ILLINOIS PRIVATE DETECTIVE LICENSING EXAM: 200 EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH ELABORATED ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
1. Which Illinois statute primarily governs the licensing and regulation
of private detectives?
A. The Illinois Criminal Code of 2012
B. The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint
Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004
C. The Freedom of Information Act
D. The Illinois Human Rights Act
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security,
Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004, codified at 225 ILCS 447,
is the primary statute governing private detective licensure in Illinois .
2. What is the statutory citation for the Act governing private
detective licensure in Illinois?
A. 775 ILCS 5
B. 720 ILCS 5
C. 225 ILCS 447
D. 225 ILCS 25
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Act is codified at 225 ILCS 447. The other citations refer
to the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5), the Illinois Criminal Code
(720 ILCS 5), and other unrelated statutes .
,3. Which state agency administers and enforces the Private Detective,
Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act
of 2004?
A. The Illinois State Police
B. The Illinois Secretary of State
C. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
(IDFPR)
D. The Illinois Attorney General's Office
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The IDFPR's Division of Professional Regulation holds primary
licensing and regulatory authority for private detectives under 225 ILCS
447 .
4. Under the 2004 Act, what term does Illinois law use in place of
"private investigator"?
A. Field agent
B. Licensed examiner
C. Private detective
D. Case officer
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Illinois law uses the term "private detective" rather than
"private investigator." This is consistent throughout the Act and in all
licensing materials .
5. What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a private detective
license in Illinois?
A. 18 years old
B. 21 years old
,C. 25 years old
D. No minimum age requirement
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security Act
requires applicants for private detective licensure to be at least 21 years
of age .
6. Which of the following is NOT a qualification for private detective
licensure in Illinois?
A. Minimum age of 21
B. Good moral character
C. A bachelor's degree in criminal justice
D. Minimum of 3 years of experience in the last 5 years
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: While education credits can be applied toward experience
requirements, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice is not a mandatory
qualification. The statutory requirements include age 21, good moral
character, and relevant experience .
7. How many years of full-time experience working for a licensed
private detective agency is required for licensure?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 5 years
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An applicant must have a minimum of 3 years of full-time
experience out of the 5 years immediately preceding the application,
, working for a licensed private detective agency as a registered private
detective employee .
8. What is the passing score for the Illinois Private Detective Licensing
Examination?
A. 60%
B. 65%
C. 70%
D. 75%
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Candidates who score 70 or higher will receive a PASS notice.
Candidates who score below 70 will receive a FAILURE notice .
9. How long is a passing private detective examination score valid
before it expires?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 5 years
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Under 68 Ill. Admin. Code 1240.200, if an applicant does not
request license issuance within 3 years of passing the examination, the
exam score expires and the applicant must retake the exam .
10. What is the minimum general liability insurance requirement for a
private detective agency in Illinois?
A. $100,000
B. $250,000
C. $500,000
D. $1,000,000
WITH ELABORATED ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
1. Which Illinois statute primarily governs the licensing and regulation
of private detectives?
A. The Illinois Criminal Code of 2012
B. The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint
Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004
C. The Freedom of Information Act
D. The Illinois Human Rights Act
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security,
Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004, codified at 225 ILCS 447,
is the primary statute governing private detective licensure in Illinois .
2. What is the statutory citation for the Act governing private
detective licensure in Illinois?
A. 775 ILCS 5
B. 720 ILCS 5
C. 225 ILCS 447
D. 225 ILCS 25
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Act is codified at 225 ILCS 447. The other citations refer
to the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5), the Illinois Criminal Code
(720 ILCS 5), and other unrelated statutes .
,3. Which state agency administers and enforces the Private Detective,
Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act
of 2004?
A. The Illinois State Police
B. The Illinois Secretary of State
C. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
(IDFPR)
D. The Illinois Attorney General's Office
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The IDFPR's Division of Professional Regulation holds primary
licensing and regulatory authority for private detectives under 225 ILCS
447 .
4. Under the 2004 Act, what term does Illinois law use in place of
"private investigator"?
A. Field agent
B. Licensed examiner
C. Private detective
D. Case officer
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Illinois law uses the term "private detective" rather than
"private investigator." This is consistent throughout the Act and in all
licensing materials .
5. What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a private detective
license in Illinois?
A. 18 years old
B. 21 years old
,C. 25 years old
D. No minimum age requirement
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security Act
requires applicants for private detective licensure to be at least 21 years
of age .
6. Which of the following is NOT a qualification for private detective
licensure in Illinois?
A. Minimum age of 21
B. Good moral character
C. A bachelor's degree in criminal justice
D. Minimum of 3 years of experience in the last 5 years
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: While education credits can be applied toward experience
requirements, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice is not a mandatory
qualification. The statutory requirements include age 21, good moral
character, and relevant experience .
7. How many years of full-time experience working for a licensed
private detective agency is required for licensure?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 5 years
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An applicant must have a minimum of 3 years of full-time
experience out of the 5 years immediately preceding the application,
, working for a licensed private detective agency as a registered private
detective employee .
8. What is the passing score for the Illinois Private Detective Licensing
Examination?
A. 60%
B. 65%
C. 70%
D. 75%
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Candidates who score 70 or higher will receive a PASS notice.
Candidates who score below 70 will receive a FAILURE notice .
9. How long is a passing private detective examination score valid
before it expires?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 5 years
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Under 68 Ill. Admin. Code 1240.200, if an applicant does not
request license issuance within 3 years of passing the examination, the
exam score expires and the applicant must retake the exam .
10. What is the minimum general liability insurance requirement for a
private detective agency in Illinois?
A. $100,000
B. $250,000
C. $500,000
D. $1,000,000
