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Illinois Private Security Contractor (PSC) Licensing
Exam QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES
Illinois Private Security Contractor (PSC) Licensing Exam
10 MOSTLY TESTED EXAM COVERAGE AREAS
1. Illinois PSC Licensing Requirements — applicant qualifications, age, moral character, felony
history, experience, education, examination, application requirements, and Department
licensing authority.
2. Private Security Contractor Agencies — agency licensing, licensee-in-charge requirements,
agency ownership, branch offices, business names, contracts, and continuing agency
responsibilities.
3. Licensee-in-Charge Responsibilities — supervision, employee records, training records,
professional services, compliance, contracts, proposals, and agency operations.
4. Registered Security Employees — employee registration, identification, employment
requirements, employer responsibilities, records, and lawful security duties.
5. Basic, Additional, and Refresher Training — required training hours, deadlines, qualified
instructors, training subjects, documentation, and annual requirements. Illinois rules currently
require 20 hours of basic training within 30 days, additional training for qualifying guarding
employees, and refresher training requirements. (Illinois General Assembly)
6. Annual PSC Training — private security contractor annual training, documentation, personal
training logs, record retention, and subjects related to PSC practice. Current Illinois law specifies
at least four hours of annual training and requires documentation to be maintained. (Illinois
General Assembly)
7. Firearms and Armed Security — firearm training, armed employee requirements, authorization,
safe firearm handling, qualification, use of force, and firearm-related responsibilities.
8. Security Operations and Professional Conduct — access control, patrol, incident response,
observation, reporting, confidentiality, communication, ethics, reasonable conduct, and proper
interaction with the public.
9. Legal Authority and Limits of Security Personnel — trespass, detention, arrest-related
situations, use of force, privacy, evidence handling, police notification, and the limits of private
security authority.
10. Compliance, Records, Discipline, and Enforcement — Department inspections, records,
violations, disciplinary action, license status, agency compliance, employee training
documentation, and prohibited unlicensed activity. Illinois law prohibits acting, advertising, or
holding oneself out as a private security contractor without the required license. (Illinois General
Assembly)
1.
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A security contractor wants to provide private security services in Illinois under the PSC law. What must
the contractor have before operating?
A. A local business card
B. A Department license
C. A police recommendation
D. A security uniform
Answer: B. A Department license
Rationale: Illinois law requires a person acting as a private security contractor to be properly licensed by
the Department. (Illinois General Assembly)
2.
A newly hired registered security employee begins work for a private security agency. When must the
employee complete basic training?
A. Within 10 days
B. Within 15 days
C. Within 30 days
D. Within one year
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Answer: C. Within 30 days
Rationale: Illinois rules require the basic training to be completed within 30 days after employment
begins. (Illinois General Assembly)
3.
A private security contractor agency needs a person responsible for agency compliance and professional
operations. What position fulfills this requirement?
A. Shift guard
B. Licensee-in-charge
C. Building manager
D. Payroll clerk
Answer: B. Licensee-in-charge
Rationale: Every private security contractor agency must designate a licensee-in-charge as a continuing
agency requirement.
4.
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What is the main purpose of the Illinois Private Security Contractor licensing requirement for people
providing security services?
A. To control uniform colors
B. To regulate the profession and protect the public
C. To increase private business profits
D. To replace local police departments
Answer: B. To regulate the profession and protect the public
Rationale: State licensing establishes professional qualifications and regulatory requirements for private
security services.
5.
A licensee-in-charge is asked to approve contracts and proposals for the security agency. Is this
responsibility consistent with Illinois requirements?
A. Yes, this is part of the role
B. No, only guards approve contracts
C. No, only police officers approve contracts
D. Yes, but only during emergencies
Illinois Private Security Contractor (PSC) Licensing
Exam QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES
Illinois Private Security Contractor (PSC) Licensing Exam
10 MOSTLY TESTED EXAM COVERAGE AREAS
1. Illinois PSC Licensing Requirements — applicant qualifications, age, moral character, felony
history, experience, education, examination, application requirements, and Department
licensing authority.
2. Private Security Contractor Agencies — agency licensing, licensee-in-charge requirements,
agency ownership, branch offices, business names, contracts, and continuing agency
responsibilities.
3. Licensee-in-Charge Responsibilities — supervision, employee records, training records,
professional services, compliance, contracts, proposals, and agency operations.
4. Registered Security Employees — employee registration, identification, employment
requirements, employer responsibilities, records, and lawful security duties.
5. Basic, Additional, and Refresher Training — required training hours, deadlines, qualified
instructors, training subjects, documentation, and annual requirements. Illinois rules currently
require 20 hours of basic training within 30 days, additional training for qualifying guarding
employees, and refresher training requirements. (Illinois General Assembly)
6. Annual PSC Training — private security contractor annual training, documentation, personal
training logs, record retention, and subjects related to PSC practice. Current Illinois law specifies
at least four hours of annual training and requires documentation to be maintained. (Illinois
General Assembly)
7. Firearms and Armed Security — firearm training, armed employee requirements, authorization,
safe firearm handling, qualification, use of force, and firearm-related responsibilities.
8. Security Operations and Professional Conduct — access control, patrol, incident response,
observation, reporting, confidentiality, communication, ethics, reasonable conduct, and proper
interaction with the public.
9. Legal Authority and Limits of Security Personnel — trespass, detention, arrest-related
situations, use of force, privacy, evidence handling, police notification, and the limits of private
security authority.
10. Compliance, Records, Discipline, and Enforcement — Department inspections, records,
violations, disciplinary action, license status, agency compliance, employee training
documentation, and prohibited unlicensed activity. Illinois law prohibits acting, advertising, or
holding oneself out as a private security contractor without the required license. (Illinois General
Assembly)
1.
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A security contractor wants to provide private security services in Illinois under the PSC law. What must
the contractor have before operating?
A. A local business card
B. A Department license
C. A police recommendation
D. A security uniform
Answer: B. A Department license
Rationale: Illinois law requires a person acting as a private security contractor to be properly licensed by
the Department. (Illinois General Assembly)
2.
A newly hired registered security employee begins work for a private security agency. When must the
employee complete basic training?
A. Within 10 days
B. Within 15 days
C. Within 30 days
D. Within one year
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Answer: C. Within 30 days
Rationale: Illinois rules require the basic training to be completed within 30 days after employment
begins. (Illinois General Assembly)
3.
A private security contractor agency needs a person responsible for agency compliance and professional
operations. What position fulfills this requirement?
A. Shift guard
B. Licensee-in-charge
C. Building manager
D. Payroll clerk
Answer: B. Licensee-in-charge
Rationale: Every private security contractor agency must designate a licensee-in-charge as a continuing
agency requirement.
4.
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What is the main purpose of the Illinois Private Security Contractor licensing requirement for people
providing security services?
A. To control uniform colors
B. To regulate the profession and protect the public
C. To increase private business profits
D. To replace local police departments
Answer: B. To regulate the profession and protect the public
Rationale: State licensing establishes professional qualifications and regulatory requirements for private
security services.
5.
A licensee-in-charge is asked to approve contracts and proposals for the security agency. Is this
responsibility consistent with Illinois requirements?
A. Yes, this is part of the role
B. No, only guards approve contracts
C. No, only police officers approve contracts
D. Yes, but only during emergencies
