Level 4 is the Personal Protection Officer (PPO) course in Texas - the credential for working close personal protection, what most people call a bodyguard. It is regulated by the Texas DPS Private Security Bureau (DPS PSB) and requires that you already hold an active Level 3 commission, because a PPO works armed. TPSTA's Level 4 is $250, or you can take all three security courses together (Level 2 + Level 3 + Level 4) as a bundle for $500.
A Personal Protection Officer is trained to protect a specific person rather than a post or property - executives, public figures, or anyone who needs close protection. It is the top tier of private security in Texas and the training that separates a guard from a protection specialist.
Here is what Level 4 covers, what a PPO does, the prerequisites, the cost, and how the bundle works.
What you'll learn
Level 4 focuses on the skills of close personal protection, which are different from guarding a fixed location.
- Threat assessment and protective intelligence
- Advance work - surveying locations and routes before a principal arrives
- Protective formations, escorts, and safe movement of a principal
- Vehicle operations and secure transport basics
- The legal framework specific to personal protection work in Texas
What a PPO does
A Personal Protection Officer protects an individual - the principal - from harm, harassment, or embarrassment. That means planning ahead, controlling the environment around the principal, and being ready to respond to a threat instantly. Because a PPO works armed, the role sits on top of the Level 3 commission rather than replacing it.
Requirements to enroll
You must already hold an active Level 3 commission to take Level 4, since personal protection work is armed. You also need to meet the DPS Private Security Bureau standards - the background check, age, and firearm-eligibility requirements that come with a commission. The natural path is Level 2, then Level 3, then Level 4.
Cost and the bundle
Level 4 on its own is $250. If you are starting fresh, the smart move is our security bundle: Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 together for $500, which is a significant saving over paying for each course separately and takes you from no license all the way to Personal Protection Officer.
Schedule
Level 4 runs on a scheduled basis. Check the next available start above, and if you still need Level 2 or Level 3, ask us about the bundle so you can complete the full path in sequence.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How much does Level 4 PPO training cost?
Q. What is a Personal Protection Officer?
Q. What are the prerequisites for Level 4?
Q. How long is the Level 4 course?
Q. When does the next Level 4 class start?
Q. Is there a bundle discount?
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.