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.
