Section 1240.100  Application for Examination and Licensure – Private Alarm Contractor

a)         An individual seeking licensure by examination as a private alarm contractor shall make application to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation-Division of Professional Regulation (Division), on forms provided by the Division, at least 60 days prior to the examination.  The application shall include proof acceptable to the Division that the applicant has fulfilled the required experience specified in Section 20-10(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)         Applicants qualified to sit for the examination pursuant to Section 20-10 of the Act shall have private alarm experience which shall include, but not be limited to:

A)        Private alarm contractor experience as defined in Section 5-10 of the Act gained while licensed or lawfully practicing in another jurisdiction with substantially equivalent licensure requirements as in effect in Illinois for 3 of the last 5 years; or

B)        A minimum of 3 years experience of the 5 years immediately preceding application working as a full-time manager for a licensed private alarm contractor agency or for an entity that designs, sells, installs, services, or monitors alarm systems that, in the judgment of the Board, satisfies the standards of alarm industry competence.  (Section 20-10(a)(6))

b)         The passing score on the examination is 70 or above.

c)         Upon notification of successful completion of the examination, the applicant may apply to the Division for licensure.  The application shall include:

1)         One of the following:

A)        Verification of electronic fingerprint processing from the Illinois Department of State Police or one of the Illinois State Police approved vendors.  Applicants shall contact one of the approved vendors for fingerprint processing;

B)        Out-of-state residents unable to utilize the Illinois State Police electronic fingerprint process may submit to one of the Illinois State Police approved vendors one fingerprint card issued by the Illinois State Police, accompanied by the fee specified by the vendor; or

C)        Verification, on forms provided by the Division, of proof of retirement as a peace officer within 12 months prior to application in lieu of fingerprints.  A peace officer is defined as any person who by virtue of his/her office or public employment is vested by law with a primary duty to maintain public order or to make arrests for offenses, whether that duty extends to all offenses or is limited to specific offenses; officers, agents or employees of the federal government commissioned by federal statute to make arrests for violations of federal criminal laws shall be considered peace officers. (Section 5-10 of the Act)  Such verification shall be signed by the applicant's employer;

2)         Proof of at least $1,000,000 of 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.

d)         A successful examination score shall be valid for 6 years.  After 6 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.