Texas Private Security and Private Investigation Licensing Guide

Texas maintains a centralized, statewide licensing regime for private security and private investigation services under the Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1702. Licensing is administered by the Texas Department of Public Safety through the Private Security Program.

Chapter 1702 regulates private investigation companies, security services contractors, alarm companies, armored car companies, guard companies, and related private security functions. The statute provides for licensure of business entities and registration or commissioning of individual security officers and investigators.

Security officers must be registered with a licensed company. Commissioned security officers and personal protection officers are subject to additional firearms training and authorization requirements administered under Chapter 1702.

Licensure or registration is required prior to engaging in regulated services. Both business entities and individual personnel are regulated at the state level.

Firearms licensing for general concealed carry is governed under separate provisions of Texas law and is not itself a private security or private investigation license.

Regulation of private security and private investigation services is centralized at the state level.

Texas regulates private investigation and private security under a unified statutory framework administered by the Department of Public Safety.

Business entities must be licensed under Chapter 1702. Individual security officers and private investigators must be registered or commissioned under a licensed company.

Armed security authorization is embedded within Chapter 1702 and does not replace required business licensure or individual registration.