A Level 3 security guard in Texas can carry a handgun or shotgun they’ve qualified on, along with a baton, pepper spray, handcuffs, and in many cases a taser. That authority comes with the commissioned security officer license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety, and it only applies while the officer is performing security duties or traveling to and from an assignment.1Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Private Security Statutes and Rules – Section 1702.169 The commission is not a general carry permit, and the rules about which weapon, how it’s worn, and where it can go on duty are specific enough that getting them wrong can cost the license or bring a criminal charge.
Texas draws a hard line between unarmed (Level 2) and armed (Level 3) security work. No one may accept armed security employment or carry a firearm as a security officer without a commission, and employers are equally barred from hiring someone who doesn’t hold one.2State of Texas. Texas Occupations Code 1702.161 – Security Officer Commission Required
Firearms a Level 3 Officer Can Carry
Texas administrative rules recognize three firearm categories for commissioned officers: semi-automatic handguns, non-semi-automatic handguns (revolvers), and shotguns. An officer may carry a firearm only in a category they have trained and qualified on, with documentation on file at DPS.3Texas Department of Public Safety. Private Security Administrative Rules – Rule 35.7
Handguns
Most Level 3 officers carry handguns. Qualification splits into two tracks, SA (semi-automatic) and NSA (revolver). Here’s the piece that trips people up: qualifying with a semi-automatic authorizes carrying either type, but qualifying with a revolver authorizes revolvers only.4Texas Department of Public Safety. Private Security Administrative Rules – Rule 35.145 Officers who want the widest flexibility should qualify on a semi-automatic from the start.
Qualification runs through the DPS Primary Issued Handgun Qualification Course or the DPS Approved Concealed Handgun License Course, taught by an approved firearms instructor. Proficiency with the actual category of firearm has to be demonstrated on the range, not just on paper.4Texas Department of Public Safety. Private Security Administrative Rules – Rule 35.145
Shotguns
Officers who need additional firepower on an assignment can qualify to carry a shotgun. The course requires firing nine rounds of 00 buckshot from standing positions at five, ten, and fifteen yards within specified time limits.5Texas Department of Public Safety. Private Security Administrative Rules – Rule 35.146 Handgun qualification does not cover a shotgun. An officer needs the separate shotgun qualification on file to carry one on duty.
Rifles Are Not Allowed
Rifles are not an authorized category for a standard Level 3 commission. The only people who can access a rifle while working as a commissioned security officer are licensed Texas peace officers or honorably retired Texas peace officers, and the retired officer must carry documentation of that status from the former agency or the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.6Texas Department of Public Safety. Carrying of Rifles by Commissioned Security or Personal Protection Officers
How the Firearm Has to Be Worn
For a standard commissioned security officer, Texas law is straightforward: the officer must wear a distinctive uniform identifying them as a security officer, and the firearm must be carried in plain view.1Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Private Security Statutes and Rules – Section 1702.169 There is no concealed option in this role. Personal protection officers (Level 4) follow different rules and can carry concealed in plainclothes, but that is a separate license.7State of Texas. Texas Occupations Code 1702.206 – Limited Authority to Carry Firearms
The uniform itself is a legal requirement, not just a company preference. Section 1702.323 defines a qualifying uniform as one commonly associated with security or law enforcement, or apparel containing the word “security” or something substantially similar that creates the impression the person is providing security services.8Texas Public Law. Texas Occupations Code 1702.323 – Security Department of Private Business Officers also have to carry the physical pocket card credential on duty and present it on request.9Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Private Security Statutes and Rules – Rule 35.82
Batons, Pepper Spray, Handcuffs, and Tasers
A Level 3 commission covers more than firearms, but the rules for each defensive tool are different.
- Batons. Baton training is built into the Level III course as part of defensive tactics. Officers commissioned before that requirement was added should complete Unit 10 of the full course before their next continuing education cycle, taught by a defensive tactics instructor. Batons can be classified as deadly weapons under Texas law, so misuse carries real criminal exposure.10Texas Department of Public Safety. Level III and Level IV Training Questions
- Pepper spray (OC). Widely carried as a less-lethal option. The Private Security Act does not require a specific certification for it, though most employers require familiarization training before deployment.
- Handcuffs. Permitted for commissioned officers. Improper restraint can lead to false imprisonment claims, so training in restraint techniques and detention law is standard practice even where not mandated by statute.
- Tasers and stun guns. The Private Security Act and its rules do not specifically address tasers. DPS has said that carrying a conducted energy device is “not expressly prohibited” unless the device itself is classified as a firearm. If the device is classified as a firearm (certain models such as the Taser 10 qualify), only officers certified to carry firearms may carry it. Whether an officer actually carries a taser generally depends on employer policy and the model involved.11Texas Department of Public Safety. Non-lethal Weapons (Club, Pepper Spray, Tasers)
Other Duty Gear
Beyond weapons, most Level 3 officers carry equipment set by the employer and the assignment. Two-way radios and flashlights are nearly universal. Notebooks and incident report forms still show up at sites with digital reporting. Many security companies now issue body cameras.
Body cameras raise a recording-law question worth knowing. Texas is a one-party consent state for audio: if the officer is a party to the conversation, they can lawfully record it without the other person’s consent.12Texas State Law Library. Guides: Recording Laws: Audio Recording Video in public spaces where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy is generally permitted. Employer policies typically add rules about when cameras must be activated and how footage is stored.
Places the Commission Does Not Reach
Holding a Level 3 commission does not override location-based firearm restrictions. Federal law prohibits possessing a firearm in any federal facility, defined as a building or part of a building owned or leased by the federal government where federal employees regularly work. Violations carry up to one year in prison for standard federal facilities and up to two years for federal court facilities.13Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 930 – Possession of Firearms and Dangerous Weapons in Federal Facilities The exemptions in that statute cover government law enforcement officers and members of the Armed Forces, not private security guards. If the assignment involves a federal building, the firearm stays outside.
Texas Penal Code Section 46.03 lists additional prohibited locations under state law, including schools, polling places on election day, courts, and secured areas of airports. Some carry exceptions for certain licensed individuals, but commissioned security officers should not assume they qualify for every exemption. The safest move is to confirm with the employer and the facility before carrying onto any government property or restricted site.
Keeping Carry Authority Current
Everything above depends on the commission staying valid. Commissioned security officers have to complete six hours of continuing education every two years, which includes classroom defensive tactics and firearms proficiency re-certification.14Texas Department of Public Safety. Continuing Education Requirements by Individual Private Security License Shotgun-qualified officers also complete a separate biennial familiarization course of six rounds of 00 buckshot.5Texas Department of Public Safety. Private Security Administrative Rules – Rule 35.146 Let those lapse and the authority to carry any of the equipment above goes with them.