How to get a security guard license in Texas

In Texas, an unarmed security guard needs a Non-Commissioned Security Officer license and an armed one needs a Commissioned Security Officer license, both from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). You finish the required training, apply and pay in TOPS, then get fingerprinted.

At a glance

License: Non-Commissioned Security Officer license (Level II)
Regulator: Texas Department of Public Safety, Private Security Program
Minimum age: 18
Training: Level II course and test (armed: also Level III, at least 45 hours)
Fees: $37 license, plus $28.25 for the FBI fingerprint check
Renewal: Every 2 years

Last verified: October 19, 2026

Requirements change; confirm with Texas DPS before applying.

Sources: Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702, DPS training and continuing education, DPS Private Security fee schedule, DPS individual license questions

Requirements

You need a DPS license to work as a security officer in Texas, and a Commissioned Security Officer license to carry a firearm on the job.
You must be at least 18 years old.
You cannot be licensed while charged with, or after a conviction for, a felony or Class A or B misdemeanor that DPS rules list as disqualifying. You must send court documents for any felony or Class A or B misdemeanor arrest.
Every applicant has an FBI fingerprint background check. You book electronic fingerprints with IdentoGO after you submit and pay in TOPS.
You may start unarmed work 48 hours after DPS receives a substantially complete application, with your fees and fingerprints, if your employer runs a background check. Armed work before you are licensed is not allowed.

Sources: Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702, DPS fingerprinting instructions, DPS working before licensure

Training hours

Level II course and test: required for every non-commissioned and commissioned security officer.
Level III course and test: required for commissioned (armed) officers. It is at least 45 hours and includes a firearms course of fire.
Handgun proficiency and self-defense training must be taken in person with an approved instructor since January 1, 2024.
Renewal: commissioned officers need 6 hours of continuing education and a current firearm proficiency certificate. Non-commissioned officers have no continuing education requirement.

Sources: DPS training and continuing education, DPS Private Security news, DPS Private Security statutes and rules, 2023-2024 edition

Fees

Fee	Amount
Non-Commissioned Security Officer, new or renewal	$37
Commissioned Security Officer, new or renewal	$57
FBI fingerprint check	$28.25
Duplicate pocket card	$17

Late renewals cost more, and fees are not refundable.

Source: DPS Private Security fee schedule

How to apply, step by step

Finish the Level II course (and Level III for an armed license).
Apply in TOPS (Texas Online Private Security): choose the license type, enter your details and your employer, and pay.
Watch for an email from IdentoGO and book your electronic fingerprints.
Upload the documents on the checklist DPS sends you, such as your training certificates.
Track your application in TOPS until your license is issued.

Sources: DPS individual license questions, DPS fingerprinting instructions

Armed security officer license

An armed officer needs a Commissioned Security Officer license: Level II and Level III certificates, a Declaration of Psychological and Emotional Health (PSP-13) and an MMPI psychological test.
The Level III firearms course of fire needs a score of at least 70%.
You are not eligible if state or federal law bars you from owning or possessing a firearm.
The commissioned license costs $57, plus $28.25 for fingerprints.

Sources: DPS individual license questions, DPS instructor and training school resources, Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702, DPS Private Security fee schedule

Renewal and license lookup

A license lasts 2 years. You can renew in TOPS from 180 days before it expires until 1 year after, with late fees once it has expired.
A license expired for more than a year cannot be renewed; you apply again as a new applicant.

Look up or verify a license on the TOPS license search.

Source: DPS individual license questions

Security officer pay in Texas

What the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates Security Guards earn in Texas, May 2025:

Mean hourly wage: $18.54
Median hourly wage: $17.30
Mean annual wage: $38,550
Median annual wage: $35,980

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Security Guards, May 2025

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Texas security guard license cost?

A Non-Commissioned Security Officer license costs $37 and a Commissioned Security Officer license costs $57, new or renewed. The FBI fingerprint check adds $28.25.

Can I take Level II training online?

DPS does not say whether Level II can be taken online. Handgun proficiency and self-defense training for armed officers must be taken in person.

How do I look up a Texas security license?

Use the TOPS license search on the DPS Private Security website to find an individual, a company or a training school.

How often do I renew a Texas security license?

Every 2 years. You can renew in TOPS from 180 days before the license expires.

How do I get an armed security guard license in Texas?

Apply for a Commissioned Security Officer license. You need Level II and Level III training, a firearms course of fire, a psychological declaration (PSP-13) and an MMPI test.

How much do security guards make in Texas?

BLS estimates that Security Guards in Texas earned a median wage of $17.30 an hour ($35,980 a year) in May 2025. The mean wage was $18.54 an hour ($38,550 a year).

How long does it take to get licensed in Texas?

DPS does not publish a processing time for online applications. You may start unarmed work 48 hours after DPS receives a substantially complete application, if your employer runs a background check.

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