ILLINOIS PRIVATE DETECTIVE LICENSING EXAM
2026/2027 Practice Exam: 150 Multiple-Choice Questions
with Answers and Rationales
1. Which Illinois statute regulates private detectives?
A. The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security,
Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004
B. The Illinois Detective Practice Act of 1950
C. The Illinois Investigative Services Act
D. The Illinois Security Professionals Code
Answer: A. The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private
Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004
Rationale: Private detectives are regulated under 225 ILCS 447,
the 2004 Act that consolidated detective, alarm, security,
fingerprint vendor, and locksmith licensing.
2. Which state agency administers licensing of Illinois private
detectives?
A. Illinois State Police
B. Illinois Secretary of State
C. Office of the Illinois Attorney General
D. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation (IDFPR)
Answer: D. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation (IDFPR)
Rationale: IDFPR issues, renews, and disciplines licenses under
the Act.
Page 1
,3. What is the minimum age to hold an Illinois private
detective license?
A. 18
B. 19
C. 21
D. 25
Answer: C. 21
Rationale: An individual applicant for a private detective license
must be at least 21 years of age.
4. A person who is employed by a licensed private detective
agency to perform investigative work and is not personally
licensed as a private detective generally must hold:
A. A Firearm Owner's Identification card only
B. A Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC)
C. A notary commission
D. No credential at all
Answer: B. A Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC)
Rationale: Agency employees must be registered with IDFPR
through a Permanent Employee Registration Card unless they
hold their own license.
Page 2
,5. Who is ultimately responsible for supervising the
investigative work of a licensed agency?
A. The agency's receptionist
B. The agency's licensee-in-charge, a licensed private
detective
C. The client
D. The local police chief
Answer: B. The agency's licensee-in-charge, a licensed
private detective
Rationale: An agency must designate a licensed private detective
to be responsible for the agency's compliance and operations.
6. Which activity is most clearly within the statutory
definition of private detective work in Illinois?
A. Investigating the identity, habits, conduct, movements,
whereabouts, or reputation of a person for hire
B. Preparing a client's federal tax return
C. Drafting wills for clients
D. Repairing alarm systems
Answer: A. Investigating the identity, habits, conduct,
movements, whereabouts, or reputation of a person for hire
Rationale: The Act defines the practice to include investigating
persons' identity, habits, conduct, movements, whereabouts,
affiliations, transactions, reputation, or character.
Page 3
, 7. Securing evidence to be used before a court, board, or
investigating committee is:
A. Prohibited for private detectives
B. Reserved exclusively for attorneys
C. Reserved for sheriffs only
D. Within the practice of private detective work
Answer: D. Within the practice of private detective work
Rationale: Obtaining evidence for use in legal proceedings is a
core activity listed in the statutory definition.
8. Investigating the cause of fires, accidents, or losses for
hire is:
A. Always illegal without a police escort
B. Restricted to insurance adjusters by law
C. Included in the statutory definition of private detective work
D. Not an investigative activity
Answer: C. Included in the statutory definition of private
detective work
Rationale: Determining the cause of fires, losses, accidents, or
damage is listed as private detective work.
9. A licensee may NOT use a name, title, uniform, or badge
that:
A. Includes the licensee's own surname
B. Lists the agency's license number
C. Suggests affiliation with a government agency or law
enforcement
D. Is printed on a business card
Answer: C. Suggests affiliation with a government agency or
law enforcement
Rationale: Implying that a private detective is a public official or
police is prohibited and misleading.
Page 4
2026/2027 Practice Exam: 150 Multiple-Choice Questions
with Answers and Rationales
1. Which Illinois statute regulates private detectives?
A. The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security,
Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004
B. The Illinois Detective Practice Act of 1950
C. The Illinois Investigative Services Act
D. The Illinois Security Professionals Code
Answer: A. The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private
Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004
Rationale: Private detectives are regulated under 225 ILCS 447,
the 2004 Act that consolidated detective, alarm, security,
fingerprint vendor, and locksmith licensing.
2. Which state agency administers licensing of Illinois private
detectives?
A. Illinois State Police
B. Illinois Secretary of State
C. Office of the Illinois Attorney General
D. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation (IDFPR)
Answer: D. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation (IDFPR)
Rationale: IDFPR issues, renews, and disciplines licenses under
the Act.
Page 1
,3. What is the minimum age to hold an Illinois private
detective license?
A. 18
B. 19
C. 21
D. 25
Answer: C. 21
Rationale: An individual applicant for a private detective license
must be at least 21 years of age.
4. A person who is employed by a licensed private detective
agency to perform investigative work and is not personally
licensed as a private detective generally must hold:
A. A Firearm Owner's Identification card only
B. A Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC)
C. A notary commission
D. No credential at all
Answer: B. A Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC)
Rationale: Agency employees must be registered with IDFPR
through a Permanent Employee Registration Card unless they
hold their own license.
Page 2
,5. Who is ultimately responsible for supervising the
investigative work of a licensed agency?
A. The agency's receptionist
B. The agency's licensee-in-charge, a licensed private
detective
C. The client
D. The local police chief
Answer: B. The agency's licensee-in-charge, a licensed
private detective
Rationale: An agency must designate a licensed private detective
to be responsible for the agency's compliance and operations.
6. Which activity is most clearly within the statutory
definition of private detective work in Illinois?
A. Investigating the identity, habits, conduct, movements,
whereabouts, or reputation of a person for hire
B. Preparing a client's federal tax return
C. Drafting wills for clients
D. Repairing alarm systems
Answer: A. Investigating the identity, habits, conduct,
movements, whereabouts, or reputation of a person for hire
Rationale: The Act defines the practice to include investigating
persons' identity, habits, conduct, movements, whereabouts,
affiliations, transactions, reputation, or character.
Page 3
, 7. Securing evidence to be used before a court, board, or
investigating committee is:
A. Prohibited for private detectives
B. Reserved exclusively for attorneys
C. Reserved for sheriffs only
D. Within the practice of private detective work
Answer: D. Within the practice of private detective work
Rationale: Obtaining evidence for use in legal proceedings is a
core activity listed in the statutory definition.
8. Investigating the cause of fires, accidents, or losses for
hire is:
A. Always illegal without a police escort
B. Restricted to insurance adjusters by law
C. Included in the statutory definition of private detective work
D. Not an investigative activity
Answer: C. Included in the statutory definition of private
detective work
Rationale: Determining the cause of fires, losses, accidents, or
damage is listed as private detective work.
9. A licensee may NOT use a name, title, uniform, or badge
that:
A. Includes the licensee's own surname
B. Lists the agency's license number
C. Suggests affiliation with a government agency or law
enforcement
D. Is printed on a business card
Answer: C. Suggests affiliation with a government agency or
law enforcement
Rationale: Implying that a private detective is a public official or
police is prohibited and misleading.
Page 4
