Illinois Private Detective Licensing
ILLINOIS PRIVATE DETECTIVE LICENSING EXAMINATION | COMPLETE
EXAM 2026/2027 | QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS | PASS
GUARANTEE
1. Which Illinois statute primarily governs the licensing of private
detectives in the state?
A. The Freedom of Information Act
B. The Illinois Human Rights Act
C. The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint
Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004
D. The Illinois Criminal Code of 2012
Correct Answer: C
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 25
D. 225 ILCS 447
Correct Answer: D
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 Attorney General's Office
D. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
(IDFPR)
Correct Answer: D
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, Illinois Private Detective Licensing
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
5. Which of the following license categories is NOT created under 225
ILCS 447?
A. Private alarm contractor
B. Notary public
C. Private detective
D. Locksmith
Correct Answer: B
6. What review process periodically evaluates whether the Private
Detective Act should continue in force?
A. The Illinois Regulatory Sunset Act review
B. A county board referendum
C. A federal GAO audit
D. A biennial gubernatorial veto review
Correct Answer: A
7. Which of the following best describes the general purpose of
licensing under this Act?
A. To replace the need for local police departments
B. To generate general revenue for county governments
C. To protect the public by ensuring minimum competency, character, and
accountability standards for investigative and security service providers
D. To limit the number of investigators regardless of qualification
Correct Answer: C
8. A private detective agency licensed under the Act may also be
referred to in the statute as what?
A. A licensed bureau
B. A bonded contractor
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, Illinois Private Detective Licensing
C. A private detective agency
D. A registered corporation
Correct Answer: C
9. What body advises IDFPR on rules, standards, and licensing matters
under the Act?
A. The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint
Vendor, and Locksmith Board
B. The Illinois Board of Higher Education
C. The Governor's Advisory Council
D. The Illinois State Bar Association
Correct Answer: A
10. How are Board members generally selected for service under the
Act?
A. Elected by licensees in a statewide vote
B. Appointed, with terms of service and consideration given to geographic
representation
C. Chosen at random from license applicants
D. Appointed solely by the Illinois Supreme Court
Correct Answer: B
11. What is the maximum general term length for a Board member
under the Act?
A. 4 years
B. 10 years
C. Lifetime appointment
D. 1 year
Correct Answer: A
12. Which entity enforces disciplinary complaints against licensees
under the Act?
A. IDFPR's Division of Professional Regulation
B. The local police department where the complaint arose
C. The Illinois Department of Insurance
D. The county sheriff's civil division
Correct Answer: A
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, Illinois Private Detective Licensing
13. Which of the following is an accurate description of a 'private
detective agency' under the Act?
A. A business entity licensed to provide private detective services to the
public for a fee
B. A law firm's internal paralegal staff
C. Any individual who investigates matters as a hobby
D. A government surveillance unit
Correct Answer: A
14. Investigators employed directly by IDFPR to enforce the Act must
have what minimum recent investigative experience?
A. A law degree
B. No experience requirement at all
C. 10 years of unrelated work experience
D. 2 years of investigative experience within the preceding 5 years
Correct Answer: D
15. Can an IDFPR investigator enforcing this Act simultaneously hold an
active private detective license?
A. Yes, without restriction
B. Only with the Governor's personal approval
C. Only if the investigator is over age 60
D. No, holding an active license under the Act is generally prohibited
while employed as a Department investigator
Correct Answer: D
16. What is the general framework for how many separate license types
the 2004 Act consolidated into a single statute?
A. None; it created no new categories
B. Only one, unchanged from a 1950s law
C. Several previously separate acts covering detectives, alarm contractors,
security contractors, and related trades
D. Exactly two, detectives and locksmiths
Correct Answer: C
17. Under the Act, which of these is generally considered a distinct,
separately licensed occupation alongside private detective?
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ILLINOIS PRIVATE DETECTIVE LICENSING EXAMINATION | COMPLETE
EXAM 2026/2027 | QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS | PASS
GUARANTEE
1. Which Illinois statute primarily governs the licensing of private
detectives in the state?
A. The Freedom of Information Act
B. The Illinois Human Rights Act
C. The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint
Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004
D. The Illinois Criminal Code of 2012
Correct Answer: C
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 25
D. 225 ILCS 447
Correct Answer: D
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 Attorney General's Office
D. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
(IDFPR)
Correct Answer: D
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, Illinois Private Detective Licensing
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
5. Which of the following license categories is NOT created under 225
ILCS 447?
A. Private alarm contractor
B. Notary public
C. Private detective
D. Locksmith
Correct Answer: B
6. What review process periodically evaluates whether the Private
Detective Act should continue in force?
A. The Illinois Regulatory Sunset Act review
B. A county board referendum
C. A federal GAO audit
D. A biennial gubernatorial veto review
Correct Answer: A
7. Which of the following best describes the general purpose of
licensing under this Act?
A. To replace the need for local police departments
B. To generate general revenue for county governments
C. To protect the public by ensuring minimum competency, character, and
accountability standards for investigative and security service providers
D. To limit the number of investigators regardless of qualification
Correct Answer: C
8. A private detective agency licensed under the Act may also be
referred to in the statute as what?
A. A licensed bureau
B. A bonded contractor
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, Illinois Private Detective Licensing
C. A private detective agency
D. A registered corporation
Correct Answer: C
9. What body advises IDFPR on rules, standards, and licensing matters
under the Act?
A. The Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint
Vendor, and Locksmith Board
B. The Illinois Board of Higher Education
C. The Governor's Advisory Council
D. The Illinois State Bar Association
Correct Answer: A
10. How are Board members generally selected for service under the
Act?
A. Elected by licensees in a statewide vote
B. Appointed, with terms of service and consideration given to geographic
representation
C. Chosen at random from license applicants
D. Appointed solely by the Illinois Supreme Court
Correct Answer: B
11. What is the maximum general term length for a Board member
under the Act?
A. 4 years
B. 10 years
C. Lifetime appointment
D. 1 year
Correct Answer: A
12. Which entity enforces disciplinary complaints against licensees
under the Act?
A. IDFPR's Division of Professional Regulation
B. The local police department where the complaint arose
C. The Illinois Department of Insurance
D. The county sheriff's civil division
Correct Answer: A
Page 3 of 51
, Illinois Private Detective Licensing
13. Which of the following is an accurate description of a 'private
detective agency' under the Act?
A. A business entity licensed to provide private detective services to the
public for a fee
B. A law firm's internal paralegal staff
C. Any individual who investigates matters as a hobby
D. A government surveillance unit
Correct Answer: A
14. Investigators employed directly by IDFPR to enforce the Act must
have what minimum recent investigative experience?
A. A law degree
B. No experience requirement at all
C. 10 years of unrelated work experience
D. 2 years of investigative experience within the preceding 5 years
Correct Answer: D
15. Can an IDFPR investigator enforcing this Act simultaneously hold an
active private detective license?
A. Yes, without restriction
B. Only with the Governor's personal approval
C. Only if the investigator is over age 60
D. No, holding an active license under the Act is generally prohibited
while employed as a Department investigator
Correct Answer: D
16. What is the general framework for how many separate license types
the 2004 Act consolidated into a single statute?
A. None; it created no new categories
B. Only one, unchanged from a 1950s law
C. Several previously separate acts covering detectives, alarm contractors,
security contractors, and related trades
D. Exactly two, detectives and locksmiths
Correct Answer: C
17. Under the Act, which of these is generally considered a distinct,
separately licensed occupation alongside private detective?
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