Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (TBFAA)

What Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (TBFAA) does

Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (TBFAA) is a not-for-profit statewide trade association headquartered in Texas (Dallas per firmographics, with a mailing address in Austin) that represents electronic security, fire alarm, and integrated systems professionals. Member companies include licensed alarm dealers, contractors, integrators, central stations, and manufacturers/suppliers, with a free membership tier available for public safety partners. TBFAA operates through four regional chapters — HGCAA (Houston Gulf Coast), NTAA (North Texas), STAA (South Texas), and RGV (Rio Grande Valley) — and is an automatic member of the National Electronic Security Alliance (NESA), extending reach to federal legislative monitoring.

TBFAA generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues ($350 for Regular and Applicant Members, $425 for Associate Members, $600 for Central Station Members, with Public Safety Partner membership free), paid online training courses, and annual convention sponsorships. The Texas Online Alarm Training platform (training.tbfaa.org), built on WordPress/WooCommerce, delivers Texas DPS-approved certification programs (License #0104 for the Texas Alarm Level I course; License #Y04078601 for continuing education) plus the Fire Exam Prep Course for Texas Fire Marshal exams (TFM11-14). Course fees range from $25 to $400 depending on member status and program tier, with member discounts of $100 on licensing classes and $10 per CEU.

Beyond training, TBFAA delivers legislative and regulatory advocacy before the Texas Private Security Bureau, the State Fire Marshal, and the Texas Secretary of State, and recently issued SB140 telemarketing compliance guidance effective September 1, 2025. Member benefits include the Savings4Members collective buying program, an insurance partnership with RCM&D offering general liability, dental, and life coverage, free contract templates, and an annual convention and trade show. TBFAA is led by Executive Director Brad Shipp and President Mary Edmonson, supported by a board of regional directors and chapter presidents.

Name

Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (TBFAA)

Legal name

Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Association, Inc.

Website

https://tbfaa.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (TBFAA) is a not-for-profit statewide trade association serving licensed electronic security, fire alarm, and integrated systems companies in Texas through membership dues, DPS-approved online training, legislative advocacy, regional chapters, and an annual convention.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from Regular Members ($350), Central Station Members ($600), Associate Members ($425), and Applicant Members ($350). Public Safety Partner membership is free. This forms the core revenue stream supporting association operations and advocacy activities.
2. Training Courses: Online certification and CEU courses including Texas Alarm Level I ($375 non-member), Texas Fire Exam Prep Course ($400), and various CEU courses ($35 each). Members receive $100 discount on licensing courses and $10 discount on CEU courses. Revenue from course sales and convention registrations.
3. Convention Sponsorships: Sponsorship tiers for annual conventions including Armadillo ($500-$750), Longhorn ($1,000), Lonestar ($1,500-$2,500), and Association Partner ($750). Trade show table sales and attendee registration fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TBFAA is a not-for-profit statewide trade association representing Texas electronic security, fire alarm, and integrated systems professionals. It delivers tiered membership programs, DPS-approved licensing and continuing education courses through its Texas Online Alarm Training platform, legislative and regulatory advocacy, an annual convention and trade show, and collective buying benefits including insurance and vendor discounts.

Product overview

TBFAA is a not-for-profit state-wide trade association representing Texas electronic security, fire, and integrated systems professionals. The organization operates primarily as a membership organization offering tiered membership programs (Regular, Central Station, Associate, Applicant, and Public Safety Partner), combined with a dedicated online training platform for licensing and continuing education. The training platform, Texas Online Alarm Training, provides certification courses including Texas Alarm Level I and Fire Exam Prep, along with over 18 continuing education courses covering ethics, sales techniques, project management, and industry-specific topics. TBFAA also hosts an annual convention and trade show, and provides member benefits including collective buying discounts and insurance programs through partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TBFAA Membership Tiered membership organization offering Regular, Central Station, Associate, Applicant, and Public Safety Partner categories for Texas electronic security, fire alarm, and integrated systems professionals. Members receive training discounts, advocacy representation, insurance savings, contract templates, and networking access.
• Texas Online Alarm Training Platform Online learning management system delivering DPS-approved certification courses (Texas Alarm Level I, Fire Exam Prep) and continuing education (CEU) courses for alarm industry professionals licensed in Texas. Operates as a standalone e-commerce platform accessible to members and non-members.
• Texas Alarm Level I Course DPS-certified training program (License #0104) approved by the Texas Private Security Program that meets installer and salesperson requirements for a Texas State License. Covers burglar alarm systems, sensors, controls, communications, ethics, and workplace safety.
• Texas Fire Exam Prep Course Prepares students for Texas Fire Marshal TFM11, 12, 13 & 14 exams. Covers Texas Law & Rules, NFPA 72 National Fire Code, NFPA 101, NFPA 70, International Residential Code, and UL monitoring requirements.
• CEU (Continuing Education) Courses Continuing education courses under License #Y04078601 covering ethics, sales techniques, project management, false alarm reduction, National Electrical Code, and business skills for alarm industry professionals. Priced at $35 per course non-member, $25 member.
• Annual Convention and Trade Show Annual industry event featuring networking opportunities, educational classes, trade show exhibits, and convention sessions for TBFAA members and industry professionals.
• Savings4Members Discount Program Collective buying power program offering member discounts on business expenses including office supplies, fuel, wireless service, uniforms, shipping, credit card processing, insurance, and more.
• Insurance Savings Program Insurance benefit program partnered with RCM&D offering general liability insurance, dental and life insurance for TBFAA members and their employees, plus risk reduction services through the RCM&D Risk Reduction Program.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• National Electronic Security Alliance (NESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTBFAA members automatically become members of NESA. NESA monitors federal legislation and regulations while collaborating with other state associations to enhance and protect members' interests. NESA provides access to national issues and expertise.
• False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTBFAA works closely with FARA to educate local alarm managers and reduce the burden of local ordinances while maintaining their effectiveness. TBFAA contributes to the FARA Institute to pay travel expenses for public safety professionals to attend the Annual FARA International Training Symposium.
• RCM&DmajorOthersTBFAA has partnered with RCM&D to offer members a comprehensive insurance solution. RCM&D offers knowledge of the security industry and an unmatched suite of insurance offerings through the Risk Reduction Program.
• Local Texas Alarm AssociationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTBFAA works closely with local Texas associations including HGCAA, NTAA, STAA, and RGV Chapter to keep up with state-wide issues and use collective action to influence local decisions.
• Houston Gulf Coast Alarm Association (HGCAA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of TBFAA's online training platform. HGCAA is one of the primary local alarm associations affiliated with TBFAA.
• North Texas Alarm Association (NTAA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of TBFAA's online training platform. NTAA is one of the primary local alarm associations affiliated with TBFAA.
• South Texas Alarm Association (STAA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of TBFAA's online training platform. STAA is one of the primary local alarm associations affiliated with TBFAA.
• Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)coreOthersTBFAA's training programs are certified and approved by Texas DPS (License #0104 for licensing training, License #Y04078601 for continuing education). TBFAA monitors DPS regulatory proposals and advocates for members.
• Texas State Fire Marshal's OfficecoreOthersTBFAA offers the Fire Prep Course to prepare for exams required by the State Fire Marshal. TBFAA monitors State Fire Marshal regulatory proposals and advocates for members.
• Texas Secretary of StateminorOthersTBFAA provides guidance to members on telemarketing registration requirements with the Texas Secretary of State under SB140 regulations.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): Standard-setting body whose codes (NFPA 72, NFPA 101, NFPA 70) underpin TBFAA's Fire Exam Prep Course curriculum. Not a competing trade group but an adjacent ecosystem player whose standards drive the regulatory training that TBFAA monetizes.

Broad incumbents

• Security Industry Association (SIA): Trade group representing security product manufacturers, integrators, and service providers globally. Comparable advocacy/training/government-relations model to TBFAA but oriented to the manufacturing and integration side rather than a single state.
• Electronic Security Association (ESA): National trade association for the electronic security and life safety industry — same membership/advocacy/training business model as TBFAA but at the federal/national level rather than state-level. TBFAA members automatically gain ESA-affiliated (NESA) membership, illustrating the layered relationship.

Direct peers

• New York Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NYBFAA): Statewide trade association for New York alarm and fire professionals with identical operating model — chapter structure, licensing-aligned training, legislative advocacy — and TBFAA-style member benefits.
• False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA): National association dedicated to reducing false alarm burden on public safety — a direct strategic partner of TBFAA that shares overlapping mission (alarm industry/public safety collaboration) and overlapping member base (alarm dealers, central stations, public safety agencies).
• The Monitoring Association (TMA): National trade association representing central station monitoring companies, of which TBFAA's Central Station members are a subset. Operates the related training, standards (UL-listed central stations), and advocacy functions that intersect with TBFAA's central station membership tier.
• California Alarm Association (CAA): State-level trade association for California alarm and security professionals offering the same menu of membership, licensing-track training, advocacy, and conventions as TBFAA — the closest functional analogue in a different state.
• Alarm Association of Florida (AAF): Florida state-level electronic security and alarm trade association providing membership, training certification, advocacy, and conventions — directly comparable to TBFAA in scope and business model, just in a different state.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TxBFAA
• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/TBFAA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/texas-burglar-and-fire-alarm-association-tbfaa-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (TBFAA)