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Illinois Private Detective Licensing Exam ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR
Illinois Private Detective Licensing Exam
Summary of High-Yield Exam Topics
• Licensing Authority & Governing Laws – Illinois Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation; 225 ILCS 447 (Private Detective, Private
Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004)
• License Types – Private Detective License, Private Detective Agency License, Permanent
Employee Registration Card (PERC), Firearm Control Card (FCC), LEOSA (Retired Peace Officer)
• Examination Requirements – 70% minimum passing score; application required 60 days prior to
exam; successful score valid for 3 years
• Experience & Education Requirements – 3-5 years full-time investigative experience (1,500+
hours/year, 20+ work days/month); in-house investigation unit for company with 100+
employees qualifies
• Licensee-in-Charge – Each agency must designate a licensed private detective as licensee-in-
charge responsible for operations
• Employee Registration (PERC) – Required for agency employees; valid for 3 years; 20 hours
basic training within 30 days of employment
• Firearm Control Card (FCC) – Required for armed employees; must carry FCC and FOID card; 48-
hour basic firearm training plus annual refresher
• Record Keeping – Employee files maintained 5 years after termination; accessible within 24
hours (72 hours for files over 2 years old)
• Insurance Requirements – $1,000,000 general liability insurance minimum
• Agency Name Restrictions – Cannot include "law enforcement," "police," or words implying
government affiliation
• Exemptions from Licensure – Government employees (official duties), credit reporters,
insurance adjusters (claim-related only), genealogists, computer forensics (without holding out
as PI)
• Prohibited Conduct – Felony conviction (10-year lapse required), dishonorable discharge,
substance dependence, incompetency
• Disciplinary Authority – Fines up to $10,000; license denial, suspension, revocation; statute of
limitations 5 years
• Eavesdropping & Privacy – Article I, Section 6 of Illinois Constitution; Illinois Eavesdropping Act;
all-party consent generally required
• Exclusionary Rule – Mapp v. Ohio (1961): evidence obtained in violation of Fourth Amendment
inadmissible in state courts
• Federal Laws – Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (financial privacy); Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968 (wiretap regulation); Employee Polygraph Protection Act (restricts private
employer polygraph use)
• Constitutional Rights – 4th Amendment (search/seizure); 5th Amendment (self-incrimination);
6th Amendment (speedy trial, confrontation); 14th Amendment (due process, equal protection)
• Illinois Constitution Article I, Section 8 – Rights of accused persons in criminal prosecutions
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• Employee File Contents – Photo, application, training records, weapons discharge reports,
criminal history, FOID card, PERC; NOT driver's license
150 Exam-Relevant Questions with Answers & Rationales
1. What is the minimum passing score on the Illinois Private Detective licensing examination?
A) 65%
B) 70%
C) 75%
D) 80%
Answer: B – The administrative code requires a passing grade of 70 or above .
2. How many days prior to the examination must an applicant's complete application be filed with
IDFPR?
A) 30 days
B) 45 days
C) 60 days
D) 90 days
Answer: C – Applications must be on file at least 60 days prior to the examination date along with all
supporting documentation .
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3. An applicant for private detective licensure must demonstrate at least how many hours of full-time
investigative experience annually to satisfy the "year" requirement?
A) 1,000 hours
B) 1,200 hours
C) 1,500 hours
D) 2,000 hours
Answer: C – A "year" consists of an average of at least 20 work days per month equaling 1,500 hours or
more annually .
4. How long is a successful examination score valid for licensure purposes?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer: C – A successful examination score remains valid for 3 years, after which it becomes void and a
new application and examination are required .
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5. A person convicted of a felony may apply for a private detective license after how many years have
lapsed since full discharge from the sentence?
A) 5 years
B) 7 years
C) 10 years
D) 15 years
Answer: C – At least 10 years must have lapsed since the time of full discharge from a sentence imposed
for a felony conviction .
6. What is the minimum general liability insurance coverage required for a private detective agency
license?
A) 500,000B)500,000B)750,000
C) 1,000,000D)1,000,000D)2,000,000
Answer: C – Applicants must provide proof of at least $1,000,000 of general liability insurance .
7. Who has final authority in settling disputes between state and federal governments?
A) The U.S. Congress
Illinois Private Detective Licensing Exam ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR
Illinois Private Detective Licensing Exam
Summary of High-Yield Exam Topics
• Licensing Authority & Governing Laws – Illinois Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation; 225 ILCS 447 (Private Detective, Private
Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004)
• License Types – Private Detective License, Private Detective Agency License, Permanent
Employee Registration Card (PERC), Firearm Control Card (FCC), LEOSA (Retired Peace Officer)
• Examination Requirements – 70% minimum passing score; application required 60 days prior to
exam; successful score valid for 3 years
• Experience & Education Requirements – 3-5 years full-time investigative experience (1,500+
hours/year, 20+ work days/month); in-house investigation unit for company with 100+
employees qualifies
• Licensee-in-Charge – Each agency must designate a licensed private detective as licensee-in-
charge responsible for operations
• Employee Registration (PERC) – Required for agency employees; valid for 3 years; 20 hours
basic training within 30 days of employment
• Firearm Control Card (FCC) – Required for armed employees; must carry FCC and FOID card; 48-
hour basic firearm training plus annual refresher
• Record Keeping – Employee files maintained 5 years after termination; accessible within 24
hours (72 hours for files over 2 years old)
• Insurance Requirements – $1,000,000 general liability insurance minimum
• Agency Name Restrictions – Cannot include "law enforcement," "police," or words implying
government affiliation
• Exemptions from Licensure – Government employees (official duties), credit reporters,
insurance adjusters (claim-related only), genealogists, computer forensics (without holding out
as PI)
• Prohibited Conduct – Felony conviction (10-year lapse required), dishonorable discharge,
substance dependence, incompetency
• Disciplinary Authority – Fines up to $10,000; license denial, suspension, revocation; statute of
limitations 5 years
• Eavesdropping & Privacy – Article I, Section 6 of Illinois Constitution; Illinois Eavesdropping Act;
all-party consent generally required
• Exclusionary Rule – Mapp v. Ohio (1961): evidence obtained in violation of Fourth Amendment
inadmissible in state courts
• Federal Laws – Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (financial privacy); Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968 (wiretap regulation); Employee Polygraph Protection Act (restricts private
employer polygraph use)
• Constitutional Rights – 4th Amendment (search/seizure); 5th Amendment (self-incrimination);
6th Amendment (speedy trial, confrontation); 14th Amendment (due process, equal protection)
• Illinois Constitution Article I, Section 8 – Rights of accused persons in criminal prosecutions
, Page 2 of 116
• Employee File Contents – Photo, application, training records, weapons discharge reports,
criminal history, FOID card, PERC; NOT driver's license
150 Exam-Relevant Questions with Answers & Rationales
1. What is the minimum passing score on the Illinois Private Detective licensing examination?
A) 65%
B) 70%
C) 75%
D) 80%
Answer: B – The administrative code requires a passing grade of 70 or above .
2. How many days prior to the examination must an applicant's complete application be filed with
IDFPR?
A) 30 days
B) 45 days
C) 60 days
D) 90 days
Answer: C – Applications must be on file at least 60 days prior to the examination date along with all
supporting documentation .
, Page 3 of 116
3. An applicant for private detective licensure must demonstrate at least how many hours of full-time
investigative experience annually to satisfy the "year" requirement?
A) 1,000 hours
B) 1,200 hours
C) 1,500 hours
D) 2,000 hours
Answer: C – A "year" consists of an average of at least 20 work days per month equaling 1,500 hours or
more annually .
4. How long is a successful examination score valid for licensure purposes?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer: C – A successful examination score remains valid for 3 years, after which it becomes void and a
new application and examination are required .
, Page 4 of 116
5. A person convicted of a felony may apply for a private detective license after how many years have
lapsed since full discharge from the sentence?
A) 5 years
B) 7 years
C) 10 years
D) 15 years
Answer: C – At least 10 years must have lapsed since the time of full discharge from a sentence imposed
for a felony conviction .
6. What is the minimum general liability insurance coverage required for a private detective agency
license?
A) 500,000B)500,000B)750,000
C) 1,000,000D)1,000,000D)2,000,000
Answer: C – Applicants must provide proof of at least $1,000,000 of general liability insurance .
7. Who has final authority in settling disputes between state and federal governments?
A) The U.S. Congress
