In order to obtain the status of an armed security officer in Illinois, individuals must have a Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC) which is needed to be an unarmed security officers and additionally obtain a Firearm Control Card.

See the unarmed security officers section for details on the PERC.

Employees of an armed proprietary security force must register with the Department.

The Department shall issue a firearm control card to a person who has passed an approved firearm training course, who is currently licensed or employed by an agency licensed by this Act and has met all the requirements of this Act, and who possesses a valid firearm owner identification card. Application for the firearm control card shall be made by the employer to the Department on forms provided by the Department.
See: 225 ILCS 447/35-35(d)

Each employer shall make a request to the Division, on forms supplied by the Division, for the issuance of a firearm control card for each licensee or employee whose duties include the use, carrying or possession of a firearm.
See: Section 1240.530 Firearm Control Cards

Illinois does allow for security officer employees to work in temporary status as long as the employer meets all the following conditions:
(1) The agency completes in its entirety and submits to the Department an application for a permanent employee registration card, including the required fingerprint receipt and fees.
(2) The agency has verification from the Department that the applicant has no record of any criminal conviction pursuant to the criminal history check conducted by the Department of State Police….
(3) The agency exercises due diligence to ensure that the person is qualified under the requirements of the Act to be issued a permanent employee registration card.
See: 225 ILCS 447/35-30

As stated in the firearm control card application:
A $75 processing fee, made payable to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, must accompany this application.
There will be a $45 triennial fee required for renewal of this card.

See: Application for Firearm Control Card

Temporary Licensure
Illinois does allow for security officer employees to work in temporary status as long as the employer does the following:

225 ILCS 447/35-30
(k) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (j), an agency may employ a person in a temporary capacity if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The agency completes in its entirety and submits to the Department an application for a permanent
employee registration card, including the required fingerprint receipt and fees.
(2) The agency has verification from the Department that the applicant has no record of any criminal conviction pursuant to the criminal
history check conducted by the Department of State Police….
(3) The agency exercises due diligence to ensure that the person is qualified under the requirements of the Act to be issued a permanent employee registration card.

Illinois has no reciprocity with any other state.

An applicant must be a minimum of 21 years old to work in an armed capacity

See: Application for Firearm Control Card

The application requirements do not designate required citizenship. However, the applicant needs a formal relationship with social security.

The applicant must be registered as an unarmed security officer and must possess a valid employee registration card.
See: 225 ILCS 447/35-35(d)

According to the Application for Firearm Control Card for Licensee/Licensed Agencies:
•   A peace officer as defined in the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act is exempt from the requirements relating to the possession of a firearm control card. The employing agency shall remain responsible for any peace officer employed under this exemption.
•   A person employed as an armed security guard at a nuclear energy, storage, weapons, or development site or facility regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission who has completed the background screening and training mandated by the rules and regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is exempt from registration for a firearm control card.
See: Application for Firearm Control Card

A firearms control card is required.

The firearms control card does not qualify the individual to carry a firearm outside off-duty.
See: 225 ILCS 447/35-35(c)

The holder of a permanent employee registration card shall carry the card at all
times while actually engaged in the performance of the duties of his or her employment. Expiration and requirements for renewal
of permanent employee registration cards shall be established by rule of the Department. Possession of a permanent employee
registration card does not in any way imply that the holder of the card is employed by an agency unless the permanent employee
registration card is accompanied by the employee identification card required by subsection (f) of this Section.

See: 225 ILCS §447/35-30(d)

The application process inferentially deals with character by a review of the following:

•   Dishonorable discharge from military service
•   Disease or conditions that may interfere with professional work
•   Denial of a prior professional license

The legislation does not mention this requirement for employees.

A PERC card requires a background review and an analysis of the employee’s fingerprints.

Section 1240.520 Fingerprint Requirements
Any person seeking employee registration under Section 35-30 of the Act shall file an application with the Division, on forms provided by the Division, along with one of the following:
•   Copy of the verification of fingerprint processing from ISP or from one of the ISP live scan vendors whose equipment has been certified by ISP or a fingerprint vendor agency licensed by the Division;
•   Out-of-state residents unable to utilize the ISP electronic fingerprint process may submit to ISP one fingerprint card issued by ISP, accompanied by the fee specified by ISP.

For a full review of fingerprint requirements as these relate to the PERC card, click here.

Illinois Administrative Code § 1240.200(f)
While the rules do not explicitly mention individual security officers subject to these requirements, individual private security contractors, in order to be licensed must demonstrate the following:
(4)   Is not suffering from dependence on alcohol or from narcotic addiction or dependence.

Illinois Administrative Code § 1240.200(f)
While the rules do not explicitly mention individual security officers subject to these requirements, individual private security contractors, in order to be licensed must demonstrate the following:

(3)   Has 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 the applicant to be competent.

Applicants for the PERC card must affirm being free of a criminal history and other suspect conditions.
See: PERC New Application Checklist (PDF), page 9

Applicants are deemed unfit for registration for reasons of conviction of an offense Illinois or another state, including registration as a sex offender, but not including a traffic offense. Persons convicted of felonies involving bodily harm, weapons, violence, or theft within the previous 10 years shall be presumed to be unfit for registration.
See: 225 ILCS 447/35-30(a)(3)

In determining whether an applicant for a permanent employee registration card or firearm control card is unfit for such registration because of criminal history record information, the Division shall consider the following standards:

1)    Whether the crime was one of armed violence or any two or more repeated acts of violence towards persons or property [720 ILCS 5/Art. 33A] or:

A)    Crimes involving dishonesty, false statement or some other element of deceit, untruthfulness or falsification (including, but not limited to perjury, inducement of perjury, false statement, criminal fraud, embezzlement, false pretense, forgery, counterfeiting and theft).

B)    Drug offenses including, but not limited to, the Illinois Controlled Substances Act [720 ILCS 570/Art. I] and Federal Drug Enforcement Laws (21 USC 801 et seq.).

C)    Sex offenses including, but not limited to, all crimes listed in Article 11 of the Criminal Code of 1961 [720 ILCS 5/Art. 11].

2)    Whether the crime is related to the detective, security, alarm or locksmith profession.

3)    Whether more than 10 years have elapsed since the date of completion of imposed sentence.

4)    Whether the conviction was from a city ordinance violation or conviction for which a jail sentence was not imposed.

5)    Whether the applicant has been sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant the public trust. The Division shall consider, but not be bound by, the following in considering whether an applicant has been presumed to be rehabilitated:

A)    Completion of probation;

B)    Completion of parole supervision; or

C)    If no parole was granted, a period of 10 years has elapsed after final discharge or release from any term of imprisonment without any subsequent conviction.

See: Illinois Administrative Code Section 1240.525(b)

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