TXDPS-PSB: Commissioned Security Officer (Level 3)

This State of Texas-mandated 45-hour course is required for all individuals wishing to work as a Commissioned Security Officer. The need for Uniformed, Armed Security Officers is on the rise and this course provides you with a great foundation to begin your career. Learn life-saving information and training to make you stand out as a prospective employee. No prior experience is required to take this course. You must complete the Non-Commissioned Security Officer training course and have a certificate and/or active license in hand. You cannot apply for registration until you complete the Level 2 course.

We certify you in OC/Pepper Spray, Baton, and Shotgun free of charge in this course. We also pay for all range fees for you and will re-certify you for free when your license comes up for renewal. You must provide ammo and your own weapon. Weapon rentals are available at the range.

​This course features:
- TXDPS-RSD Laws & Regulations
- Texas Penal Code & Code of Criminal Procedure information
- Notes & Report Writing
- Crime Scene Protection
- Officer Safety/Survival
- Use of Force, Criminal/Civil
- Conflict Resolution
- OODA
- Defensive Tactics
- Intro to Handcuffing, Baton, and OC
- Live Fire: Handgun & Shotgun

Register today and reach out if you have any questions regarding this course! If you want to know if you are possibly eligible for licensure, visit the DPS-RSD-PSB website by clicking HERE. Please note: It is a criminal offense to impersonate a security officer without a license. We do not issue security licenses—only the State of Texas, Department of Public Safety, Regulatory Services Division can do that.

Course Length: 45 hours | 

Cost: $230

TXDPS-PSB: Level 3 & Level 4 Re-qualification / Continuing Education

In accordance with the rules set forth in Chapter 1702 of the Texas Occupations Code, DPS-RSD requires that you attend and submit your renewal to them no later than 30 days prior to your license expiration date so they have time to process your renewal. As a re-qualification student, you are only required by the State of Texas to attend a six (6) hour block of instruction including a written exam and live fire range qualification. A portion of your training includes the Continuing Education requirement on “Ethics.”

Returning students of our Training Academy receive free re-qualifications if they can produce the issued certificate with coupon. We will re-qualify you on your chosen handgun and shotgun. Range fees are included in the cost of the course. You must provide your own handgun. You may rent one from the gun range. You must provide your own ammo.

Register today and reach out if you have any questions regarding this course! If you want to know if you are possibly eligible for licensure, visit the DPS-RSD-PSB website by clicking HERE. Please note: It is a criminal offense to impersonate a security officer without a license. We do not issue security licenses—only the State of Texas, Department of Public Safety, Regulatory Services Division can do that.

Course Length: 6 hours | Cost: $75 / Free (Previous students)

TXDPS-PSB: Baton

With the correct use of a baton, a security officer has the opportunity to prevent a dangerous and assaultive individual from possibly becoming a more serious threat to the security officer or others.

How to best utilize a baton to stop aggressive actions will be covered. The physical use of the baton is intended to stop the assaultive actions of an attacker. Once those actions cease, the security officer must recognize and utilize an appropriate force option that may become necessary. In order to carry a baton, you must be a Commissioned Security Officer and have gone through this state-approved course. 

Features of this course:
- Product options for batons
- Limitations of using this type of intermediate weapon
- Proper stance, drawing, and positioning of the equipment
- Blocks, strikes, jabs, counter Strikes, retention
- Minimizing injury and using proper amounts of force
- Texas use of force laws, self defense laws
- Proper reporting
- Hands-on, practical training with the various types of batons

Course Length: 4 hours | 

Cost: $30

TXDPS-PSB: OC / Pepper Spray

Pepper spray/OC spray is a less-lethal intermediate weapon which temporarily affects the skin, eyes, repertory systems, and mucus membranes of an attacker with the goal of reducing the likelihood of escalating force to the next option. In order to carry OC/Pepper Spray in a security capacity, at this time you must be a Commissioned Security Officer and have gone through this state-approved course. Non-security or law enforcement personnel are welcome to attend to gain helpful insight into using pepper spray in a self-defense capacity. We go above and beyond the state-mandated 2-hour curriculum to ensure adequate time for practice and so that each student has the best information in the industry.

You are NOT required to be exposed to successfully complete this course. If you require or desire exposure, please let us know and we can discuss options.

Features of this course:
- History of chemical weapons 
- Various types of chemical weapons used in law enforcement, as well as their effects, advantages, and disadvantages. 
- Properties of pepper spray. 
- Seps in deploying pepper spray. 
- Potential problems in the deployment of pepper spray, and how to avoid or minimize them. 
- Decontamination following pepper use. 
- Factors contributing to, signs indicating predisposition toward, and appropriate responses to minimize the probability of injury. 
- Legal challenges and liabilities in pepper use, and the impact of media coverage on community relations following pepper deployments by various agencies.
- Pepper spray deployment practice

Course Length: 4 hours | Cost: $30 

TCOLE Defensive Tactics

Participants will learn basic self defense tactics for all levels of resistance that can be used if attacked in the line of duty. This hands-on course requires all participants to be in good physical condition to successfully demonstrate defensive tactics as listed in the topics below. Participants should wear comfortable clothing appropriate for physical activity.

Features of this course:
- Physiological Responses to Stress
- Pain Compliance Techniques
- Stances and Blocks
- Impact and Stunning Blows
- Handcuffing
- Joint Locks and Grounding Techniques
- Vascular Restraint
- Baton Techniques
- Weapon Retention and Disarming

Course Length: 40 hours | 

Cost: $225

Self-Defense

Participants will learn basic self defense tactics that can be used in every day life. This class is great for individuals or groups. Classes hosted at our Training Academy will consist of various topics such as physiological responses to stress, stances and blocks, impact and stunning blows, and more! We can come to your location, as long as adequate space is provided, and customize a class that fits your group's needs for a training activity, team building, or professional development. Participants should wear comfortable clothing appropriate for physical activity. No previous experience is required.

Course Length: customized to need | Cost: inquire here 

National Rifle Association (NRA): Pistol

The NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting is intended for all individuals regardless of previous shooting experience or NRA-affiliation. In this traditional, instructor-led course, you will receive direct instruction from an NRA-certified instructor from beginning to end. Your experienced and credentialed instructor will work with you to ensure you are comfortable in the classroom and on the range. You will leave feeling more confident in your ability to handle firearms safely.

This is a great course prior to taking your License to Carry course! The LTC course is not a beginners firearm class, only a qualification course required by the State of Texas.

Range fees are included as a part of this course. You must provide your own firearm or rent one at the range at an additional cost. You must provide your own ammunition.

Features of this course:
- Essential gun safety rules
- Different types of pistols and which one is best for you
- The basics of ammunition
- The fundamentals of pistol shooting
- Different shooting positions
- The most common shooting errors
- Proper gun cleaning and maintenance
- How to maintain your skills
- Range qualification and instruction time

If you want to know if you are possibly eligible for licensure, visit the DPS-RSD website by clicking HERE. We do not issue LTC licenses—only the State of Texas, Department of Public Safety, Regulatory Services Division can do that. If you are interested in taking the LTC course, click HERE.

Course Length: 8 hours | 

Cost: $125

National Rifle Association (NRA): Shotgun

The NRA Basics of Shotgun Shooting is intended for all individuals regardless of previous shooting experience or NRA-affiliation. In this traditional, instructor-led course, you will receive direct instruction from an NRA-certified instructor from beginning to end. Your experienced and credentialed instructor will work with you to ensure you are comfortable in the classroom and on the range. You will leave feeling more confident in your ability to handle firearms safely.

This course is at least 10 hours long and includes classroom and range time learning how to shoot shotguns at moving and fixed targets. Shotguns are tools many use for hunting and home defense. It is important for all firearm users to be skilled and competent in each type of weapon they possess and plan to use. This is a great course for anyone wishing to learn basic shotgun skills.

Range fees are included as a part of this course. You must provide your own firearm or rent one at the range at an additional cost. You must provide your own ammunition.

Features of this course:
- Safe shotgun handling
- Shotgun parts and operation
- Shotgun shell components
- Shotgun shell malfunctions
- Shooting fundamentals
- Range rules
- Shooting at straight away and angled targets
- Shotgun cleaning
- Continued opportunities for skill development.

Course Length: 10 hours | Cost: $150 

National Rifle Association (NRA): Range Safety Officer

Range Safety Officers should be experienced shooters, involved in many aspects of target shooting, training and range supervision. RSO's are people who possess the knowledge, skills, and attitude essential to organizing, conducting, and supervising safe shooting activities and range operations.Students will learn a lot of information in this course and how to become responsible for the safety of fellow shooters through this program.

You do not have to be employed by a gun range to take this course. You do not have to be a firearms instructor to take this course. This course is taught by an experienced, credentialed instructor who is also a Chief Range Safety Officer for the NRA. You will gain valuable skills to keep yourself and others safe at the range.

Features of this course:
- Introduction to the NRA Basic Range Safety Officer Development Course
- The Role of the NRA Range Safety Officer and Range Standard Operating Procedures
- Range Inspection and Range Rules
- Range Safety Briefing
- Emergency Procedures
- Firearm Stoppages and Malfunctions
- Test and Review

Course Length: 9 hours | 

Cost: $130

Mental Health First Aid

Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.

The Mental Health First Aid course is appropriate for anyone 18 years and older who wants to learn how to help a person who may be experiencing a mental health related crisis or problem. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions. Mental Health First Aid teaches about recovery and resiliency – the belief that individuals experiencing these challenges can and do get better, and use their strengths to stay well.

When you take a course, you learn how to apply the Mental Health First Aid action plan in a variety of situations, including when someone is experiencing:
- Panic attacks
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- Non-suicidal self-injury
- Acute psychosis (e.g., hallucinations or delusions)
- Overdose or withdrawal from alcohol or drug use
- Reaction to a traumatic event

The opportunity to practice — through role plays, scenarios, and activities — makes it easier to apply these skills in a real-life situation.

Course Length: 9 hours | Cost: $50