Personal Defense & Illinois Basic & Advanced Concealed Carry Training

Q. What does CCW or CCL stand for?

A. CCW stands for Concealed Carry Weapon. CCL stands for Concealed Carry License. they are often used interchangeably.

‍Q. Am I eligible for an Illinois Concealed Carry permit?

A.  The answer is yes as long as:

1. ) I am at least 21 years old.
2. ) I have a valid FOID card. (you can apply for a F.O.I.D card at the same time as your CCW permit)
3. ) I do not have 2 or more violations related to driving while under the influence of alcohol, other drugs, or intoxicating compounds within the last 5 years.
4. ) I am not subject to a pending arrest warrant, prosecution or proceeding for an offense or action that could lead to disqualification to own or possess a firearm.
5. ) I have not been in residential or court-ordered treatment for alcoholism, alcohol detoxification, or drug treatment within the past 5 years.
6. ) You may be eligible if you satisfy the above and no objections are filed by law enforcement.

‍Q. Do I need a F.O.I.D. card to take a concealed carry class?

A. An F.O.I.D. card is required to own or carry a gun, and purchase ammunition in Illinois. It is at the discretion of the Training Company if you need to have your FOID card. Guardian Concepts does require to have your FOID card since we do not have rental firearms available. You are required to bring your own firearm to the class.

‍Q. What is a F.O.I.D. card?

A. FOID is an acronym for Firearm Owners Identification. To legally possess or purchase firearms or ammunition, residents of the state of Illinois are required to have a FOID card. (The term is alternatively pronounced “a foid card” or “an F.O.I.D. card”.) You can register for one here: www.ispfsb.com

‍Q. How many hours of training do I need to get a concealed carry permit?

A. Most people are required to take 16 hours of training, however former military, and former law enforcement persons are only required to take 8 hours. Some other forms of prior firearm training may also be recognized by the state, which could result in you only needing 8 hours of training. You must provide proof of these things in order to waive the first 8 hours. More detailed information is provided here. If you are interested in getting the Florida permit, which allows you to carry in additional states (see maps below), you will need to take the full 16 hours. Most people find the 16 hour training extremely useful, including former military and law enforcement. We encourage people to take the full 16 hours as the training will prove invaluable.

‍Q. How long does it take to get a Concealed Carry permit?

A. Once you complete the class, and If you submit your fingerprints with your application, the state of IL has 90 days to issue the permit. If you do not submit fingerprints the state has 120 days to issue the permit. The state has generally been able to issue the permit to those who provide fingerprints in 40 – 50 days. Submitting fingerprints does speed up the permit process. An outside vendor is available during our class if you choose to have your fingerprints done.

‍Q. Are fingerprints mandatory?

A. No, fingerprints are not mandatory to obtain an Illinois permit, however, if you submit prints you will receive your permit faster since it speeds up the background check. An outside vendor is available during our class if you choose to have your fingerprints done. The process is called Live Scan fingerprinting.

‍Q. How do I apply for the Illinois CCW permit?

A. Once you’ve completed your training, you can then apply for your permit. The State of Illinois prefers that the application be submitted on-line, through their website www.ispfsb.com. This may be completed (by the student) immediately following the receipt of your class certificate. They also allow for a paper application that is obtained from the ISP (Illinois State Police) by calling them and answering a series of questions over the phone, after which they send the student a unique (to the student) application that must be completed and returned to them. We will provide detailed instructions on the application process during the class.

‍Q. How long is an Illinois permit valid?

A. Illinois permits are good for 5 years from the date of issuance. After 5 years, Illinois requires that you attend a 3 hour renewal class in order to renew your permit. For information on those classes you can click here.

Q. How much does the actual permit cost?

A. Cost of the permit is $150 (+$3.53 service charge) paid directly to the state of Illinois at the time you file the application, payable by either credit card or electronic check.

Q. How can I renew my IL. CCW permit?

A. An Illinois CCW permit is only valid for 5 years from the date of issuance. Once it expires, the law requires that you must attend a 3-hour class including re-qualifying on a range in order to renew the permit. It is a good idea to begin the process at least 120 days prior to your expiration date since the state can take up to 120 day to renew the permit once you re-apply.You can get more information by visiting our CCW Renewal Class page.