Are you thinking about becoming a security guard and you live in the state of Illinois? In Illinois, security guards need to be licensed. The license goes through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), and the actual license/card is known as the Permanent Employee Registration Card, aka the “PERC.” So how do you get licensed and get the card? You take a training course as well as pass a background check.

In the state of Illinois, security guards have some standards one must meet– be at least 18 years of age (21 if you want to carry a firearm), have a high school diploma (or GED), be a legal resident of the U.S. or have a valid work visa, and have no felony convictions. In addition, a security guard will need to complete a 20 or 40-hour security training course at a state-approved training company such as Security Training Center in Chicago.

When training to become an Illinois security guard, you’ll learn about patrol techniques, emergency procedures, writing reports and criminal/constitutional law, too. The course includes both classroom instruction and practical exercises.

Once you’ve done your training course and passed a criminal background check, then you’ll submit an application for a license to the aforementioned IDFPR and then obtain a PERC. The process usually takes a couple weeks.

There is tremendous earning potential based upon your training history, experience and willingness to take on jobs.

Looking to take the professional security training course? Security Training Center of Chicago, Illinois, has several options– check out the link for more info.