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ILLINOIS PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTOR LICENSING ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST RELEASED
EXAM COVERAGE — ILLINOIS PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTOR LICENSING EXAM
The Illinois Private Security Contractor (Permanent Employee Registration Card - PERC) licensing
exam is regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith
Act of 2004 (225 ILCS 447) . The exam covers:
Application & Licensing Requirements — Experience requirements (1,500 hours/year
minimum), application deadlines (60 days prior to exam), passing score (70%), exam score
validity (3 years), fingerprinting requirements, and felony conviction rules (10-year lapse
required) .
Agency Operations — Licensee-in-charge requirements, agency name restrictions (cannot imply
law enforcement affiliation), business entity types (sole proprietorship, partnership,
corporation, LLC), Articles of Incorporation, Certificates of Good Standing, and assumed name
registration .
Insurance Requirements — Minimum $1,000,000 general liability insurance required .
Illinois Criminal Law — Offenses including eavesdropping, burglary, commercial bribery, false
personation, cyberstalking, animal cruelty, and custodial interrogation rules. Statute of
limitations for offenses, bail security rules, and strip search requirements .
Legal Procedures — Indictment vs. information, service of summons, trial venue for vehicle
offenses, probation vs. conditional discharge, and the Real Estate Recovery Fund (applicable to
overlapping real estate licensing) .
Ethics & Fair Housing — Discrimination prohibited under Civil Rights Act of 1866 (race) and Fair
Housing Amendment Act of 1988 (familial status, disability); steering, redlining, blockbusting,
and discriminatory advertising restrictions .
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ILLINOIS PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTOR LICENSING EXAM — 200 RANDOMIZED SCENARIO-
BASED MCQS
1. An applicant submits a Private Security Contractor license application on March 15. What is
the earliest examination date they can be scheduled for?
A) April 15
B) May 15
C) June 15
D) July 15
Answer: B
*RATIONALE: Applications must be on file at least 60 days prior to the examination date. March
15 + 60 days = May 14, so the earliest is May 15 .*
2. A candidate scores 68% on the Private Security Contractor examination. What is the
outcome?
A) Conditional license issued
B) Provisional license with supervision
C) Fail — must retake the exam
D) Pass with probationary period
Answer: C
RATIONALE: The passing grade on the examination is 70 or above. A score of 68% is a failing
grade .
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3. A licensee passes the Private Security Contractor exam on June 1, 2022. By what date must
they apply for licensure before the score expires?
A) June 1, 2023
B) June 1, 2024
C) June 1, 2025
D) June 1, 2026
Answer: C
*RATIONALE: A successful examination score shall be valid for 3 years. June 1, 2022 + 3 years =
June 1, 2025 .*
4. An applicant was convicted of a felony 8 years ago and completed their sentence 8 years ago.
Are they eligible for licensure?
A) Yes, because 5 years have passed
B) Yes, because 8 years is sufficient
C) No, 10 years must lapse since full discharge
D) No, felonies permanently bar licensure
Answer: C
RATIONALE: Applicants must have at least 10 years lapsed since the time of full discharge from a
sentence imposed for a felony conviction .
5. A security contractor applicant is a registered sex offender. Which statement is true regarding
their eligibility?
A) Eligible after 5 years
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B) Eligible after 10 years
C) Eligible with good moral character waiver
D) Absolute bar to licensure
Answer: D
RATIONALE: Conviction of crimes other than felonies may be used in determining moral
character but shall not constitute an absolute bar to licensure, except when the applicant is a
registered sex offender .
6. An applicant claims 2 years of full-time security experience. How many minimum work hours
are required annually?
A) 1,000 hours
B) 1,200 hours
C) 1,500 hours
D) 2,000 hours
Answer: C
*RATIONALE: A "year" is defined as 12 months with an average of at least 20 work days per
month during which the applicant was engaged in full-time employment equal to 1500 hours or
more annually .*
7. A retired peace officer wants to apply for licensure without submitting fingerprints. What
alternative is available?
A) No alternative — fingerprints always required
B) Submit a notarized affidavit of good conduct
ILLINOIS PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTOR LICENSING ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST RELEASED
EXAM COVERAGE — ILLINOIS PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTOR LICENSING EXAM
The Illinois Private Security Contractor (Permanent Employee Registration Card - PERC) licensing
exam is regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith
Act of 2004 (225 ILCS 447) . The exam covers:
Application & Licensing Requirements — Experience requirements (1,500 hours/year
minimum), application deadlines (60 days prior to exam), passing score (70%), exam score
validity (3 years), fingerprinting requirements, and felony conviction rules (10-year lapse
required) .
Agency Operations — Licensee-in-charge requirements, agency name restrictions (cannot imply
law enforcement affiliation), business entity types (sole proprietorship, partnership,
corporation, LLC), Articles of Incorporation, Certificates of Good Standing, and assumed name
registration .
Insurance Requirements — Minimum $1,000,000 general liability insurance required .
Illinois Criminal Law — Offenses including eavesdropping, burglary, commercial bribery, false
personation, cyberstalking, animal cruelty, and custodial interrogation rules. Statute of
limitations for offenses, bail security rules, and strip search requirements .
Legal Procedures — Indictment vs. information, service of summons, trial venue for vehicle
offenses, probation vs. conditional discharge, and the Real Estate Recovery Fund (applicable to
overlapping real estate licensing) .
Ethics & Fair Housing — Discrimination prohibited under Civil Rights Act of 1866 (race) and Fair
Housing Amendment Act of 1988 (familial status, disability); steering, redlining, blockbusting,
and discriminatory advertising restrictions .
, Page 2 of 83
ILLINOIS PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTOR LICENSING EXAM — 200 RANDOMIZED SCENARIO-
BASED MCQS
1. An applicant submits a Private Security Contractor license application on March 15. What is
the earliest examination date they can be scheduled for?
A) April 15
B) May 15
C) June 15
D) July 15
Answer: B
*RATIONALE: Applications must be on file at least 60 days prior to the examination date. March
15 + 60 days = May 14, so the earliest is May 15 .*
2. A candidate scores 68% on the Private Security Contractor examination. What is the
outcome?
A) Conditional license issued
B) Provisional license with supervision
C) Fail — must retake the exam
D) Pass with probationary period
Answer: C
RATIONALE: The passing grade on the examination is 70 or above. A score of 68% is a failing
grade .
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3. A licensee passes the Private Security Contractor exam on June 1, 2022. By what date must
they apply for licensure before the score expires?
A) June 1, 2023
B) June 1, 2024
C) June 1, 2025
D) June 1, 2026
Answer: C
*RATIONALE: A successful examination score shall be valid for 3 years. June 1, 2022 + 3 years =
June 1, 2025 .*
4. An applicant was convicted of a felony 8 years ago and completed their sentence 8 years ago.
Are they eligible for licensure?
A) Yes, because 5 years have passed
B) Yes, because 8 years is sufficient
C) No, 10 years must lapse since full discharge
D) No, felonies permanently bar licensure
Answer: C
RATIONALE: Applicants must have at least 10 years lapsed since the time of full discharge from a
sentence imposed for a felony conviction .
5. A security contractor applicant is a registered sex offender. Which statement is true regarding
their eligibility?
A) Eligible after 5 years
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B) Eligible after 10 years
C) Eligible with good moral character waiver
D) Absolute bar to licensure
Answer: D
RATIONALE: Conviction of crimes other than felonies may be used in determining moral
character but shall not constitute an absolute bar to licensure, except when the applicant is a
registered sex offender .
6. An applicant claims 2 years of full-time security experience. How many minimum work hours
are required annually?
A) 1,000 hours
B) 1,200 hours
C) 1,500 hours
D) 2,000 hours
Answer: C
*RATIONALE: A "year" is defined as 12 months with an average of at least 20 work days per
month during which the applicant was engaged in full-time employment equal to 1500 hours or
more annually .*
7. A retired peace officer wants to apply for licensure without submitting fingerprints. What
alternative is available?
A) No alternative — fingerprints always required
B) Submit a notarized affidavit of good conduct
