• Physical address:

  
  Texas Department of Public Safety
  5805 N. Lamar Blvd
  Austin, Texas 78752

  Private Security Bureau
  5806 Guadalupe, Building I
  Austin, Texas 78752

  Mail with money:
  Texas Department of Public Safety
  PO Box 15999
  Austin, Texas 78761

  Mail without money:
  Texas Department of Public Safety
  PO Box 4087
  Austin, Texas 78752

• Contact phone numbers:

  
  Main Phone #: (512) 424-7710
  Licensing Section Fax #: (512) 424-7726
  Criminal History Fax #: (512) 424-7729
  Investigations Fax #: (512) 424-7729
  Open Records & Bureau Manager Fax: (512) 424-7728
  Web site: www.txdps.state.tx/psb

• Class A – Private Investigation Company (Private Investigation services, including heir finders and unclaimed funds)
• Class B – Security Contractor License (Alarms Systems, including camera/closed circuit television systems (selling, installing and monitoring)).
• Class B – Security Contractor License (Guard services, including armed and unarmed guards)
• Class B – Security Contractor License (Armored Car or Courier Service)
• Class B – Security Contractor License (Locksmith services)
• Class C – Combination of Private Investigation & Security Contractor
• Class D – Electronic Access Control Device Company (note: Class B Combination of Electronic Access Control Device & Security Contractor)
• Class T – Telematic Company

• Please print out the license package (PDF) from our website. This package includes all of the forms and instructions that you will need for the applicable license type.
• For Private Business Letter of Authority, please print out the following from our website: www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb/forms/ Forms PSB-04, PSB-05 and PSB-11. This package includes all of the forms

• You can manually send in your documents by utilizing the appropriate address or:
• You can use our online service from our website: www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb/licenses.htm; or visit www.texasonline.com

• Company license – you can apply for an original license or renew your license.
• Individual license – you can apply for an original or renew your license.
• Employee Information Update (EIU) – you can update a license registration when an individual has changed employers, however this will not create a new pocket card.

• Individual license: 4-6 weeks (Note: time varies due to the following reasons: incomplete application, missing fingerprint cards, inappropriate fees submitted or missing training certificate)
• Company license: 6-8 weeks (Note: time varies due to the following reasons: incomplete application, missing documents, missing fingerprints, inappropriate fees submitted)

• A Company license expires every year on the last date of the expiration month.
• An Individual license expires every (2) years from the date of issuance.
• Note: A Branch Office license expires on the same date as the Parent Company license.
• A Personal Protection Officer license expires on the same date as a Commissioned Security Officer license.

Please visit our website at www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb. Look for the header called “Searches” for Company “Search Company and for Individual “Search Individual”.

The most common way to get the experience is to go to work for a licensed private investigations company. They will register you with the Private Security Bureau as their employee. After you have worked for a licensed company as their registered employee, you can meet the experience requirement. Legally obtained experience could also include full-time, paid employment as a peace officer or in the case of a private investigator insurance adjuster. The only education that is acceptable instead of the experience requirement is a four-year degree in Criminal Justice from an accredited college or university.

Yes, you must be employed by a licensed private security company before you can receive your license registration.

• A Company license renewal may not be processed online more than 60 days prior to the date of expiration.
• If you are within the renewal period and experience problems, please contact the Licensing Section at (512) 424-7710.

• If the registration has been expired for less than one year and the individual has changed employers, the new employer must submit the following: form PSB-14 (Employee Information Update), the $17.00 update fee, form PSB-17 (Individual Renewal), the renewal fee, late fee and subscription fee.
• Note: If the registration has been expired more than 6 months, the current employer must also submit 2 fingerprint cards and the $25.00 FBI fee.
• If the registration has been expired for more than one year, the current employer must submit an original application, 2 fingerprint cards, the registration fee, the FBI fee and the subscription fee.

In accordance with the Texas Administrative Code 37 TAC 35, Section 35.70 and as printed on our application submitted to the Bureau “Fees submitted to The Private Security Bureau are non-refundable or transferable”.

No. A new application must be submitted for the new registration type plus you must submit the appropriate fees.

• The license registration (pocket card) initially issued to you is a transferable card. Note: the new employer does not need to submit an original application.
• However, the new employer must complete and submit form PSB-14 (Employee Information Update).

Please complete and submit form PSB-37 (Request for Duplicate License) along with the $10.00 statutory fee.

• At the present time, termination for employees are not being accepted or entered into our database. However, please keep records of all terminations in your company files for inspection.
  
• The Licensing Section will process form PSB-19 (Notification of Termination for Owners, Corporate, Officers, Partners, Shareholders, Managers and Supervisors) as stated on this form.

No. The reinstatement fee must be mailed to the appropriate address. See form PSB-24 (Application for Reinstatement of Company License).

GSL-Lock means Government Student Loan and in order to clear up this matter, you will need to contact the Texas Government Student Loan Corporation at 1(800) 222-6297 or (512) 219-7337.

Please complete and submit form PSB-22 (Complaint Form) and fax to (512) 424-7729 or mail it to P O Box 4087, Austin, TX 78773. You can also obtain this form from our website at www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb/forms

Please submit a detailed request in writing to the Open Records Coordinator and fax this information to (512) 424-7728 or mail to Texas Department of Public Safety, PO Box 4087, Austin, TX 78773.

To obtain information on electronic fingerprinting please visit our website at www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb/news/PSBWebFingerprintingInstr.htm

Applicants are encouraged to review the eligibility criteria in Section 1702.113 of the Private Security Act, and Board administrative rules 35.42 through 35.46 (and all other provisions applicable to the specific license being sought).  These can be found at the link for “Statutes and Rules” http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb/statutuesandrules.htm

The eligibility criteria have recently changed.  Please refer to the materials provided elsewhere on this website, under the links for “New Legislation for PSB” http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb/legislation.htm and “Statutes and Rules” http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb/statutuesandrules.htm .  Specifically, we would suggest that you review the document entitled “New Eligibility Criteria,” which can be found at the link for “New Legislation for PSB.”

You may meet the eligibility requirements only if your pardon was granted for a wrongful conviction or proof of innocence.

• You may meet the eligibility requirements if you have successfully completed deferred adjudication probation.
• You are ineligible if you have not yet completed deferred adjudication probation.

No. A conviction “set-aside” and subsequent dismissal of the charges remains a conviction under Section 1702.371 of the Occupations Code.

Failure to comply is a Class A misdemeanor. If arrested and convicted, you will be disqualified until the 20th anniversary of your conviction.

No. The Private Security Bureau has suspended your license to work in the private security, locksmith or investigation industry.

No. Summary actions are based on disqualifying criminal histories, and the same criminal history criteria apply to all registrations under the Private Security Act.

According to the Occupations Code Chapter 1702, Section 1702.364 (a), the Private Security Bureau has the authority to summarily suspend a license or summarily deny an application on receiving written notice from the Texas Department of Public Safety or another law enforcement that an individual has been charged with a Class B misdemeanor, Class A misdemeanor or felony.

If you were charged with a misdemeanor, contact the County Clerk; or if the charge was classified as a felony, contact the District Clerk from the county of jurisdiction. You will need to request a copy of the final disposition, including the judgment, sentence or dismissal.

Yes. The notice letter facilitates the processing of your documents. If the letter has been lost, you will need to include your full name and date of birth on a cover sheet when faxing your documents.

Yes. We will need such documents in order to verify the disposition of the case. When submitting your original application, please attach your supporting court documents if you answered “yes” to having been arrested for a felony, Class A or Class B misdemeanor.

• Fax your court documents to the attention of the Criminal History Section at (512) 424-7729 or;
• Mail to the Private Security Bureau, PO Box 4087, Austin, Texas 78752
• Note: to ensure your documents are processed within 48 hours or 2 days after receipt, you must also include a copy of your order of summary suspension or denial. You may check your status by looking for the header “Searches” and select “Search Individual” on our website at www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb.

The Private Security Bureau will send a letter to you and your current employer requesting additional information.

• A letter of reinstatement will be sent to you and your employer.
• You may also check your status by looking for the header “Searches” and select “Search Individual” on our website at www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb.
• Note: If you recently faxed your documents, please allow two business days before checking our website for a status update.

Please read the following instructions on how to request for a hearing by visiting our website at www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb/HearingExplainedPSB5

Please complete and submit form PSB-22 (Complaint Form) and fax to (512) 424-7729 or mail it to P O Box 4087, Austin, TX 78773. You can also obtain this form from our website at www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb/forms

Please submit a detailed request in writing to the Open Records Coordinator and fax this information to (512) 424-7728 or mail to Texas Department of Public Safety, PO Box 4087, Austin, TX 78773.