AUTHORITY: Implementing the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004 [225 ILCS 447] and authorized by Sections 2105-15(7) and 2105-100(b) of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois [20 ILCS 2105/2105-15(7) and 2105-100(b)].
SOURCE: Rules and Regulations Promulgated for the Administration of the Illinois Detective Act, effective October 7, 1975; amended at 4 Ill. Reg. 22, p. 251, effective May 15, 1980; codified at 5 Ill. Reg. 11032; emergency amendment at 6 Ill. Reg. 916, effective January 6, 1982, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 6 Ill. Reg. 7448, effective June 15, 1982; amended at 6 Ill. Reg. 8208, effective July 15, 1982; emergency amendment at 8 Ill. Reg. 903, effective January 6, 1984, for a maximum of 150 days; Part repealed and new Part adopted at 9 Ill. Reg. 18512, effective November 15, 1985; transferred from Chapter I, 68 Ill. Adm. Code 240 (Department of Registration and Education) to Chapter VII, 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1240 (Department of Professional Regulation) pursuant to P.A. 85-225, effective January 1, 1988, at 12 Ill. Reg. 2967; amended at 12 Ill. Reg. 20143, effective November 18, 1988; amended at 15 Ill. Reg. 3051, effective February 11, 1991; amended at 17 Ill. Reg. 1579, effective January 26, 1993; amended at 19 Ill. Reg. 954, effective January 17, 1995; amended at 19 Ill. Reg. 11473, effective July 28, 1995; emergency amendment at 19 Ill. Reg. 13460, effective September 8, 1995, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 3191, effective February 2, 1996; emergency amendment at 20 Ill. Reg. 14924, effective October 31, 1996, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 21 Ill. Reg. 3135, effective March 4, 1997; amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 587, effective December 31, 1999; emergency amendment at 27 Ill. Reg. 1307, effective January 13, 2003, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired June 11, 2003; amended at 27 Ill. Reg. 9587, effective June 13, 2003; old Part repealed, new Part adopted at 28 Ill. Reg. 16209, effective December 2, 2004; amended at 36 Ill. Reg. 1486, effective February 3, 2012; amended at 36 Ill. Reg. 9938, effective July 13, 2012; amended at 38 Ill. Reg. 7879, effective March 25, 2014; amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 7111, effective June 21, 2019; amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 16228, effective September 6, 2022.
SUBPART A: PRIVATE DETECTIVE
Section 1240.10 Application for Examination and Licensure – Private Detective
a) Applications for licensure by examination, together with all supporting documentation, including verification of work experience, must be on file at least 60 days prior to the date of the examination.
b) No candidate shall be admitted to the examination until having fulfilled the experience and/or education requirements specified in Section 15-10(a)(6) of the Act. To determine such fulfillment, the following standards shall be applied:
1) The term "year" shall be 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.
2) "Full‑time investigator in a law enforcement agency" shall mean a sworn peace officer, as defined in Section 5-10 of the Act, who serves in the capacity of a full-time detective/investigator or above rank.
c) The passing grade on the examination is 70 or above.
d) Upon notification of successful completion of the examination, the applicant may apply to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation-Division of Professional Regulation (Division) for licensure. The application must be complete and must be accompanied by:
1) One of the following:
A) Copy of the verification of fingerprint processing from ISP or from one of the ISP live scan vendors whose equipment has been certified by ISP or a fingerprint vendor agency licensed by the Division;
B) Out-of-state residents unable to utilize the ISP electronic fingerprint process may submit to ISP one fingerprint card issued by ISP, accompanied by the fee specified by ISP; or
C) In lieu of fingerpints, verification, on forms provided by the Division, of proof of retirement as a peace officer, as defined in Section 5-10 of the Act, within 12 months prior to application in lieu of fingerprints. The verification shall be signed by the applicant's employer;
2) Proof of at least $1,000,000 of general liability insurance held by the applicant as evidenced by a certificate of insurance from the insurer; and
3) The required fees specified in Section 1240.570.
e) A successful examination score shall be valid for 3 years. After 3 years the examination score will be void and an applicant will be required to file a new application, meeting the requirements at the time of the new application, and will be required to sit for and pass the examination.
f) In addition to any other requirements, an applicant for licensure shall meet the following:
1) Has not been convicted of any felony in any jurisdiction or at least 10 years have lapsed since the time of full discharge from a sentence imposed for a felony conviction;
2) Is of good moral character. Good moral character is a continuing requirement of licensure. 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;
3) Has not been declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be incompetent by reason of mental or physical defect or disease, unless a court has subsequently declared the applicant to be competent;
4) Is not suffering from dependence on alcohol or from narcotic addiction or dependence;
5) Has not been dishonorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States;
6) Submits his or her fingerprints, in accordance with the provisions of the Act and this Part, including but not limited to the payment of any required fees;
7) Has not violated any provision of the Act or this Part.
g) For applicants utilizing the experience referenced in Section 15-10(c) where proof of canine odor detection services for hire since January 1, 2005 is required, at least the following shall be included:
1) Certified copies of a minimum of three canine odor detection services contracts prior January 1, 2005.
2) A completed VE-DET form to document the work experience in canine odor detection services since January 1, 2005.
(Source: Amended at 38 Ill. Reg. 7879, effective March 25, 2014)
Section 1240.20 Application for Licensure – Private Detective Agency
a) An applicant for licensure as a private detective agency shall, in accordance with Section 15-15 of the Act, file an application with the Division, on forms provided by the Division, together with the following:
1) Agency name, address and telephone number of principal office in Illinois where services are provided. A post office box by itself is not acceptable.
2) If the agency does not maintain a principal office in Illinois, the address and telephone number of its out-of-state office where its licensee-in-charge is located and records of its operations within Illinois are kept in compliance with the requirements of the Act and this Part. A post office box by itself is not acceptable.
3) Name and Illinois private detective license number of its licensee-in-charge.
4) The required fees specified in Section 1240.570.
5) The type of business (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, etc.).
A) If a sole proprietorship, the name of the owner and his or her license number;
B) If a partnership, a listing of all partners and their license numbers;
C) If a corporation, a copy of the Articles of Incorporation, a Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Secretary of State within the previous 60 days, and a listing of the officers and directors of the corporation, including license numbers, if applicable. If using an assumed name (d/b/a), a copy of the assumed name registration issued by the Secretary of State. If the corporation is a foreign corporation, a copy of the authorization to conduct business in Illinois;
D) If a limited liability company, a copy of the Articles of Organization, a Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Secretary of State within the previous 60 days, and a listing of the members of the limited liability company and their license numbers, if applicable.
b) The name of the agency shall not include the words "law enforcement" or "police" or any other words or combination that implies that the agency is a law enforcement or police agency or a governmental agency.
c) Any unlicensed officers, directors or members of the applicant corporation or limited liability company shall be persons of good moral character as determined by the Division.
d) When the accuracy, relevance or sufficiency of any submitted documentation or information is questioned by the Division because of lack of information, discrepancies or conflicts in information given, or a need for clarification, the applicant seeking licensure or any of its owners, partners, officers, directors or members shall be requested to:
1) Provide information as may be necessary; and/or
2) Appear for an interview before the Board to explain the accuracy, relevance or sufficiency of any submitted documentation or information or lack of information, discrepancies or conflicts in information given.
(Source: Added at 36 Ill. Reg. 9938, effective July 13, 2012)