Level III is what Texas requires before you can work armed. Under 37 Texas Administrative Code §35.141(a)(2), Level III training is the requirement for a Security Officer Commission — and it is also the training required for Level IV Personal Protection Officer work. This page covers Part 1, the classroom portion, which you complete online at your own pace.

Before you enroll: you need Level II first

Level III does not replace Level II — it builds on it. Per 37 TAC §35.81(a), a commission application requires copies of both your Level II and Level III certificates. If you have not done Level II yet, start with our Texas Level II Security Class and come back here.

It is also worth being clear about what the certificate does and does not do: completing Level III does not by itself let you work armed. You still have to be commissioned through the Texas DPS Regulatory Services Division and employed by a licensed company.

What Part 1 covers

The curriculum follows the Texas DPS instructor material. Part 1 is the classroom content:

• Law — Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 14.01 (when a warrantless arrest is permitted — a felony or breach of the peace committed in your presence or view), Art. 18.16 (recovering stolen property and detaining a suspect), and Texas Penal Code §30.05, Criminal Trespass, including what legally counts as notice — signage, purple paint markings, fencing, or spoken and written communication.
• Field notes and report writing — the eight qualities every officer’s report needs, and the difference between a narrative report and a pre-printed form.
• Crime scene procedure — protecting evidence with barriers, and understanding that in Texas a security officer has no authority to collect evidence beyond recovering stolen property. The chapter on contaminated scenes is there for a reason.
• Use of force — the five force options, from professional presence through deadly force, taught through the Dynamic Resistance Response Model. The model keys your response to the subject’s level of resistance rather than to your own judgment in the moment, which is exactly what you want when the incident is later reviewed.

The exam

The written exam requires a minimum passing grade of 75% under 37 TAC §35.144(c). Note that this is higher than the 70% used for a License to Carry — people who have taken an LTC course sometimes assume the same standard applies here. It does not.

Then comes Part 2, in person

Part 1 does not finish your Level III. Once the online portion is done you attend Part 2, a hands-on day covering defensive tactics, handcuffing, baton, firearms handling and the firearms proficiency exam on the range.

The proficiency course of fire is close to the LTC qualification, with one useful difference: under 37 TAC §35.146 you have the option to qualify with a shotgun as well as a handgun. Part 2 runs the first Sunday of every month, 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and is limited to 15 seats. It is booked and paid for separately — see the class schedule.

What you receive

• A certificate of completion (PSP 30) to submit with your commission application
• Instruction from a DPS-approved school with DPS-approved instructors — Level III material must come from DPS and be taught by an approved instructor, so there is no in-house shortcut here
• Coursework that works on any device, started and stopped whenever you have time

Price: $99.99 — online Part 1 only

This price covers the online classroom portion only. The in-person Part 2 range day is $149.99 and is booked separately. Texas DPS licensing and commission application fees are separate again and are paid to the state, not to us.

Taking the whole path? The Security Career Fastrack bundles Level II, Level III Parts 1 and 2, OC certification and Level IV into one enrollment.

Common questions about Level III

Still deciding? Read the full FAQ or browse all ETXSTA courses.