How To Become A Security Officer in Illinois
The full path: PERC card, 20-hour training, fingerprinting, and the armed pathway. What it costs, how long it takes, and how to start working in Chicago.
$55PERC Fee
20 hrsBasic Training
18+To Start
The full path: PERC card, 20-hour training, fingerprinting, and the armed pathway. What it costs, how long it takes, and how to start working in Chicago.
Illinois regulates private security through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act (225 ILCS 447). To work as a security officer, you need two things: a Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC) and completion of a 20-hour basic training course from an IDFPR-approved provider.
The bar to entry is low, which is part of why openings stay steady year-round. Most people can go from starting the process to working in a matter of weeks. Here is the path, step by step.
Before you spend any money, confirm you qualify. IDFPR will not issue a PERC if any of these are unmet:
A fingerprint-based background check is required. Use a fingerprint vendor licensed by IDFPR, which uses electronic Livescan scanning that transmits your prints to the state. Fingerprints must be taken within 60 days of submitting your application. Vendor fees generally run about 50 to 70 dollars and are separate from the PERC fee.
Submit your PERC application through the IDFPR online system. The application fee is 55 dollars and is nonrefundable, so make sure everything is in order first. IDFPR does not mail a physical card; it issues a digital card by email that you print and present to employers. Processing typically takes about four to six weeks, though complex background checks can take longer. A PERC is valid for three years.
Illinois requires a 20-hour basic training course from an IDFPR-approved provider. Only certificates from providers on the current approved list count, and the course covers the legal authority of security officers, arrest and detention procedures, report writing, communication, emergency response, and ethics.
One nuance worth confirming: Illinois sources differ on exactly when the 20 hours must be finished. Some describe it as a certificate attached to your PERC application, others as training completed within 30 days of starting employment. Verify the current requirement with IDFPR and your employer before you enroll.
Armed work pays more but adds requirements on top of your PERC. You must be 21 or older, hold a valid Illinois FOID card, and earn a separate Firearm Control Card (FCC), which involves approved firearm training and range qualification. The FCC application fee is 75 dollars. You may not carry a firearm on duty until the FCC requirements are fully satisfied, and armed officers requalify each year.
Note that Illinois sources currently conflict on the exact length of the required firearm course. IDFPR's security professions page references a 48-hour course, while the current Firearm Control Card packet references a 40-hour course, and some approved providers advertise shorter firearms courses. Verify the exact current requirement with IDFPR and your training provider before you pay. Our full breakdown is in the armed license guide.
Training does not stop at the 20-hour course. Illinois generally requires an additional block of training (commonly cited as eight hours) within the first six months of employment, then eight hours of refresher training each calendar year after your first work anniversary. Armed officers also requalify with their firearm annually.
Common questions about getting licensed and starting work.
New security officer openings posted regularly across Chicago. Be first.