To work as a commissioned security officer in Texas, you need a Level III license from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Meeting the Texas commissioned security officer requirements means being at least 18, clearing both a Texas and federal background check, getting sponsored by a licensed security company, completing a 45-hour DPS-approved training course, and passing a written exam and a live-fire firearms qualification. The commission lets you carry a firearm on duty for your sponsoring employer, and it has to be renewed every two years.
Who Qualifies
You must be at least 18 years old and legally authorized to work in the United States. You also need a sponsoring employer. Texas does not allow commissioned security officers to operate independently: a licensed security company submits the commission application on your behalf and is responsible for verifying that you meet every state requirement before you start working armed.
DPS runs fingerprint-based background checks through both the FBI and the Texas DPS Crime Records Division. Certain convictions block your application for set periods:
- A felony conviction for a listed offense disqualifies you for ten years from the date of conviction.
- A Class A misdemeanor disqualifies you for five years.
- A Class B misdemeanor disqualifies you for two years.
After those waiting periods expire, DPS may still review your record under the factors in Texas Occupations Code Chapter 53 before granting a license.1Cornell Law School. Texas Administrative Code 37-35.4 – Guidelines for Disqualifying Criminal Offenses
Federal Firearm Prohibitions
Because you’ll be carrying on duty, you also have to clear the federal bars under 18 U.S.C. ยง 922(g). Federal law prohibits firearm possession by anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment, fugitives from justice, people adjudicated mentally defective or committed to a mental institution, people subject to certain domestic violence restraining orders, and people convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, among other categories.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 922 – Unlawful Acts
The domestic violence bar deserves particular attention. Under what’s commonly called the Lautenberg Amendment, a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction permanently prohibits you from possessing a firearm, even on duty. There is no expiration and no security-industry exemption.3United States Department of Justice Archives. Restrictions on the Possession of Firearms by Individuals Convicted of a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence
Controlled substance use also matters. Federal law prohibits firearm possession by any unlawful user of, or person addicted to, a controlled substance. As of January 2026, the ATF revised the definition of “unlawful user” to require evidence of regular, ongoing use over an extended period, so isolated or sporadic use no longer automatically triggers the prohibition. Marijuana remains a federally controlled substance regardless of state-level legalization, so routine marijuana use can still disqualify you.4Federal Register. Revising Definition of Unlawful User of or Addicted to Controlled Substance
The 45-Hour Level III Training Course
Level III training runs a minimum of 45 hours and has to be completed through a DPS-approved school taught by a DPS-approved instructor. You cannot test out of it or substitute other credentials, including law enforcement experience.5Department of Public Safety. Training and Continuing Education
The classroom portion focuses on Texas laws relevant to armed work: the Penal Code provisions on justifiable use of force and criminal trespass, when you can detain someone, what level of force fits which situation, and the boundary between defending property and overstepping your authority. The curriculum also covers the Private Security Act itself, emergency response, de-escalation, report writing, and communicating with law enforcement on scene.
Hands-on training includes defensive tactics, handcuffing, and use of non-lethal tools like batons and pepper spray. The firearms component is a live-fire qualification course under a licensed firearms instructor, shooting your duty handgun at multiple distances. Miss the qualification standard and you don’t get a commission.
The Two Exams
You have to pass two separate evaluations before DPS will issue your commission. The written exam covers Texas law, security procedures, and ethics, with a passing grade of at least 75%. The firearms proficiency test is scored separately and requires at least 70% on the approved course of fire.6Department of Public Safety. Instructor and Training School Resources
Fail either one and you don’t move forward to licensing. You’ll need additional instruction before reattempting, and your training school handles the retest process.
Fees and Fingerprinting
The license itself costs $50. Once you add the pocket card fee and subscription fee, expect roughly $57 in combined DPS licensing fees. Fingerprint processing costs are set separately by state and federal regulations and can change. All fees are non-refundable.7Texas Department of Public Safety. Private Security Fee Schedule
Fingerprinting goes through the Texas Fingerprint Service Code process, which authorizes DPS to submit your prints to the FBI for comparison against national criminal history records.8Texas Commission on Fire Protection. Fingerprint Service Code Form
When and How You Can Carry
Your authority to carry a firearm exists only while you’re working for the licensed company that sponsors your commission. This is not a personal License to Carry. Leave the employer, and the authorization does not follow you. Carrying your duty weapon off-duty requires a separate personal LTC, same as any other Texas resident.9Department of Public Safety. Private Security Licensees and Carrying a Handgun
The firearm has to be registered with your employer and approved under DPS guidelines. Carry it in a duty-appropriate holster and follow your company’s policies and any applicable DPS rules. Noncommissioned security officers are flatly prohibited from carrying a firearm on duty, and the 2021 permitless-carry law (HB 1927) does not override Private Security Act requirements.
You also have to carry your DPS-issued pocket card at all times while on duty and while traveling to or from your assignment. That card is your proof of current licensure and is a separate requirement from the uniform identification rules.10Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Private Security Statutes and Rules 2023-2024 Edition
Retired Law Enforcement
Prior police experience does not substitute for the Level III commission. If you qualify under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA), you may carry a concealed firearm in most places on your LEOSA credentials, but LEOSA does not replace the Texas requirement. To work as a commissioned security officer you still need the DPS license, employer sponsorship, and Level III training.11United States Department of State. Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) FAQs
Uniform and Identification Rules
Texas law requires commissioned security officers to be clearly distinguishable from law enforcement. At a minimum, every officer must display the name of the employing security company on the outermost garment, visible and legible from a reasonable distance in a contrasting color. It typically appears on the chest or back.12Cornell Law School. Texas Administrative Code 37-35.14 – Security Officer Uniforms
Badges and patches identifying you as a security officer are permitted, but anything suggesting government authority is not. Using “police,” “sheriff,” or similar law enforcement terminology on your uniform or badge can trigger administrative action against you and your employer, including license revocation. The public should never mistake you for a government officer.
Uniforms must be professional and in good condition. Casual clothing is generally not permitted unless your employer has specific authorization and the attire still complies with DPS guidelines. Officers in hazardous environments may need additional safety equipment beyond the standard uniform.
Renewing Every Two Years
Your commission expires every two years. DPS lets you start the renewal process up to 180 days before the expiration date, and you can still renew up to one year after expiration with late fees. Renewal requires proof of current training, a firearms proficiency certificate, and the renewal fee.13Department of Public Safety. Individual License Questions
For continuing education, you must complete six hours of the renewal portions of Level III or Level IV training, covering updates to state law, use-of-force standards, and current industry practices. You also have to pass a new firearms proficiency qualification, and the proficiency certificate submitted with your renewal cannot be more than 90 days old.14Texas Department of Public Safety. Continuing Education Requirements by Individual Private Security License Type
Let the license lapse past the one-year late-renewal window and you can’t just pick up where you left off. You have to reapply as a new applicant, which means another full background check, new fingerprinting, and potentially repeating training. Your employer cannot let you work armed with an expired commission. Doing so exposes both you and the company to penalties.
Penalties for Working Out of Compliance
DPS enforces the Private Security Act against both individual officers and their employers. Working without a current license, carrying an unauthorized weapon, failing to wear proper identification, or engaging in misconduct can all lead to administrative action ranging from fines to license suspension or revocation.15Department of Public Safety. Private Security
More serious violations carry consequences beyond losing your license. Excessive force, impersonating a law enforcement officer, or committing a crime while on duty can result in immediate revocation and criminal prosecution. Officers whose commissions are revoked for serious misconduct may be permanently barred from the industry or prohibited from reapplying for a set number of years, depending on the offense. Companies share the exposure: an employer that allows officers to work with expired licenses, skips required training, or fails to display proper identification on uniforms faces its own administrative penalties.10Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Private Security Statutes and Rules 2023-2024 Edition