Becoming a security guard is a great idea no matter what part of the country you live in. Security personnel are in hot demand even in this dismal economy. If you live in the state of Illinois and want to become a security guard there are two requirements.
First you will need to a get your license to work as a security guard in the state of Illinois. Every state in the U.S. has it's own similar licensing system so this is nothing unique to Illinois. Secondly you will need to apply for and obtain your PERC card. This stands for the Permanent Employee Registration Card. This certification ensures that you haven't been found guilty of any felonies or other serious crimes in the past. In fact, within the state of Illinois many other jobs require this sort of licensing such as school bus drivers and some private investigators.
In order to apply for your PERC card first you will have to make sure that you are 18 years of age or older. No exceptions are made under any circumstances so you may as well not even bother if you are a minor. You will also need to have a social security number and a valid ID or work permit. In order to start the process you should contact The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The IDFPR are the sole legal issuers of PERC cards within the state of Illinois.Before you actually apply for your PERC card you will also want to make sure that you get your digital fingerprinting done. This is becoming more and more commonplace today in highly sensitive work positions as it allows the FBI or other Government agency to more quickly identify and conduct a criminal background check on you. You will want to make an appointment at a live scan center in your area and make sure to bring photo identification with you. The procedure is usually fast and painless. You should be in and out in 15 minutes.
After you have finished with this you will receive a digital fingerprinting receipt which you will send in with your PERC card application. The easiest way to get the application is to download and print it off of the IDFPR website. Along with filling out all the necessary information you will also need to send in an up to date picture of yourself and a non-refundable amount of $55. Should your application be approved, you will receive your PERC card in the mail within a few weeks.
After you have received your PERC card you can begin a security guard training course in order to receive your state license. This usually consists of about 20 hours of coursework detailing skills such as communication, detaining a suspect, writing reports and so on. You will have to write an exam at the end. Should you pass you will receive your certification and be fully licensed to work as a security guard within the state of Illinois. You will need to do a short renewal course each year as long as you are employed in the security guard field.
Becoming a security guard is a great career decision for many people and there are plenty of exciting and challenging positions available in the state of Illinois and elsewhere. You just need to make sure that you get the proper licensing and training first. What's stopping you?
