If you’re trying to apply for your armed security license in Illinois, this article will walk you through the process from start to finish. The Illinois armed security license is also known as the Firearm Control Card or FCC. There are several requirements, including 28 hours of armed security training. Whether you’re already working in unarmed security or new to the security industry, keep reading to learn how to apply for your armed security license in Illinois.
Table of Contents
The Requirements to Apply
Security Officers in Illinois must meet the following requirements to apply for their armed license:
- You must be at least 21 years of age to apply for an FCC.
- All applicants must possess an active permanent employee registration card (PERC).
- Applications must have a valid Firearm Owner’s ID (FOID available from the Illinois State Police).
- All applicants must complete a 48-hour firearms training course from an approved provider within two years of the FCC application. Or the applicant must show proof on the FCC application of requalification within the last year.
- Applicants for their armed security license must not owe any back child support and must be up to date with Illinois tax filings.
The Training for Your Firearm Control Card
Before you can apply for your armed security license, you will need to complete 28 hours of training, in addition to your original 20-hour basic training, for a total of 48 hours. The armed security training you receive must cover specific topics, including…
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20 hours in the classroom
- The dangers and misuse of firearms, their storage, safety rules, and care and cleaning of firearms
- Defensive tactics for in-holster weapon retention
- Legal use of firearms
- Ethical and moral considerations necessary for any person who possesses a firearm
- The laws regarding arrest, search, and seizure
- Liability for acts that may be performed in the course of employment
- Use of deadly force
- Fundamentals of firearm use
8 hours at the shooting range
- double-action shooting
- combat shooting
- positioning
- distances
As part of your armed security firearm training, your licensed security instructor should complete an application for Certification of Completion of Firearms Training and submit this application to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The state will then issue a “230” license number to the security officer, which you will need when you apply for your FCC license. That application is here: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/renewals/apply/forms/f1138de.pdf
Your employer will likely request your 230 license certificate, which you can download from the online portal at: https://online-dfpr.micropact.com/
How to Apply for Your Armed Security License
If you’re a security officer reading this and wondering how to apply for your Firearm Control Card, the good news is that you don’t. Your employer does. However, if you are working as a licensed sole proprietor, you’ll apply for your own FCC license.
Security Officers: You will provide your training certification to your employer along with a partially completed application. There are different FCC applications depending on whether you work for a security agency or a proprietary security force. If you are unsure which application you need, check with your employer before completing the forms.
The Firearm Control Card application for security agencies can be found here: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/renewals/apply/forms/f1314de.pdf. The officer should only complete one page of the application, which is marked “THIS SECTION TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT/LICENSEE”. Your employer will complete and submit the remainder of the document.
The Firearm Control Card application for proprietary security forces can be found here: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/renewals/apply/forms/f1413de.pdf. The officer should only complete one page of the application, which is marked “THIS SECTION TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT”. Your employer will complete and submit the remainder of the document.
Note the page with the official abbreviations for eye color, hair color, race, etc…
If you have multiple employers, you will need a separate license with each employer. Having an armed security license with employer A does not allow you to work armed for employer B, and you could get into trouble if doing so.
What Security Employers Need to Know
Security employers, whether Security Agencies or Proprietary Security Forces, will need to complete and submit the application for the employee’s Firearm Control Card (FCC). The FCC is the license that allows your employee to work security in an armed capacity.
The application will need to be reviewed and signed by the Director of Security or Licensee in Charge before submission.
License applications are submitted by mail to:
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Attn: Division of Professional Regulation
320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor
Springfield, Illinois 62786
It’s recommended that some form of tracking is used to ensure receipt.
Armed Security Licenses do currently take a fair bit of time to process. According to the IDFPR, “Please allow eight business weeks from applying before making an inquiry concerning its status.”
Additional information may be found at the following pages:
