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Illinois Bounty Hunter Guide: Requirements and Steps

    Illinois has a population of over 12.6 million people.1 The state does not have a private bail bond system and has outlawed the practice of bounty hunting. This means that people who have “skipped” bail cannot be detained by a bounty hunter or fugitive recovery agent anywhere within Illinois. However, Illinois does recognize the related career of private investigator (PI), also known as private detective (PD). Because “bounty hunter” is not a legal profession in Illinois, we will explain the requirements and the process to become a PI in the state. Private detectives investigate personal, financial, and criminal matters for clients. A PD can work for an individual, a group of people, or an organization. Most PDs are self-employed and are paid on a per-job basis.

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    Requirements for Prospective Private Investigators in Illinois

    Private investigators in Illinois must be licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR). PDs must be 21 years of age, have no felony convictions within the last 10 years, have no mental or physical defects or disease, and have no substance abuse problems. Along with these requirements, there are steps you must take in order to receive your private investigator license in Illinois. Continue reading below to understand the full process.

    Steps to a Career as a Private Investigator in Illinois

    Before submitting your application to the IDFPR, you must meet the minimum requirements and determine if you will be applying based on experience or a combination of education and experience. The steps below outline the process for each path, the required documentation, and the associated fees.

    1. Apply based on experience or education.

    Private investigators must apply for licensure, submit the supporting documents, and pay the $298 application fee (as of April 2022).

    Experience Requirements

    To apply based on experience, you must have at least three years of experience (within the prior five years) in any of the following roles:

    • A full-time investigator for a private detective agency as a registered employee
    • A full-time investigator for a practicing attorney
    • A member of an in-house investigative unit for a corporation with at least 100 employees
    • A member of an in-house investigative unit for any of the branches of the US military

    If you meet any of these experience requirements, you must submit a Verification of Employment (VE-DET) Form to the IDFPR.

    You must submit the Verification of Employment (VE-DSC) Form if you have at least three years (within the past five years) of the following investigative experience:

    • Full-time investigator within any law enforcement agency
    • Full-time investigator experience within a state’s attorney’s or public defender’s office
    • Full-time experience working for a private detective agency in a state that does not require licenses for private detectives

    If you previously worked in canine odor detection services and are using this as your qualifying experience, you must submit the Verification of Employment (VE-CAN) Form along with certified copies of at least three canine odor detection services contracts completed since January 1, 2005.

    Education and Experience Requirements

    If you have a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement, business, or a related field, the IDFPR requires the Certification of Education (ED-DOD) Form from your school in a sealed envelope.

    To satisfy the experience requirement with a bachelor’s degree, you must submit the Verification of Employment (VE-DET) form and have at least one year of experience (within the past five years) in one of the following roles:

    • Full-time investigator for a private detective agency as a registered employee
    • Full-time investigator for a practicing attorney
    • Member of an in-house investigative unit for a corporation with at least 100 employees
    • Member of an in-house investigative unit for any of the branches of the US military

    OR

    You must submit the Verification of Employment (VE-DSC) form if you have at least one year (within the past five years) of the following investigative experience:

    • Full-time investigator within any law enforcement agency
    • Full-time investigator experience within a state’s attorney’s or public defender’s office
    • Full-time experience working for a private detective agency in a state that does not require licenses for private detectives

    If you have an associate degree in law enforcement, business, or a related field, you must submit the same forms for education and experience as required by individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree. Because the degree is a two-year degree, you will be required to show proof of two years of investigative work experience whereas bachelor’s degree holders must only show one year of experience. If you have previously completed a non-degree military training program in law enforcement (or a related field), you may substitute that training for one year of the required work experience.

    2. Take and pass the examination.

    Those who meet the education and experience requirements must next take the Class A Private Detective written exam. As of April 2022, the examination fee was $298. The exam is a 90-minute test consisting of 75 questions. You must score 70 or higher in order to pass. To increase your chances of passing, you should review the Department’s private detective written exam study guide, which includes a sample test. If you fail, you may retake the test an unlimited number of times but you must receive your application for re-examination from the Department prior to taking the scheduled exam again. Note that proof of $1,000,000 in professional liability insurance must be submitted as supporting documentation to the IDFPR after passing the exam.

    3. Submit a fingerprint-based background check.

    All applicants must pass state and federal criminal background checks and be fingerprinted by an approved vendor within 60 days of submitting an application. Fingerprinting fees vary by vendor. You must submit the receipt from the licensed fingerprint vendor with your private detective application fee. If you have held a license as a private detective in any other state, you must submit a Certificate by Licensing (CT) Form to the Department.

    4. Receive your license.

    Once you complete the steps above, you will become a licensed private investigator in Illinois. Your work in this field can help you gain the experience and connections needed if you decide to pursue a career in fugitive recovery in another state.

    Private detective licenses in Illinois expire on May 31 every three years. To renew, you must pay the required fee of $150 (as of April 2022) and provide proof of liability insurance.

    Related Careers

    Private detectives often work in similar fields to maximize their earning potential and exposure to new clients. A commonly pursued related career is that of process server.

    Process Server

    Due to the investigative nature of the job, a career as a process server can be similar to that of a private investigator or detective. Process servers serve legal documents or information on actions or legal proceedings to involved parties at the request of the court (known as “serving process”). In Illinois, a sheriff, coroner, and an appointed special investigator can serve process. In counties where two million people or less reside, a licensed private investigator may act as a process server if appointed by the court. You must apply directly to your local court(s) to be hired as a process server. The county sheriff’s office must have a copy of your PD license on file for each county in which you intend to serve legal papers.

    Training and Education Options in Illinois

    Having an associate’s or bachelor’s degree isn’t a requirement to become licensed as a private investigator in Illinois, but it is one path to licensure. For individuals who are qualifying based on experience alone, it may beneficial to obtain a certificate or undergraduate degree in criminal justice. The skill-set provided may improve your investigative skills and open up more job opportunities like working as an independent contractor for a law firm or a large corporation. Listed below are a few schools you should consider if you want to gain more classroom criminal justice experience.

    City Colleges of Chicago – Harry S. Truman College
    1145 W Wilson Ave
    Chicago, IL 60640
    https://www.ccc.edu/colleges/truman/programs/Pages/Criminal-Justice-Associate-in-Arts.aspx

    Benedictine University
    5700 College Rd
    Lisle, IL 60532
    https://www.ben.edu/undergraduate-programs/criminal-justice/index.cfm

    Parkland College
    2400 W Bradley Ave
    Champaign, IL 61821
    https://www.parkland.edu/Main/Academics/Departments/Social-Sciences-Human-Services/Areas-of-Study/Criminal-Justice

    Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy
    2500 Carlyle Ave
    Belleville, IL 62221
    https://www.swic.edu/academics/career-certificates/homeland-security/southwestern-illinois-police-academy/

    Finding Work

    Finding clients as a private investigator will take skill and persistence. To aid in this effort, you should look to find a mentor or apprenticeship to get started. Because the state of Illinois requires previous investigative experience, you should get to know a few private detectives and other experienced professionals around town. Reach out to them and others to build your professional network. Consider joining clubs and associations for PDs or PIs as they usually discuss available job opportunities.

    Featured Private Investigator and Private Detective Agencies in Illinois

    As stated previously, in a business like investigation, networking will be essential to your success. Many people gain clients through referrals and word of mouth. To help you begin developing your network, we’ve listed a few highly rated private detective agencies that you might consider contacting.

    D&S Private Detective, Inc.
    4900 S Becker Dr
    Bartonville, IL 61607
    https://dsprivatei.com/

    Heritage Investigations
    123 W Madison St
    Ste 1700
    Chicago, IL 60602
    https://privateinvestigatorchicago.com/2012

    Lawrence Ryan Investigations
    1363 Shermer Rd
    Ste 337
    Northbrook, IL 60062
    https://lawrenceryaninvestigations.com/

    On Q Protection & Investigation Services
    3004 W Belmont Ave
    Chicago, IL 60618
    http://www.onqpi.com

    Rockford Detective & Security Agency
    631 N Longwood St
    Ste 102
    Rockford, IL 61107
    http://rockforddetective.com/

    Private Detective Salary and Outlook in Illinois

    In Illinois, 1,560 private investigators or detectives are employed, with an average annual salary of $70,310.2 The Chicago metropolitan area has the second-highest employment level of PDs in the nation (1,260).3 Projections show that jobs for private detectives in Illinois will increase by 11.5% through 2030, with an estimated 190 job openings per year including replacements.4

    City or Metropolitan AreaNumber Employed2Average Annual Salary2
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin1,260$72,300

    Additional Resources

    If you would like to find out more information about becoming a private investigator in Illinois, consider looking into the organization below.

    References:
    1. US Census Bureau Quick Facts, Illinois: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/IL/PST045221
    2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Illinois: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_il.htm
    3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021, Private Investigators: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes339021.htm
    4. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm