Level III — Commissioned Security Officer Course (Armed)
Level III is the Texas commissioned officer license — the credential required to work armed. MLG's course combines the full state classroom curriculum online with the in-person firearms and self-defense training Texas law requires, taught by our licensed Level III and firearms instructors in the Rio Grande Valley.
Part 1 — Classroom Theory (Online)
The full DPS Level III curriculum: Texas law and commissioned officer authority, use of force and deadly force, arrest authority and limits, field notes and report writing, crime scene response, conflict resolution, and professional ethics — completed online at your own pace.
Part 2 — Skills (In Person, Required by Law)
Texas Occupations Code §1702.1675(g) requires these blocks face-to-face with a licensed instructor: handgun proficiency and the live course-of-fire, self-defense tactics, and firearms safety — 10–15 hours at our RGV range and training facility, scheduled when you finish Part 1.
Also Required for the License
MMPI evaluation — the psychological screening DPS requires of every commissioned officer (form PSP-13). Fingerprints and background check through DPS. Your certificate is the PSP-30, signed by both your classroom and firearms instructors, and your firearms proficiency must fall within 90 days of your DPS application date — we schedule Part 2 with that clock in mind.
Tuition: Announced when enrollment opens (theory and skills priced together — no surprises).
Eligibility — Read Before Enrolling
Under Texas law (HB 1508), a criminal history may make you ineligible for a commissioned security officer license, even after completing training. You have the right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the Texas DPS before enrolling. This course provides training and certification only — the license itself is issued solely by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Level III FAQ
No. Texas requires the complete course and the in-person proficiency demonstration for every commissioned officer applicant, regardless of prior service.
At MLG's training facility and range in the Mission / Rio Grande Valley area. When you finish the online theory, we schedule your skills days — bring the same government photo ID you enrolled with.
Yes — Level II is the prerequisite foundation for Level III, and both certificates go into your DPS application.