The invention relates to a test method for the testing of the functional capability of a monitoring sensor which scans a protective field to be monitored using a scanner. In accordance with the invention, at least one contour test object and one field test object are provided outside the protective field to be monitored. A field set is defined having at least two scan fields, with the first scan field of the first field set comprising the protective field to be monitored and at least one contour test object and the second scan field of the first field set comprising at least the region of the field test object. In a first test sequence, the protective field to be monitored is scanned with the first field set, with a positive first output signal only being generated when the contour test object is detected in the expected position in the first scan field and with a negative second output signal being generated when the field test object is detected in the second scan field of the first field set. A second field set having reversed parameters is defined and scanned in a second test sequence. The correct operability of the sensor is only assumed if, after a change to the first test sequence, a positive first output signal and a negative second output signal are found or, after a change to the second test sequence, a positive second output signal and a negative first output signal are found.