State license required
How to become a security guard in Texas
Texas licenses security officers through the DPS Private Security Program. Non-commissioned (unarmed) officers complete the Level II course; commissioned (armed) officers complete the 45-hour Level III course with firearms qualification.
Reviewed September 27, 2026
Regulator: Texas Dept. of Public Safety, Private Security Program
The path
- 0hNo state training required
- ExamState exam
- ApplyNon-Commissioned Security Officer$37 original/renewal ($30 license + $5 pocket card + $2 subscription); late 0-90 days $52, 90+ days $67; + $28.25 FBI fingerprint check (DPS fee schedule rev. 09/03/2019)
- WorkCarry the credential on post
- 2yRenewal cycle
Every Texas credential
All 15 individual credentials this regulator issues to security workers, from the entry-level card to specialty and instructor registrations. Rows marked ◇ are drafted from the regulator’s pages and await our reviewer’s sign-off.
Steps to get started
- Get hired by (or apply through) a DPS-licensed Texas security company.
- Complete the Level II course, taught by a licensed school or by your employer (commissioned/armed officers add the 45-hour Level III course and the MMPI declaration).
- Complete the FBI fingerprint background check ($28.25) and apply before starting work ($37 unarmed, $57 commissioned).
- Renew every 2 years (online from 180 days before expiry); commissioned officers requalify with their firearm within 90 days before renewal.
Non-Commissioned Security Officer: Minimum age 18 (Occ. Code 1702.113). Level II course and test, taught by a licensed Level III/IV school or by the employing company using DPS's current Level II manual; DPS rules set no minimum hour count (37 TAC 35.141). Exempt from continuing education (37 TAC 35.161(b)). The application must be submitted before work starts; if DPS posts no determination within 48 hours of fingerprint submission, the officer may begin non-commissioned duties once the employer verifies and keeps DPS's public-site search (Occ. Code 1702.230(f)).
Alarm Systems Monitor: Individual DPS license for persons monitoring alarm signals at a central station/SOC for a licensed alarm company. No pre-licensing course is listed by DPS; CE of 4 hours relating to alarm monitoring duties is required every two years (DPS CE Requirements by License Type, TAC 35.161).
Alarm Systems Installer: Installs/services alarm systems for a licensed company. DPS CE table: within the first 12 months the installer must complete 'Alarm Level I' — 16 hours classroom (or equivalent online) including 2 hours NEC low-voltage; thereafter 8 hours in the alarm field including 1 hour NEC every two years.
Electronic Access Control Device Installer: Individual license for installers of electronic access control devices including gate operators. CE: 8 hours every two years — 7 hours subject matter related to the service provided and 1 hour ethics (DPS CE table).
Private Investigator: Individual PI license under Occ. Code ch. 1702, same DPS program as guards; must be employed by a licensed investigations company (Class A/C).
Level III Classroom Instructor: Teaches the classroom portion of Level II/III training at a licensed Level III training school. Instructors are one of the two individual license types DPS lets stand alone without company affiliation (the other is Level IV instructor). Qualification requirements are in 37 TAC ch. 35 subch. L.
Level IV Personal Protection Instructor: Teaches the 15-hour Level IV PPO course at a licensed Level IV school; may hold the license without company affiliation. CE: 8 hours every two years (7 subject-matter + 1 ethics) per DPS CE table.
Alarm Level I Instructor: Teaches the 16-hour Alarm Level I course required of new alarm installers. CE: 8 hours every two years (7 + 1 ethics) per DPS CE table.
Continuing Education (CE) Instructor: Instructor licensed to deliver DPS-approved continuing education at a licensed CE school (Y license). Listed by DPS among individual license types.
Owner (Individual License, 51%+ Interest): Since Sept. 1, 2019 (SB 616) only an owner holding 51%+ of a licensed company is individually licensed and receives a pocket card; Qualified Manager, Supervisor and Branch Office Manager registrations were abolished. An individually licensed owner may perform any unarmed regulated service the company offers (armed work still needs a commission/PPO). The 'company representative' who passes the DPS exam is not a license type and gets no card. CE: 8 hours every two years (7 subject-matter + 1 ethics).
Locksmith: Individual locksmith license under the Private Security Act, affiliated with a licensed locksmith company. CE: 16 hours related to the service provided every two years (DPS CE table).
Working armed in Texas
Commissioned officers (18+) complete the 45-hour Level III course at a licensed school, submit an MMPI-based Declaration of Psychological and Emotional Health, qualify with their firearm within 90 days of application and each renewal, and complete 6 hours of continuing education per cycle.
Commissioned Security Officer (Level III): Minimum age 18 (Occ. Code 1702.113). Level II plus the minimum 45-hour Level III course (written test and course of fire) at a licensed school, firearm proficiency within 90 days of application, and a Declaration of Psychological and Emotional Health showing completion of the MMPI, signed by a licensed psychologist (Occ. Code 1702.163). Renewal requires 6 hours of CE (Level III renewal portion) and a firearms proficiency certificate no more than 90 days old (37 TAC 35.161(g)).
Personal Protection Officer (Level IV): Bodyguard/close-protection license under Occ. Code ch. 1702. Applicant must complete Level II, Level III (45 hrs incl. course of fire) AND the Level IV course (minimum 15 classroom hours, DPS exam, taught by a licensed Level IV instructor at a Level IV school) and submit a Declaration of Psychological and Emotional Health. Renewal requires 6 hours CE (renewal portions of Level III or IV) plus a firearms proficiency certificate no more than 90 days old. Must be affiliated with a licensed company or letter-of-authority holder.
Level III Firearm Instructor: Conducts the firearms/course-of-fire portion of Level III training and firearms proficiency certifications for commissioned officers and PPOs. DPS also issues a 'Level III Combined (Firearm/Classroom) Instructor' license for those holding both authorities (see tx-level3-combined-instructor).
Level III Combined (Firearm/Classroom) Instructor: Single license combining Level III classroom and firearms instructor authority, listed separately by DPS in its individual license types.
Security jobs in Texas
12 open positions from licensed security companies right now, city by city, with pay where the company lists it.
See Texas security jobs →What guards earn in Texas
A median of $17.30 an hour across 106,210 security guards, from official BLS wage data.
Security guard pay in Texas →Hiring a guard rather than becoming one?
The same rules read from the other side: what to ask a guard and a security company for in Texas, and the steps to confirm it in the regulator's own records.
How to check a licence in Texas →Sources
- Texas DPS, Private Security
- DPS Types of Individual Licenses
- DPS Private Security Fee Schedule (rev. 09/03/2019)
- DPS CE Requirements by Individual License Type (TAC 35.161)
- DPS Training and Continuing Education (Levels II/III/IV)
- DPS License Changes Effective 09/01/2019 (SB 616)
- 37 TAC 35.141 Training Requirements
- Texas Occupations Code ch. 1702
- DPS Texas Private Security Statutes & Rules (2024)
tessura is an independent study and career tool, not affiliated with any state agency. Rules change; always confirm current requirements with the regulator before relying on them.
Keep your Texas credential alive
The free wallet computes your renewal deadline from Texas's rules and reminds you at 60, 30, and 7 days. Exam prep for Texas follows.
Join free