Many of our customers who have attended classes elsewhere or work for different security providers have come to our courses with an overwhelming amount of questions, guidelines, and policies regarding recertification requirements – some of which are inaccurate or conflicting which each other.
TCTA wanted to provide quick and clear guidance as to the official process according to D.P.S.
- To renew any license with DPS you must go online using the Texas DPS T.O.P.S website, renew you license(s), and pay the fees to DPS no less than 30 days prior to the expiration date listed on your license.
- If you do not renew your licenses on time you will have to pay a late fee to DPS and you cannot work security on expired licenses.
- If you allow your licenses to sit expired for over 12 calendar months, DPS will NOT allow you to submit a renewal, as they will then require you to resubmit an “original application”.
- A Level 2 Noncommissioned license currently requires no Continuing Education course at all (sad but true). DPS only wants new fees, and they will mail you a new license.
- A Level 3 Commission license requires that you attend no less than six hours of Continuing Education which includes classroom, a written exam, range qualification, and now as of April 1st, 2024 Weaponless Defense again – yes it is on the form, it must be done. You then go online to the DPS -T.O.P.S site submit your renewal application, pay the DPS fees and upload a copy of your requalification certificate given by the school- then wait for the new pocket card to come in the mail to your home.
- A Level 4 PPO Bodyguard license Much like the Commission licenses requires a renewal and recertification course (usually done when you renew your Commission at the same time). Your Level 3 Commission license works hand-in-hand with your Level 4 Bodyguard license and expires on the same day. After your recertification course you then go online to the DPS -T.O.P.S site submit your renewal application, pay the fees and upload a copy of your requalification certificate- then wait for the new pocket card to come in the mail to your home. Texas DPS has been placing both the Level-3 Commission and the Level-4 Bodyguard on the same pocket card for years now. So, pay DPS twice, but you will get one card (nice).
Okay, now let’s talk about the certificates of completion that are issued from a Training Academy and how long they are good for.
- Your Level 3 Commission course certificate of completion is only good for 90 days after dated by the school. This is due to the fact that DPS wants to ensure that prior to processing your Commission license that you have been to the range and qualified in front of a licensed Instructor within the last 90 days.
- Your Level 4 PPO Bodyguard course certificate of completion, just like the Commission certificate, must be processed with DPS within 90 days of completion of your course or it is not valid.
- If you exceed 90 days – you 100% will have to come back and requalify to get a new certificates, instructor cannot just email or mail you a updated form- you must test and shoot again, so do not let this happen it it processed within 90 days.