Recent blog posts

The published deadline for online submission of an application is July 23, 2025. However, IDFPR has just instituted a major change that will affect submission deadlines. Previously, if an applicant submitted their application to Continental Testing by the deadline, they were good to go. Now, the IDFPR has reversed the process. All applications that previously were vetted and approved by Continental are now going to be vetted and approved by the Department. Once your application and experience verification forms are approved by IDFPR, you will receive back an Acceptance ID which you will take back to Continental and use to…

Continental Testing provides me with detailed statistics on their pass/fail rates on all three of the examinations for which I provide a test preparation seminar. One such statistic is what Continental calls “First-Time Passes.” For over thirty years that I have been offering these seminars (17 years for alarm) I have tracked and compared my seminar pass rates to the pass rates of those that do not attend my seminar. In other words, I compare my seminar pass rate to the pass rate of those license candidates who study on their own. My seminar pass rates have been consistently…

IDFPR has just announced on their website that there is a new procedure for submitting Firearm Control Card (FCC) applications for those guards that are intended to be posted on sites at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) this August. IDFPR has created a new cover form for submission of up to 50 FCC applications at a time that can be found at https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/securitycont.html. Agencies will be able to write one check for these up to 50 submissions. There is no mention of how long it will take to process these applications but since the convention is less than seven…

Getting Ready for the Exam If you want to work in Illinois as a Private Detective, Private Alarm Contractor, or Private Security Contractor, you need to pass a tough licensing exam. Here are some tips to help you study and do well on the test. 1. Make a Study Plan These are challenging tests with low passage rates. If you’re committed to passing the test, you’re going to have to go the extra mile in your study habits. Don’t just read it: Reading through the material a few times isn’t enough. Set study times: Plan to study for 2-3 hours in the morning and another…