How to get a security guard license in Illinois: the PERC card

In Illinois, a security guard who works for a licensed security agency needs a Permanent Employee Registration Card, known as a PERC, from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). You must be at least 18, or 21 for armed work. You get fingerprinted by an Illinois live scan vendor, apply online and pay a $55 fee. Your employer must also give you 20 hours of basic training within 30 days of hire. An armed guard also needs a firearm control card.

This guide covers who needs a PERC, each step, the training, the firearm control card and the renewal. The facts come from the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004 (225 ILCS 447), its rules in 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1240, and the IDFPR PERC new application checklist and PERC forms, checked on November 13, 2026. We could not load the IDFPR and Illinois General Assembly sites directly that day, so some facts below are quoted from those pages as search results show them. Check with IDFPR before you pay.

Key points#

• The Illinois "security guard license" for employees is the PERC, issued by IDFPR.
• All employees of a licensed agency must apply for a PERC, unless the Act exempts them. Peace officers are exempt.
• You must be at least 18 for unarmed work and at least 21 if the job includes being armed.
• The PERC application fee is $55 and the renewal fee is $45, according to IDFPR forms and the state rules.
• Guards need 20 hours of basic training within 30 days of hire, more site training from the employer, and 8 hours of refresher training each year after that.
• Carrying a firearm on the job also needs a firearm control card and a 48-hour firearm course.

Who needs a PERC in Illinois?#

Section 35-30 of the Act says all employees of a licensed agency, other than those exempted, shall apply for a permanent employee registration card. A licensed agency includes a private security contractor agency, the kind of company that supplies guards to clients. The same section says peace officers are exempt from the PERC requirements.

An agency may not use an unregistered person for licensed work. The one exception is temporary work while the application is pending, covered below.

Other states handle this differently. See our guides for California, Texas, Florida and New York.

Step 1: Check that you are eligible#

Section 35-30 says no person shall be issued a PERC who is younger than 18 years of age, or younger than 21 if the services include being armed. The IDFPR checklist repeats that you must be at least 18 to apply for a PERC in an unarmed capacity.

IDFPR runs a fingerprint-based check with the Illinois State Police and the FBI, and judges an applicant's fitness on past convictions. If you have a criminal record, read Section 35-30 or ask IDFPR before you apply.

Step 2: Get fingerprinted by a live scan vendor#

Go to a licensed Illinois live scan fingerprint vendor. The IDFPR checklist says you no longer mail the live scan receipt. Instead, you enter the Transaction Control Number (TCN) from your fingerprint receipt on the application. The TCN is 16 characters long. Keep the receipt until your card is issued.

The IDFPR PERC instructions say fingerprints must be taken within 60 days of the date the application is submitted, and that cards are not issued until the security clearance is complete. The vendor charges its own fee, separate from the IDFPR fee. If you live outside Illinois, IDFPR has a separate card scan process for out-of-state prints.

Step 3: Apply online to IDFPR#

You apply online through IDFPR. The checklist lists what the application asks for:

• your date and place of birth
• your Social Security number, or an SSN affidavit
• any name changes
• other professional licenses you hold
• the fingerprint TCN
• a peace officer exemption form, if you claim one

IDFPR says fees collected through the licensing process are not refundable or transferable.

Can you work before the PERC arrives?#

Only in a temporary capacity, and only if your employer follows Section 35-30. According to the statute, the agency must:

• complete and submit your PERC application, with the fingerprint receipt and fees
• have verification from IDFPR that the Illinois State Police check found no criminal conviction, and keep it in your employee record
• use due diligence to make sure you qualify
• keep a roster of all employees whose applications are pending and submit it to IDFPR monthly

IDFPR can revoke this temporary authority without a hearing if FBI data or other official reports show a conviction.

Step 4: Complete the required training#

Section 25-20 of the Act sets the training for employees of a private security contractor agency:

• 20 hours of basic training within 30 days of employment, from a qualified instructor. The rules say this may be in a classroom or online, but not on the job.
• 8 more hours for employees who perform guarding or other security functions, on subjects the employer sets. These may be site specific.
• 8 hours of refresher training each calendar year, starting the year after the first anniversary of employment, on subjects the employer sets.

The employer certifies that the training is complete on an IDFPR form, and the agency must show its training records to IDFPR on request. Section 25-20 is part of a version of the Act that is scheduled for repeal on January 1, 2029, so check the current text if you read this later.

Armed guards: the firearm control card#

Section 35-35 says anyone who uses, carries or possesses a firearm on the job needs a valid firearm control card from IDFPR. An employer may not let an employee carry a firearm until the employee has finished the firearm training and holds the card. The minimum age for armed work is 21.

Section 35-40 sets a 48-hour firearm course:

The course ends with a firearms qualification and a written exam. Holders of a firearm control card then need 8 hours of refresher training each calendar year. Some people with law enforcement training can have the firearm training waived. An older IDFPR form for the card asks for a copy of a valid Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) card. We could not confirm the current fee for the firearm control card, so check it with IDFPR.

Step 5: Renew your PERC#

The state rules and IDFPR forms say the PERC expires on May 31 on a 3-year cycle. IDFPR's renewal form says the renewal notice arrives by email about 90 days before the expiration date, and the renewal fee is $45.

A card that has been expired for less than one year can be restored by paying the lapsed renewal fees. After one year or more, you apply to IDFPR again and go through fingerprint processing again.

What employers should keep on file#

Illinois puts a lot of the record keeping on the agency. For each officer, keep the PERC number and expiry date, the IDFPR verification if they started work while the application was pending, the training certificate for the 20 basic hours, the site training and each year's 8 refresher hours. For armed officers, add the firearm control card and the yearly firearm refresher. The agency also has to keep the monthly roster of pending applications.

In Guardix, each officer's licenses and certificates sit on the Documents tab of their employee record with issue and expiry dates and a Valid, Expiring Soon or Expired status, so the office sees renewals coming. See documents and certifications in Guardix, and training and quizzes for keeping the yearly hours on record. For what guards do on post once they are licensed, see security guard duties and responsibilities.

Frequently asked questions#

What is a PERC card in Illinois?#

A PERC is a Permanent Employee Registration Card. IDFPR issues it to employees of licensed agencies, such as security guards who work for a private security contractor. It works as the Illinois security guard license for employees.

How much does an Illinois PERC card cost?#

IDFPR forms and the state rules list a $55 fee for a new PERC and $45 for a renewal. The live scan vendor charges a separate fingerprint fee, and fees paid to IDFPR are not refundable.

How many hours of training does an Illinois security guard need?#

A guard needs 20 hours of basic training within 30 days of employment, 8 more hours set by the employer for guarding work, and 8 hours of refresher training each year after that. An armed guard also needs the 48-hour firearm course.

Can I work as a guard in Illinois before I get my PERC?#

Only temporarily, and only if your employer has submitted your complete application and received IDFPR verification that the state police check found no conviction. The employer must also keep you on a monthly roster of pending applications.

How old do you have to be to get a PERC in Illinois?#

You must be at least 18 for unarmed work. If the job includes being armed, you must be at least 21.