that a furnace room has inadequate combustion air supply. In an emergency context, this condition can MOST directly cause: → Carbon monoxide buildup due to incomplete combustion
8. When should a CPI inspector recommend immediate evacuation of a property? → When a condition poses an immediate threat to the safety of occupants
9. A client asks an inspector to provide an estimate of repair costs for defects found during the inspection. What is the ethical response? → Decline and explain that cost estimation is outside the inspection scope
10. Why is regular review important in CPI risk management? → Conditions change and new risks emerge requiring updates
11. A 'covert investigation' is distinguished from an 'overt investigation' in asset protection primarily by: → Whether the investigation subject is aware they are being investigated
12. Which type of crack in a concrete foundation wall is most likely to indicate ongoing structural movement? → Horizontal cracks running parallel to the ground
13. When conducting an interview in a corporate theft investigation, which seating arrangement is generally MOST conducive to open communication? → Side-by-side at a table without a barrier between interviewer and subject
14. What role do standard operating procedures play in CPI Forensic Science & Analysis? → Ensuring consistency and quality through documented instructions
15. What is 'pretext' as used in intelligence and investigative contexts? → A fabricated scenario or identity used to elicit information
16. Under most state real estate disclosure laws, which party bears primary legal responsibility for disclosing known material defects to a buyer? → The seller, who has a duty to disclose known material facts affecting property value
17. What is evidence-based practice in CPI Investigation Procedures & Methods? → Integrating research evidence with expertise and client needs
18. Which of the following OSINT sources would provide the most current real-time location intelligence on a subject? → Publicly tagged social media check-ins and posts
19. What is the primary objective of an asset protection program? → To minimize financial losses from theft, fraud, and operational errors
20. What does the CPI Code of Ethics require regarding an inspector's limitations? → Inspectors must disclose personal limitations and refer to specialists when needed
21. During a cognitive interview, which technique asks the witness to mentally reinstate the environmental and personal context of the event? → Mental reinstatement of context
22. A use of force policy that requires officers to 'exhaust all alternatives before resorting to deadly force' reflects which principle? → Last resort doctrine
23. A CPI inspector arrives at a loss scene and finds that contractors have already begun demolition. What is the MOST important immediate action? → Order all work to stop and document current conditions
24. During an inspection, a CPI finds that a key control log shows 12 keys issued but only 10 returned. What should be the inspector's recommendation? → Re-key or replace affected locks and conduct an investigation to locate the missing keys
25. Which lighting type is most effective for perimeter security in outdoor environments? → High-pressure sodium or LED floodlights with motion activation
26. According to CPI ethical standards, an inspector's primary duty of care is owed to: → The client who contracted the inspection
27. What does the inspector examine when assessing a home's grading and drainage condition? → Whether the ground slopes away from the foundation to direct water away from the structure
28. What is 'spoliation of evidence' in the context of property loss investigation? → The loss, destruction, or alteration of evidence that affects its probative value
29. Under NFPA 70, arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) protection is required in which location? → Most living spaces in dwelling units including bedrooms
30. When analyzing a questioned document for ink dating, which laboratory technique examines the chemical degradation of ink over time? → Thin-layer chromatography (TLC)