Texas Security License
Texas security licensing at a glance
Last verified October 15, 2026. Every fact below is taken from the state's own agency, statute or rule — the sources are linked under each one.
- Regulator
Texas Department of Public Safety, Regulatory Services Division - Private Security Program (https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/private-security)
- Company licence
Class B Security Services Contractor license (DPS: 'Security Contractor Company License', covering Guard and other categories). A business contracting to provide guard services acts as a 'guard company' (Occ. Code 1702.108) and needs this license.
- Qualifying manager
Company representative must pass a written DPS examination on Occ. Code ch. 1702 and 37 TAC ch. 35 (Occ. Code 1702.117). Experience requirement for a guard company: see unverified (sources conflict).
- Insurance or bond
General liability insurance (certificate countersigned by a Texas-licensed agent): $100,000 per occurrence bodily injury and property damage; $50,000 per occurrence personal injury; $200,000 aggregate (Occ. Code 1702.124). Filed on DPS form PSP-05.
- Renewal
Individual licenses/commissions: up to 2 years ('not later than the second anniversary' of issuance, Occ. Code 1702.301(b)); DPS states new individual licensees receive a 2-year expiration.
dps.texas.gov/psStatutesAndRules2024dps.texas.gov/individual-license-qu…
- Statute
Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 (Private Security Act); 37 Texas Administrative Code Part 1, Chapter 35.
dps.texas.gov/laws-and-regulationsdps.texas.gov/psStatutesAndRules2024
- Official forms
Company and individual applications are filed online through Texas Online Private Security (TOPS): https://tops.portal.texas.gov/psp-self-service/ . Certificate of Liability Insurance: PSP-05 (https://www.dps.texas.gov/InternetForms/Home/Details/1895). Other PSP forms: https://www.dps.texas.gov/InternetForms/Home/SectionDetails/36
Requirements change. Confirm anything you are about to act on with the agency itself before you apply, hire or train.
Licensing information is available from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Click below for information regarding a Texas security license.
Texas Department of Public Safety
Phone: (512) 424-7293
Starting a security company in Texas can be a lucrative business venture, but before you can get started, you need to obtain the necessary licenses and certifications. In Texas, security companies are regulated by the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Private Security Bureau, which oversees licensing and compliance for private security professionals.
To obtain a Texas security license, you must first meet certain requirements. You must be at least 18 years old, have no felony convictions, and be legally authorized to work in the United States.
The application process involves submitting your fingerprints for a criminal background check and providing proof of your training and work experience. You will also need to pay an application fee and provide proof of liability insurance.
After your application is approved, you will receive your Texas security license. This license allows you to work as a security officer, security consultant, or security manager in Texas.
As a licensed security professional in Texas, you can provide a range of services to businesses and individuals. You can provide security for events, patrol commercial or residential properties, or provide personal security services. With the right training and experience, you can build a successful security company in Texas and help protect your clients from harm.
The paperwork you need next
A licence lets you operate in Texas. Winning and keeping clients takes documents — a contract your client will sign, procedures your officers follow, and a handbook your employees acknowledge. Each is available on its own:
- security services contract template — Professionally written service contract that limits liability and binds the engagement.
- security company SOP manual — Your key to limiting liability — a guided hand for emergencies and daily operations.
- security employee handbook — Without a handbook, “past practice” becomes policy as a matter of law.
- security services proposal template — Avoid the painstaking task of proposal writing — the proposal that wins contracts.
- security subcontractor agreement — For engaging independent contractors and other licensed companies for contract work.