Texas Armed Security Recertification — Part 1, 100% Online
Keep your Security Officer Commission current. Refresh the classroom material online, then requalify on the range.
If you already hold a Security Officer Commission, this is the course that keeps it current. It is built for officers who have done this before — it moves quickly, skips the entry-level material, and focuses on what has changed and what people get wrong in the field.
Continuing education for commissioned officers is governed by 37 TAC §35.161. Check the expiration date printed on your own commission and start this well before it — letting a commission lapse is a far bigger problem than renewing it.
A note on Level III and Level IV
These two get mixed up constantly, including on a lot of Texas training websites, so to be precise:
- Level III is what a Security Officer Commission requires — armed security work in general (37 TAC §35.141(a)(2)).
- Level IV is not a higher grade of commissioned officer. It is specifically the Personal Protection Officer course for bodyguard and executive protection work, and it carries its own endorsement requirements.
This recertification covers the commissioned security officer material. If you also hold a PPO endorsement, that has separate requirements — ask us and we will point you the right way.
What the online portion refreshes
- Law — Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 14.01 and Art. 18.16, and Penal Code §30.05 Criminal Trespass, including what counts as notice: signage, purple paint markings, fencing, spoken or written communication.
- Field notes and report writing — the eight qualities of a usable report, and narrative versus pre-printed formats. Reports are what hold up months later when someone asks what happened.
- Crime scene procedure — protecting evidence with barriers, and the limits of your authority: in Texas a security officer does not collect evidence beyond recovering stolen property.
- Use of force — the five force options and the Dynamic Resistance Response Model, which ties your response to the subject’s level of resistance. This is the section worth re-reading properly rather than clicking through.
Then Part 2, in person
The online portion does not complete your renewal. You also attend an in-person Part 2 covering defensive tactics, firearms handling and the firearms proficiency requalification on the range. That session is $60 and is booked separately.
What you receive
- A certificate of completion (PSP 31) for your renewal paperwork
- Training from a DPS-approved school with DPS-approved instructors
- Self-paced coursework on any device — fit it around shift work
Price: $39.99 — online Part 1 only
The in-person range requalification is $60, booked separately, bringing the full renewal to $99.99. Texas DPS renewal fees are paid to the state and are not included.
Common questions
When should I start my renewal?
Well before the expiration date on your commission. Continuing education requirements sit in 37 TAC §35.161, and the range session only runs on scheduled dates with limited seats — so leaving it to the last week is how people end up unable to work.
Is the online part enough on its own?
No. You must also complete the in-person Part 2, including the firearms proficiency requalification.
Do I need to retake Level II?
No. This is a renewal for officers who already hold a commission, not the initial licensing path.
Does this renew a Level IV / PPO endorsement?
This course covers commissioned security officer material. A Personal Protection Officer endorsement has its own separate requirements — contact us and we will tell you exactly what you need.
What if my commission has already expired?
Get in touch before enrolling. Depending on how long it has lapsed, the route back may not be a simple renewal, and we would rather tell you that up front than sell you the wrong course.
More questions? See the full FAQ or browse all ETXSTA courses.