Change to Enforcement Procedures for Commissioned Security Officers and Personal Protection Officers
June 6, 2025
If the status of a Commissioned Security Officer or Personal Protection Officer licensee in TOPS is ACTIVE and the licensee is waiting on the pocket card to be produced and received by mail, they may begin working. Until the pocket card is received, the licensee must possess a screen shot or print out from TOPS as proof of their ACTIVE status. This allowance is only provided for the temporary period from the time the license has been approved and delivered to the licensee. Once the pocket card has been delivered, the licensee must have it in their possession when working, as required by administrative rule.
New Private Security Training Material Now Available
February 12, 2024
New Level II and Level III training materials are now available on the Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security website at:
https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/private-security/instructor-and-training-school-resources. Active licensed training schools and instructors may begin using the new material immediately and will be required to use the new Level II and III curriculum by April 1, 2024.
In addition, new training certificates of completion are now available for all courses at https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/private-security/forms and can begin being used immediately. Please note, effective April 1, 2024, the department will only accept the newly revised training certificates.
The Level II training material is limited to active Private Security licensed guard companies, training schools, and instructors and is password protected. The password for the level II training material was sent in a separate email.
The Level III material is limited to active Private Security licensed training schools and instructors and is password protected. Active Private Security licensed training schools and instructors can access the training material using their previously issued password.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) are available at https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/private-security/private-security-frequently-asked-questions-faqs. For questions not answered in the FAQs, please visit https://www.dps.texas.gov/rsd/contact/Contact?sProgram=PS to submit your question in writing.
Eligibility and Training Requirements for Commissioned Security Officers and Personal Protection Officers
January 1, 2024
Effective January 1, 2024, HB 3424 requires:
• All Handgun proficiency and self-defense courses must be completed in-person with an on-site instructor approved by the Department.
• All level IV training courses must be completed in-person with an on-site instructor approved by the Department.
• All original and renewing applicants for a commissioned security officer license are required to complete the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI).
- If an individual is currently licensed as a personal protection officer and commissioned security officer, we will use the MMPI on file to satisfy the requirement to submit the MMPI when they renew the commission license.
• Self-defense tactics must be included as part of the level III training for commissioned security officers and personal protection officers. (The self-defense tactics were previously included in the training material; HB 3424 makes it a requirement.)
For more information regarding HB 3424 please visit https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/private-security/88th-legislation and https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/private-security/private-security-frequently-asked-questions-faqs.