State-Approved Private Security Academy
Training School License #F31037201
Guard Company License #B31072001
State-Approved Private Security Academy
Training School License #F31037201
Guard Company License #B31072001
Clear, direct answers to the most common questions about Texas security officer training, state licensing requirements, and the Guardian 6 Protection enrollment process.
No, and we are transparent about that distinction. Guardian 6 Protection provides your state-required training and issues your official training certificate upon completion. The Texas DPS issues your security license separately, following review of your TOPS application, IdentoGO background check, and, for armed applicants, your MMPI psychological evaluation. Your license must also be affiliated with a licensed security company in TOPS before it is active. Guardian 6 Protection provides structured guidance through each of those steps.
Yes. Level II Non-Commissioned Security Officer training is a mandatory prerequisite for Level III. When you submit your armed security officer application through the TOPS portal, both your Level II and Level III certificates of completion must be included together. Texas DPS requires training to be completed in sequential order. Level II covers foundational legal responsibilities and field rules that Level III builds directly upon.
No. You can enroll in Level II, III, and IV training independently without being employed first. However, once you complete training, your license cannot be activated in TOPS until it is officially affiliated with a licensed security company. Guardian 6 Protection is available to assist candidates in navigating that requirement.
Yes. For Level III candidates who have completed their online curriculum through another DPS-approved provider, Guardian 6 Protection offers a standalone in-person qualification option covering graded defensive tactics and live-fire firearms proficiency. Contact us for scheduling and pricing.
Yes. The online and in-person components of Level III can be completed through different DPS-approved providers. The in-person instructor must hold the appropriate Texas DPS license to administer the Level III practical module.
Level II is a 6-hour self-paced online course. Level III includes a 35-hour online classroom (self-paced) plus a mandatory 10-hour in-person range and defensive tactics session. Level IV is a minimum 15-hour in-person course. Renewal requires 6 hours of online CE plus a live-fire range requalification.
Under HB 3424, effective January 1, 2024, all Level III armed security candidates must complete a minimum of 10 hours of in-person instruction with a state-approved instructor. This practical module must include live weaponless defensive tactics and a graded live-fire firearms qualification with a 9mm or .38 caliber handgun. These requirements cannot be completed online and must be conducted at a DPS-approved venue.
No. Under Texas Occupations Code Section 1702.113, a personal License to Carry does not authorize the performance of private security duties. Armed security officers are required to hold an active Level III Commissioned Security Officer license issued by the Texas DPS and affiliated with a licensed security company through TOPS.
Any felony conviction or active warrant is an automatic disqualifier. Class A misdemeanor convictions carry a 20-year disqualification window from the date of conviction. Class B misdemeanor convictions carry a 5-year disqualification period, with limited exceptions. We recommend reviewing your eligibility under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 53 before enrolling.
TOPS stands for Texas Online Private Security. It is the state’s official online system used to submit security officer license applications, track certification status, and manage company and officer affiliations. All Texas private security licensing activity is processed through TOPS.
IdentoGO is the state’s authorized fingerprinting vendor. All Texas security officer applicants are required to complete an FBI-based fingerprint background check through IdentoGO as part of the DPS licensing process.
The MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) is a psychological evaluation that satisfies the state’s required psychological health declaration for Level III and Level IV applicants. It must be administered by a licensed psychologist and submitted to the state (Form PSP-13) alongside your training certificate. Guardian 6 Protection can assist with coordinating this requirement.
The minimum age for an unarmed (Level II) security officer position is 18 years old. The minimum age for an armed (Level III or Level IV) security officer position is 21 years old.
Volunteer church security teams may qualify for an exemption from state licensing under Texas Occupations Code Section 1702.333. To qualify, team members must be unpaid volunteers, operate strictly on house of worship premises, and must not wear any uniform or badge containing the word ‘security’ or resembling law enforcement. Consult with legal counsel or contact the Texas DPS directly to confirm the full exemption criteria before acting on this information.
Texas private security licenses must be renewed every two years. Renewal can be submitted up to 180 days before your expiration date. We recommend starting the process early to allow time for CE completion, range scheduling, and TOPS submission.
Renewal requires completing six hours of DPS-approved continuing education and passing a written exam. Commissioned (armed) officers complete Level III CE. Personal Protection Officers (PPOs) may complete either the Level III CE course or the Level IV CE course. Note: the Level IV CE course does not include firearms content. Regardless of which CE course a PPO completes, a live-fire range requalification is also required. The firearms proficiency certificate must be submitted to TOPS within 90 days of the renewal application date.
Yes. The 6-hour CE course is available online and can be completed at your own pace. The live-fire range requalification must be completed in person at a DPS-approved range in the DFW area.
Texas DPS allows renewal for up to one year after a license expires. If your license has been expired for more than one year, renewal is no longer available; you must submit a new original application through TOPS. Contact Guardian 6 Protection as soon as possible if your license is approaching expiration or has already lapsed, as the process and requirements differ depending on how long ago it expired.
Yes. Guardian 6 Protection’s automated system tracks enrolled officers’ certification expiration dates and sends reminder notifications at 120 days and at 90 days before expiration.
Yes. Guardian 6 Protection LLC is licensed by the Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Program as a Level 3 and Level 4 Training School (License #F31037201) and as a Guard Company (License #B31072001). All courses are developed and administered in accordance with current DPS-approved curriculum guidelines.
Yes. Training certificates issued by Guardian 6 Protection are recognized by the Texas DPS across all 254 counties of the State of Texas.
After completing your training, Guardian 6 Protection provides structured guidance through the state licensing process, including assistance with the TOPS application, coordinating IdentoGO fingerprinting, and contacting DPS agencies on your behalf as needed. Our automated system also tracks your certification expiration and sends renewal reminders at 120 days and again at 90 days before expiration.
Online courses are available statewide across all 254 Texas counties. In-person training, including Level III range and defensive tactics qualification and Level IV personal protection instruction, is currently offered in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.