How to Get a Security Guard License in Texas
Getting a security guard license in Texas comes down to two paths. Level II covers unarmed work. Level III covers armed work. This guide explains both in plain language and walks you through how to apply. It also points you to the training providers we trust and shows how a new license can become a career with an Elite Team that rewards it.
Texas Security Guard License Levels, Explained in Plain Language
Two paths, one regulator: the Texas Department of Public Safety.
In Texas, most security officers must hold an active registration or commission issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Private Security Program. DPS regulates the industry under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702. Whether you plan to work unarmed or armed determines which path you take. The difference comes down to two license levels.
Non-Commissioned Officer
- Complete the state-required Level II training course through a DPS-licensed training school or through a licensed guard company
- Be at least 18 years old
- Pass a fingerprint-based background check reviewed by DPS and the FBI
- Learn legal authority, patrol and access control, emergency procedures, report writing, and ethics
- Qualify for unarmed roles such as uniformed security, patrol, monitoring, and reporting
The Level II course runs six hours.
Commissioned Officer
- Complete Level II first as a prerequisite
- Complete a minimum 45-hour commissioned course that includes a written test and a live firearms qualification (course of fire)
- Complete the handgun proficiency and self-defense portions in person with a DPS-approved on-site instructor
- Demonstrate firearm proficiency within 90 days of the application date
- Complete a Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) evaluation administered, scored, and interpreted by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist, documented on DPS form PSP-13 and submitted with your application
- Meet the same baseline eligibility as Level II, including the 18-year minimum set by Texas Occupations Code Section 1702.113
- Carry a firearm on duty in armed security roles under your DPS commission
Good to know: Texas has tightened its standards in recent years. Under House Bill 3424, commissioned officers and personal protection officers now face added eligibility and psychological evaluation requirements. Training components that were once available online must now be completed in person. Texas DPS sets exact hours, fees, and eligibility rules and can change them, so confirm current requirements with DPS or your training school before you enroll.
Both levels follow the same basic sequence. Complete the required training. Submit your fingerprints and application to DPS. Clear the background review. Receive your registration or commission. Once issued, your credential is valid for two years before renewal. From there, licensed officers work assignments across our Austin base and greater Texas service areas.
How to Apply for Your Texas Security License
Licensing and employment happen together in Texas.
In Texas, licensing and employment happen together. Your registration or commission is issued in connection with a licensed security company, which means most officers secure a position first and complete the application with their employer's support. Here is the sequence.
- Secure a position with a licensed security company. DPS ties your registration or commission to an employer affiliation, so this step comes first, not last.
- Complete the required training. Level II for unarmed work. Level II plus Level III for armed work.
- Complete the MMPI evaluation, if you are applying for Level III. A licensed psychologist or psychiatrist administers the test and signs DPS form PSP-13.
- Start your application in the TOPS portal. Texas Online Private Security (TOPS) handles applications, payments, document checklists, employer affiliation, and status tracking.
- Complete fingerprinting through IdentoGO. DPS sends prints to the FBI for the criminal history check.
- Receive your pocket card. Keep it on you while on duty.
Fees change, so confirm current amounts with DPS rather than relying on figures published elsewhere.
Where to Get Trained
The Texas training providers we point new applicants toward.
We hold our team to a high standard, and that starts with quality instruction. These are the Texas training providers we point new applicants toward. Reach out to them directly to enroll, ask about class schedules, and confirm current pricing and requirements.
Texas Defensive Training
Important: Texas Defensive Training delivers the Level II and Level III classroom coursework online. The handgun proficiency, self-defense, and range qualification portions of Level III must still be completed in person with a DPS-approved on-site instructor. Ask which components your enrollment covers before you pay.
OPLO Training Group
Note: Mention that you are pursuing a career with Verintegra when you call. It helps the instructors point you toward the Level II or Level III track that fits the roles you want to work.
Texas also allows a licensed security company to administer Level II training in-house. Ask us which path applies to your start date.
Why Build Your Career With Verintegra
A license opens the door. Where you take it is the real decision.
A license opens the door. The employer you choose decides what is on the other side of it. That choice determines your pay, your schedule, your growth, and whether the work feels like a job or a profession. Verintegra was built by veteran law enforcement leadership to reject the high-volume, low-margin model that dominates this industry. Founder and CEO Arturo Vera came up in the field. We invest in fewer, better officers and pay them accordingly.
We hire the best, and only the best
We reject over 99% of applicants through a rigorous, multi-step investigative vetting process. If you are accepted, you have joined a genuinely Elite Team, not a warm-body roster.
The Labor Edge
A variable minimum of $30 per hour, well above the industry average. We compete on quality and we pay for it.
Get paid without the wait
Flexible daily or weekly pay options, because respecting your time and your paycheck is part of Integrity in Action.
Medical & dental coverage
Real medical and dental coverage that supports you and your family, reflecting our belief that retention and quality start with how we treat our people.
If you meet the standard, you will work alongside professionals who are backed by modern oversight tools and led by people who came up in the field. Learn more about why officers choose Verintegra, and the range of work you could take on, from uniformed posts and patrol to remote guarding. Officers who grow with us can also take assignments across Oklahoma, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Mexico. That is how we deliver peace of mind to our clients, and it starts with how we treat our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers for anyone entering the Texas security field.
How often do I renew my Texas security officer license?
Individual Texas security officer registrations and commissions are valid for two years from the date of issuance. You renew through the Texas Department of Public Safety before your expiration date. Commissioned (armed) officers must complete six hours of DPS-approved continuing education and submit a current weapons proficiency certificate with the renewal. Under House Bill 3424, commissioned officers and personal protection officers also face added eligibility and psychological evaluation requirements. Confirm the current renewal window directly with Texas DPS, because a lapsed registration can keep you from working.
What is the difference between an unarmed (Level II) and armed (Level III) license?
A Level II Non-Commissioned Security Officer works unarmed. You complete the state-required Level II training course, meet the 18-year minimum, and pass a fingerprint-based background check. A Level III Commissioned Security Officer is authorized to carry a firearm on duty. Level III requires Level II first, plus a minimum 45-hour commissioned course with a written test and a live firearms qualification. It also requires an MMPI evaluation and firearm proficiency demonstrated within 90 days of the application date. The handgun proficiency and self-defense portions must be completed in person.
Do I need a license before I can work as a security guard in Texas?
Yes. Texas requires most security officers to hold an active registration or commission through the Department of Public Safety, under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702, before working. Your credential is tied to a licensed security company, so you apply through an employer rather than on your own. We are glad to point you to the training providers we trust so you start on the right foot.
What should I do after I get my Texas security license?
Most officers do not wait until the license is in hand. Because your registration or commission is issued in connection with a licensed company, the practical first step is finding an employer whose standards match your ambitions. Verintegra hires from the top of the applicant pool, offers a variable minimum of $30 per hour, daily or weekly pay, and full medical and dental benefits. We walk accepted applicants through TOPS affiliation, fingerprinting, and the application itself. Submit the contact form or call (800) 777-3980, and we will walk you through openings and what it takes to join our Elite Team.
Ready to Put Your License to Work?
If you hold your Texas Level II or Level III license, or you are working toward it, we want to hear from you. Join a team that competes on quality and pays for it. When you write to us, include your license level, your target region, and your availability so we can route your message to the right person.
