Level 3 is the commissioned security officer course in Texas - the training that lets you carry a firearm while working security. It is a 35-hour course regulated by the Texas DPS Private Security Bureau (DPS PSB) that includes classroom instruction and live firearms qualification. TPSTA's Level 3 is $350, and it requires that you already hold Level 2. Complete it and you are eligible for a commissioned security officer license.
Commissioned means armed. A commissioned officer can be posted where an armed presence is required - banks, high-value sites, hospitals, patrol - and generally earns more than an unarmed guard. This is the step that opens the higher-paying security work and the path into personal protection.
Here is what Level 3 covers, the hours, what commissioned actually means, the prerequisites, and when the next class runs.
What you'll learn
Level 3 builds on Level 2 with the legal and practical training required to carry a firearm on duty, and it culminates in a live-fire qualification on the range.
- Texas law on the use of force and deadly force by a commissioned officer
- Firearm safety, handling, storage, and maintenance
- Marksmanship and live-fire qualification on the range
- Judgment, de-escalation, and when force is and is not justified
- The added legal responsibility that comes with being armed on a post
Requirements to enroll
You must already hold your Level 2 non-commissioned certification, be at least 18 (21 is commonly required to be commissioned and armed on duty), and be able to pass the DPS Private Security Bureau background check. You also cannot be legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. Because there is a live-fire component, you must be able to safely handle and qualify with a handgun.
What 'commissioned' means
In Texas security licensing, commissioned means armed. A Level 3 commissioned security officer is authorized to carry a firearm while on duty, which is why the training includes firearms qualification and a deeper block on use-of-force law. That authority carries real legal weight, and the course is built to make sure you understand it.
Cost and delivery
Tuition is $350 for the full 35-hour course, including the firearms qualification. The classroom instruction is paired with in-person range time, since you cannot certify to carry a firearm without qualifying live. We run Level 3 on a scheduled basis - check the next class date above.
What comes next
With Level 3 you can work armed security posts and pursue the Level 4 Personal Protection Officer course to move into executive and personal protection - the highest tier of private security work in Texas.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How much does Level 3 security training cost?
Q. How many hours is the Level 3 course?
Q. What does 'commissioned' mean?
Q. Do I need Level 2 before Level 3?
Q. Is Level 3 DPS-approved?
Q. When is the next Level 3 class?
Ready to get started?
Seats fill on a first-come basis. Apply now and a real person from the Bastrop team will follow up, usually within one business day.