Illinois Unarmed Security Guards Licensing Requirements

State Security Licensing Authorities: Illinois

To become a security guard in the state of Illinois, the first thing you must do is obtain a PERC Card.

A PERC Card, or Permanent Employee Registration Card, is a card that tells employers in the State of Illinois that you’ve passed certain background checks through a fingerprint submission process. You will not be able to apply for a security guard position until you get one.

Illinois Unarmed Security Guards Licensing Requirements

The state of Illinois requires anyone seeking employment as an unarmed security guard to hold a state license. This licensing allows the unarmed security guard to work in many industries in the security of the building or property. The qualifications to apply for this license are that the applicant is at least 18 years of age, and they are not eligible to apply as an armed security guard license until the age of 21 in the state of Illinois. This type of licensing is attractive to many people, including people with prior military service. The license will be issued to the applicant for a period of two years. During this time there will need to be refresher training to keep the license current. The other qualifications that are required are:

• The applicant must be a citizen or allowed to work legally in the United States.
• Applicants will submit to fingerprinting
• The applicant will have a criminal background check done
• The applicant will have a high school diploma or an equivalency certificate
• Applicants will provide a valid photo identification

There is a requirement of 20 hours of training that must be successfully completed at a state certified training facility prior to the applicants unarmed security guard license being issued. The training will include education that will prepare the unarmed security guard to work within the security industry. Training will educate the student about the legal issues that can arise, including detaining shoplifters and other criminals. This education will include:

• Legal and ethical issues
• The use of force
• Detainment
• Emergency medical including CPR
• Emergency fire
• Professionalism with the public

This education that is provided at a state credited training facility once completed will qualify the applicant to be issued an Illinois state unarmed security license. The license is valid for two years each time it is applied for and is issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. In order to keep the unarmed security guard licensed current there is a refresher course that must be taken every 12 months as long as the license holder is employed in the security industry.
The unarmed security guard will work in environments that include public situations, private properties and other security situations such as:

• Schools
• Parks
• Colleges
• Retail stores
• Malls
• Public and private properties
• Parking structures
• Private office buildings

There are other types of employment open in the security sector for the unarmed security guard. The unarmed security guard can be employed in buildings with a camera room and alarms that need to be monitored. Many of the positions the unarmed security guard have available to them will provide on the job training for the use of cameras, alarm systems and the expected duties the guard will perform daily. Some of these positions will require the unarmed security guard to hold a valid Illinois drivers license, like the apartment complex that will require driving throughout the property.

Illinois Armed Security Guard Licensing Requirements

The state of Illinois like many other states has requirements that must be fulfilled before an applicant can apply for an armed security guard license. These requirements will include things like age, education and training at a state certified facility to enable the applicant to work in the security industry. The personal requirements to apply for an Illinois state armed security license are:

• The applicant must be at least 21 years of age to apply as an armed security guard.
• Applicants must be a legal resident of the United States
• Applicants must submit to a background check
• The person applying must submit to finger printing
• Successfully completes a 20 hour education course at a certified training center
• Successfully completes 20 hour firearms training for armed security guards

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation will issue the armed security guard license, when a person applies. The license can only be applied for after the certified training has been successfully completed and will be issued for a length of two years. The occupation overview from this department, details the employment of the armed security guard as: protecting the property of their employer from illegal entry, vandalism, theft and fire. The 20 hours of required training will prepare the applicant to professionally provide the services that will be required in the security industry, along with the legal issues of criminal detainment and other situations. The training course at a certified facility will educate the applicant in emergency situations and working with official agencies, including filing written reports.
Training for the Illinois armed security guard will be a 20-hour education for the applicant at a state certified training facility and will include:

• Limits of legal force
• Legal issues
• Emergency medical including CPR
• Detainment of criminal suspects
• Control of the public or crowd situation

The firearm’s training that is required is 20 hours in length, which includes classroom education and time at the range. There will be marksmanship and target training done at the range and in the classroom, there will be weapons education and legal issues. The firearm’s training prepares the Illinois armed security guard to handle situations confidently that might require the use of their weapon to protect their place of employment or the public. The classroom training will provide the applicant with the legal issues and situations that can arise while employed, as an armed security guard if using a weapon is needed in a given situation.
The employment opportunities open to the Illinois licensed armed guards are:

• Banking and financial institutions
• Schools and colleges
• Government offices
• Private offices
• Parking structures
• Private and government properties
• Factories
• Airports
• Armored vehicles
• Hotels and apartments

The armed guard is employed to protect buildings, stores, banks and other facilities to protect them from criminal vandalism and to protect the public in Illinois. These types of employment are a sample as there is other armed security positions the licensed trained guard can be employed.