Texas DPS Private Security Bureau Exam Prep: 150 Master
Q&As (Levels II, III, IV Laws & Regulations)
Master the Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 and
ace your licensing requirements with this comprehensive,
150-question mock exam test bank. Each realistic practice
question features a clear correct answer alongside a
highly detailed, italicized rationale designed to reinforce
state laws, uniform codes, and use-of-force protocols.
Perfect for individual guards, private investigators, and
security company managers looking to guarantee a
passing score and fast-track their TOPS portal approval.
Question 1: Which tier of security training is required in Texas to become a Commissioned
(Armed) Security Officer?
A) Level I
B) Level II
C) Level III
D) Level IV
• Answer: C
• Rationale: Level III training covers firearms qualification, defense tactics, and handgun
safety required for an armed commission. Level II is for unarmed guards, and Level IV
is for Personal Protection Officers (bodyguards)
Question 2: What is the primary name of the Texas statute that outlines the laws governing
private security?
A) Texas Penal Code Chapter 46
B) Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 14
C) Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702
D) Texas Administrative Code Title 37
• Answer: C
, • Rationale: Chapter 1702 of the Texas Occupations Code is known as the Private Security
Act, which forms the legal backbone for all security regulations in the state.
Question 3: Which portal must be used by applicants to submit licensing fees, manage
renewals, and link affiliations?
A) TOPS Portal
B) TCOLE Portal
C) TxDMV Hub
D) WorkInTexas Portal
• Answer: A
• Rationale: The Texas Online Private Security (TOPS) portal is the official electronic licensing
system managed by the Department of Public Safety.
Question 4: What training tier is required to work as an Unarmed (Non-Commissioned)
Security Officer in Texas?
A) Level I
B) Level II
C) Level III
D) Level IV
• Answer: B
• Rationale: Level II training is the mandatory foundational course that all unarmed, non-
commissioned security officers must complete.
Question 5: What training tier must be completed to legally carry a handgun as a
Commissioned Security Officer?
A) Level II only
B) Level III
C) Level IV
D) Level V
• Answer: B
• Rationale: The Level III training course includes the classroom instruction and firearms
qualification needed to earn a security officer commission (armed status).
Question 6: A Personal Protection Officer (PPO) in Texas is required to complete which level of
security training?
A) Level II
B) Level III
C) Level IV
D) Level V
• Answer: C
• Rationale: Level IV training builds upon armed security training to teach bodyguards
personal protection, escorting tactics, and defensive strategies.
,Question 7: To legally apply for a Level IV Personal Protection Officer license, what
prerequisite must the applicant already meet?
A) They must hold an active real estate license.
B) They must have a Level II license only.
C) They must hold or be concurrently applying for a Level III Commissioned license.
D) They must have 10 years of military experience.
• Answer: C
• Rationale: A PPO license cannot exist independently; the applicant must have an active
Level III Commissioned (Armed) license to qualify for Level IV.
Question 8: What psychological assessment is legally mandated for all armed Commissioned
Security Officer applicants?
A) Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
B) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
C) Stanford-Binet Test
D) Rorschach Inkblot Test
• Answer: B
• Rationale: The MMPI evaluation ensures the psychological and emotional fitness of an
applicant before they are approved to carry a firearm on duty.
Question 9: Who is legally permitted to administer and score the psychological evaluation
required for Texas armed guards?
A) A Level IV Security Instructor
B) The owner of the security company
C) A licensed psychologist or psychiatrist
D) Any notary public
• Answer: C
• Rationale: Under DPS rules, only a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist can administer,
score, and sign off on the required mental fitness declaration.
Question 10: How old must an applicant be to qualify for a Level III Commissioned (Armed)
Security Officer license?
A) 18 years old
B) 21 years old
C) 25 years old
D) 16 years old
• : Answer B
• Rationale: Texas law dictates that armed security officers must be at least 21 years of age to
be commissioned, aligning with state handgun purchase laws.
Question 11: What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a Level II Unarmed (Non-
Commissioned) Security Officer license?
, A) 16 years old
B) 18 years old
C) 21 years old
D) 25 years old
• Answer: B
• Rationale: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to hold a basic unarmed security
license and work in the industry.
Question 12: Which background check mechanism is mandatory for all private security
individual registrants in Texas?
A) A local police record printout only
B) A credit score check
C) A fingerprint-based FBI and state background check
D) A verbal reference check
• Answer: C
• Rationale: All licenses require automated fingerprint processing through the approved state
vendor to clear state and federal criminal databases.
Question 13: If an applicant has been convicted of a Class A misdemeanor, how many years
must pass from the date of conviction before they can hold a security license?
A) 1 year
B) 5 years
C) 10 years
D) They are permanently disqualified
• Answer: B
• Rationale: Under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702, a Class A misdemeanor
conviction creates a Class A disqualifier period lasting 5 years from the conviction date.
Question 14: What type of criminal offense results in a permanent disqualification from
holding any license with the Private Security Bureau?
A) A Class C traffic ticket
B) A Class B misdemeanor
C) Any felony conviction
D) A civil contract dispute
• Answer: C
• Rationale: Felony convictions create a permanent bar against obtaining a private security
registration or license under Texas regulations.
Question 15: If an unarmed guard changes their residential address, within how many days
must they report this change to the DPS via TOPS?
A) 7 days
B) 14 days
Q&As (Levels II, III, IV Laws & Regulations)
Master the Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 and
ace your licensing requirements with this comprehensive,
150-question mock exam test bank. Each realistic practice
question features a clear correct answer alongside a
highly detailed, italicized rationale designed to reinforce
state laws, uniform codes, and use-of-force protocols.
Perfect for individual guards, private investigators, and
security company managers looking to guarantee a
passing score and fast-track their TOPS portal approval.
Question 1: Which tier of security training is required in Texas to become a Commissioned
(Armed) Security Officer?
A) Level I
B) Level II
C) Level III
D) Level IV
• Answer: C
• Rationale: Level III training covers firearms qualification, defense tactics, and handgun
safety required for an armed commission. Level II is for unarmed guards, and Level IV
is for Personal Protection Officers (bodyguards)
Question 2: What is the primary name of the Texas statute that outlines the laws governing
private security?
A) Texas Penal Code Chapter 46
B) Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 14
C) Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702
D) Texas Administrative Code Title 37
• Answer: C
, • Rationale: Chapter 1702 of the Texas Occupations Code is known as the Private Security
Act, which forms the legal backbone for all security regulations in the state.
Question 3: Which portal must be used by applicants to submit licensing fees, manage
renewals, and link affiliations?
A) TOPS Portal
B) TCOLE Portal
C) TxDMV Hub
D) WorkInTexas Portal
• Answer: A
• Rationale: The Texas Online Private Security (TOPS) portal is the official electronic licensing
system managed by the Department of Public Safety.
Question 4: What training tier is required to work as an Unarmed (Non-Commissioned)
Security Officer in Texas?
A) Level I
B) Level II
C) Level III
D) Level IV
• Answer: B
• Rationale: Level II training is the mandatory foundational course that all unarmed, non-
commissioned security officers must complete.
Question 5: What training tier must be completed to legally carry a handgun as a
Commissioned Security Officer?
A) Level II only
B) Level III
C) Level IV
D) Level V
• Answer: B
• Rationale: The Level III training course includes the classroom instruction and firearms
qualification needed to earn a security officer commission (armed status).
Question 6: A Personal Protection Officer (PPO) in Texas is required to complete which level of
security training?
A) Level II
B) Level III
C) Level IV
D) Level V
• Answer: C
• Rationale: Level IV training builds upon armed security training to teach bodyguards
personal protection, escorting tactics, and defensive strategies.
,Question 7: To legally apply for a Level IV Personal Protection Officer license, what
prerequisite must the applicant already meet?
A) They must hold an active real estate license.
B) They must have a Level II license only.
C) They must hold or be concurrently applying for a Level III Commissioned license.
D) They must have 10 years of military experience.
• Answer: C
• Rationale: A PPO license cannot exist independently; the applicant must have an active
Level III Commissioned (Armed) license to qualify for Level IV.
Question 8: What psychological assessment is legally mandated for all armed Commissioned
Security Officer applicants?
A) Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
B) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
C) Stanford-Binet Test
D) Rorschach Inkblot Test
• Answer: B
• Rationale: The MMPI evaluation ensures the psychological and emotional fitness of an
applicant before they are approved to carry a firearm on duty.
Question 9: Who is legally permitted to administer and score the psychological evaluation
required for Texas armed guards?
A) A Level IV Security Instructor
B) The owner of the security company
C) A licensed psychologist or psychiatrist
D) Any notary public
• Answer: C
• Rationale: Under DPS rules, only a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist can administer,
score, and sign off on the required mental fitness declaration.
Question 10: How old must an applicant be to qualify for a Level III Commissioned (Armed)
Security Officer license?
A) 18 years old
B) 21 years old
C) 25 years old
D) 16 years old
• : Answer B
• Rationale: Texas law dictates that armed security officers must be at least 21 years of age to
be commissioned, aligning with state handgun purchase laws.
Question 11: What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a Level II Unarmed (Non-
Commissioned) Security Officer license?
, A) 16 years old
B) 18 years old
C) 21 years old
D) 25 years old
• Answer: B
• Rationale: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to hold a basic unarmed security
license and work in the industry.
Question 12: Which background check mechanism is mandatory for all private security
individual registrants in Texas?
A) A local police record printout only
B) A credit score check
C) A fingerprint-based FBI and state background check
D) A verbal reference check
• Answer: C
• Rationale: All licenses require automated fingerprint processing through the approved state
vendor to clear state and federal criminal databases.
Question 13: If an applicant has been convicted of a Class A misdemeanor, how many years
must pass from the date of conviction before they can hold a security license?
A) 1 year
B) 5 years
C) 10 years
D) They are permanently disqualified
• Answer: B
• Rationale: Under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702, a Class A misdemeanor
conviction creates a Class A disqualifier period lasting 5 years from the conviction date.
Question 14: What type of criminal offense results in a permanent disqualification from
holding any license with the Private Security Bureau?
A) A Class C traffic ticket
B) A Class B misdemeanor
C) Any felony conviction
D) A civil contract dispute
• Answer: C
• Rationale: Felony convictions create a permanent bar against obtaining a private security
registration or license under Texas regulations.
Question 15: If an unarmed guard changes their residential address, within how many days
must they report this change to the DPS via TOPS?
A) 7 days
B) 14 days
