Illinois Concealed Carry FAQ

You must be at least 21 years old, hold a valid Illinois FOID card (or have one pending), complete 16 hours of Illinois State Police–approved firearms training including a live-fire qualification, and submit an application to the ISP with a $150 fee for residents. The license is valid for 5 years.

The Illinois State Police charges $150 for a 5-year resident license, paid when you apply online. Training course tuition is separate — contact 2AM Tactical or check our registration page for current class pricing.

After you apply, the Illinois State Police has 90 days to process applications submitted with fingerprints, or 120 days without fingerprints. Submitting electronic fingerprints is optional but speeds up processing. Add the weekend for your 16-hour class, and most students are licensed within 3 to 4 months of starting.

You need a valid FOID card (or pending application) to apply for your CCL, and you'll need it to handle firearms and ammunition at the range. If you don't have one yet, apply through the Illinois State Police first — it costs $10 and is valid for 10 years. We're happy to walk you through it.

Absolutely. Many of our students are complete beginners. Our law enforcement instructors coach you individually during the range portion, and our Intro to Handgun class is a comfortable starting point if you'd like a foundation before the full 16-hour course.

No. Contact us before class and we can arrange a rental or loaner firearm for the live-fire portion. Taking the class first is actually a smart way to make a better-informed first purchase.

You must fire 30 rounds at a B-27 style silhouette target: 10 rounds from 5 yards, 10 from 7 yards, and 10 from 10 yards, scoring hits with at least 70% of shots. Our students walk to the line prepared, and we coach you through every string.

Yes. The Illinois State Police allows up to 8 of the 16 required hours to be credited for qualifying prior training — such as an NRA Basic Pistol course — or for honorably discharged military service. Send us your documentation and we'll confirm your credit before you register.

Every 5 years. Renewal requires a 3-hour recertification course with live-fire re-qualification and a $150 state fee. 2AM Tactical runs renewal courses in a single evening.

Illinois law prohibits carrying in schools, government buildings, courts, hospitals, public transit, bars and establishments where more than 50% of sales are alcohol, public parks and playgrounds, and private property posted with the state's no-carry sign, among other locations. We cover the complete, current list of prohibited areas in every class.

No. Illinois does not honor any other state's concealed carry permit. To carry concealed in Illinois you need an Illinois CCL. Non-residents of certain states with substantially similar laws may apply for an Illinois non-resident license.

We're based at 5533 W 109th St in Oak Lawn, Illinois, with convenient access from Orland Park, Tinley Park, Palos Heights, Burbank, Evergreen Park, Chicago Ridge, and Chicago's Southwest Side.

Use our online registration form — it takes about two minutes. We'll follow up by email to confirm your seat, upcoming dates, and everything you need to bring.

Yes. Registration goes through our secure form, and we only use your information to coordinate your training. We never sell or share student information.