Keeping Your Illinois Concealed Carry License Valid: Renewal Process and Training Requirements

Keeping Your Illinois Concealed Carry License Valid:

Renewal Process and Training Requirements

If you are an Illinois resident with a concealed carry license, it is important to stay on top of the renewal process and training requirements to keep your license valid. An invalid license could mean serious legal trouble if you are caught carrying a concealed firearm. In this blog post, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about renewing your Illinois concealed carry license and meeting the training requirements.

Renewal Process

In Illinois, a concealed carry license is valid for 5 years from the date of issuance. To renew your license, you must submit a renewal application to the Illinois State Police no later than 90 days before your current license expires. The renewal process is very similar to the initial application process. Here are the key steps:

Complete the Concealed Carry License Renewal form, available on the Illinois State Police website. Fill out all required information, including your current license number.
Pay the $150 renewal fee, due at the time you submit your application. The preferred payment method is a personal check or money order made payable to the Illinois State Police.
Have your digital passport photo taken. Specifications for the photo are available on the Illinois State Police website. Many hardware stores, pharmacies and shipping stores offer passport photo services.
Submit your completed renewal form, payment, and photo to the Illinois State Police Firearms Service Bureau. This can be done by mail or in person.
Once approved, you will receive a new concealed carry license in the mail. Be sure to destroy your old license at that point.

The Illinois State Police encourage submitting your renewal application no more than 90 days and no less than 30 days before expiration. Renewing during this window provides adequate processing time. If you miss the 90-day deadline, you may still renew up to 6 months after your license expires. However, you will not be permitted to carry a concealed firearm during the time your license is expired.

Training Requirements

In addition to renewing your license on time, you must also complete ongoing training to keep your Illinois concealed carry license valid. The training requirements are:

Within 90 days after your license is issued, you must complete at least 1 hour of review training on firearm safety. This training must be provided by a state-certified instructor.
After that, you must complete at least 3 hours of continuing training for every 5 year renewal period. At least 1 hour must cover range training.
If you are renewing your license for the first time, you must complete the 3 hours of training within the 12 months prior to submitting your renewal application. Going forward, the training hours can be completed at any point during the 5 year license period.
Proof of training must be submitted along with your renewal application. Your instructor will provide a certificate of completion.

Staying Up to Date

To ensure you do not miss any renewal or training deadlines, here are some tips:

Mark your license expiration date on your calendar and set reminders leading up to it. When you receive your renewed license, note the new expiration date.
Take care of your required training hours well in advance of submitting your renewal application. Don’t wait until the last minute.
Save your training certificates along with your concealed carry license so everything is in one place when it’s time to renew.
Stay up to date on any changes to Illinois concealed carry laws and requirements by periodically checking the Illinois State Police website. Requirements could change from one renewal period to the next.

Keeping your Illinois concealed carry license valid takes a little bit of planning and attention to detail. But following the renewal process and training requirements helps ensure you maintain your privilege to carry concealed. And staying legal allows you to reap the full benefits of concealed carry for self-defense. Don’t let your license lapse – take steps today to stay up to date!

If you need assistance completing the Illinois concealed carry license renewal process or meeting your training requirements, the professionals at HBT Security Group are here to help. Contact us today to schedule your review training course or get answers to any questions about maintaining a valid concealed carry license in Illinois. Investing a little time each year in training and administration will give you peace of mind that your license will remain fully compliant.