Illinois Security Guard License Information (Guard Card)
Sections
- Requirements to Become a Security Guard
- Security Guard License (Unarmed Security Officer)
- Firearms Control Card (Armed Security Officer)
- Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements
- Fingerprinting/Background Check
- Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC)
Requirements to Become a Security Guard
The applicant must:
- be at least 18 years of age.
- have not been convicted of any felony in any jurisdiction for at least 10 years have elapsed since the time of full discharge from a sentence imposed for a felony conviction.
- be of good moral character.
- have not been declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be incompetent by reason of mental or physical defect or disease, unless a court has subsequently declared him or her to be competent.
- not suffer from dependence on alcohol or from narcotic addiction or dependence.
Security Guard License (Unarmed Security Officer)
All other employees of a private security contractor agency shall complete a minimum of 20 hours of training provided by the qualified instructor within 30 days of their employment. The substance of the training shall be related to the work performed by the registered employee.
Registered employees of the private security contractor agency who provide guarding or other private security related functions, in addition to the required classroom training, within 6 months of their employment, shall complete an additional 8 hours of training on subjects to be determined by the employer, which training may be site-specific and may be conducted on the job.
A Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC) is required to work as a security guard.
- NOTE: The actual license is issued by the State of Illinois, not the trainer.
Firearms Control Card (Armed Security Officer)
Applicant must be at least 21 years of age to apply for a firearm control card.
The firearm control card belongs to the employer, not the individual guard.
The firearm control card shall be retained by the employee for the term of employment. Upon termination of employment, the card shall be returned to the Department by the employer. The firearm control card will expire on the date specified on the face of the card.
If an employee is employed by more than one proprietary security force, that employee must possess a separate firearm control card for each proprietary security force for which he or she uses, carries, or possesses a firearm.
A Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC) is required to work as a security guard.
- NOTE: A Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) permit does not qualify a security guard to carry armed.
Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements
In addition to the basic training requirements, registered employees of the private security contractor agency who provide guarding or other private security related functions shall complete an additional 8 hours of refresher training on subjects to be determined by the employer each calendar year commencing with the calendar year following the employee's first employment anniversary date, which refresher training may be site-specific and may be conducted on the job.
Fingerprinting/Background Check
Each guard listed on the Proprietary Security Force application will need to have their fingerprints scanned prior to submission of this application.
Applicants may contact a licensed fingerprint vendor to schedule an appointment for fingerprinting by going to https://www.idfpr.com/FPVendor.asp. The Illinois State Police will transmit electronic results of fingerprint processing to the Department. A receipt issued by a licensed fingerprint vendor agency must be submitted with the application fee. The receipt shall be issued by the fingerprint vendor at the time the fingerprints are obtained.
Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC)
Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC) is required to work as a security guard.
Applicant must be at least 18 years of age to apply for a PERC in an unarmed capacity.
Individuals applying for licensure for professions that require fingerprints must submit to a criminal background check and provide evidence of fingerprint processing from a fingerprint vendor licensed by the Department. Fingerprints must be taken within 60 days from the date that the application is submitted to the Department or the Department's testing vendor.
The application which you submit is valid for 3 years from date of receipt.
