Texas security guard requirements

To work as a security guard in Texas, a person needs a noncommissioned security officer license from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Private Security Program and must work for a licensed company. Unarmed officers complete Level II training; armed officers need a security officer commission with at least 30 hours of Level III training and a handgun proficiency test. Licenses last two years, and commissioned officers need 6 hours of continuing education and a new proficiency test for each renewal.

Checked against official sources on October 12, 2026. Rules and fees change; confirm with Texas DPS, Private Security Program. This is not legal advice.

Who regulates security guards in Texas

Texas DPS, Private Security Program

License

Unarmed: Noncommissioned Security Officer License (valid 2 years)
Armed: Security Officer Commission (armed); Personal Protection Officer License (with a commission)
Unarmed officers may start 48 hours after fingerprints and a complete application, once the employer has checked the DPS criminal history and sex offender sites and kept the results. Armed officers may not work until the commission is issued.

Required training

Course	Hours	When
Level II security officer training	—	Before licensing (certificate goes with the application)
Level III commissioned officer training (armed)	30	Before the commission is issued (at least 30 hours, incl. 10 to 15 hours of in-person handgun training)
Level IV personal protection officer training (armed)	15	Before the PPO license (in person)
6-hour continuing education (armed)	6	Each 2-year renewal (commissioned officers and PPOs)
Firearm proficiency qualification (armed)	—	Within 90 days before each 2-year commission renewal

Pay rules

Minimum wage: $7.25. Texas pays the federal minimum wage, $7.25.
Overtime: time and a half after 40 hours a week.
Meal and rest breaks: No meal or rest breaks are required for adults under state law.
Paid sick leave: No statewide paid sick leave law.

What the employer must do

Report to Texas DPS within 14 days of a hire (employee license update). Within 14 days of hiring an already-licensed officer. Terminations for rule violations are reported within 14 days with evidence; ordinary terminations are entered in TOPS (no deadline).
Before an unlicensed hire works unarmed, check the DPS criminal history and sex offender registry sites and keep the results in the employee file.
Report an on-duty firearm discharge to DPS in writing within 24 hours.
Keep employee, background-check and business records (contracts, timesheets, invoices, schedules) for 2 years.
Unarmed officers have no continuing education requirement.
No state paid sick leave; Labor Code 1.005 voids city and county leave ordinances for private employers.

How Guardlantern tracks this

Each officer’s license expiration, the training deadlines above, pay below the state minimum, the state’s overtime rules and the employer reports are tracked automatically. An expired license blocks the officer from being scheduled or clocking in; training deadlines raise warnings before they are due.

Frequently asked questions

What training does a security guard need in Texas?

Level II security officer training (before licensing (certificate goes with the application)).

How long is a Texas security guard license valid?

The Noncommissioned Security Officer License is valid for 2 years. Unarmed officers may start 48 hours after fingerprints and a complete application, once the employer has checked the DPS criminal history and sex offender sites and kept the results. Armed officers may not work until the commission is issued.

What is the minimum wage in Texas?

$7.25 an hour. Overtime: time and a half after 40 hours a week.

Sources

Stop tracking this in a spreadsheet.

Guardlantern blocks non-compliant shifts before they’re published.

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