FAQ

No. Retired officers qualified to carry a concealed weapon through legislation have no authority as a law enforcement officer.  They remain private citizens without law enforcement authority and are bound to legal standards of a citizen with regard to use of force.

No, certified law enforcement officers only. 

Public Act 94-103 allows the Board to operate IROCC under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA). LEOSA provides, under 18 U.S.C. § 926C(c)(1) and (c)(2), a “qualified retired law enforcement officer” means an individual who was separated by a public agency as a law enforcement officer that had statutory powers of arrest. To be classified as a Law Enforcement Officer, one must be primarily responsible for prevention or detection of crime and the enforcement of the criminal code, traffic, or highway laws of this State or any political subdivision of this State” and have successfully completed initial minimum basic training requirements at a basic training school as law enforcement officers on probation until the completion of a FTO program.

IROCC’s eligibility requirements in its administrative rules, 20 Ill. Adm. Code 1720.220 and 1720.240, reiterate the requirement that a person must be a law enforcement officer and that the statutory powers of arrest are full powers of arrest as a law enforcement officer. Therefore, court security, corrections officers, fire investigators, and coroners are not eligible for IROCC even with their limited arrest powers.

Yes. The October 2010 amendments to the statute changed the requirement for a qualified law enforcement officer to an individual that separated (not necessarily retired) from service as a law enforcement officer after serving an aggregate of 10 years or more.

Yes. If your agency determined that you had a duty related disability and you were separated after completing any applicable probationary period.

No. You must be retired or separated from the agency.

Yes. As long as your service at both agencies meets the requirements contained within the statute, you will have served an aggregate of 10 years and are considered a qualified retired law enforcement officer under the statute. You will need to provide proof of service from each agency.

Yes. On January 2, 2013, LEOSA was amended to specifically allow for active and “retired” (as defined by LEOSA) Military and DOD Police, and law enforcement officers with UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) apprehension authority, to qualify for the statute; however, a standard CAC or blue retiree card will not work for LEOSA purposes, as the photographic ID must identify the individual as either being actively employed, or having once been employed, as a police or law enforcement officer of the agency. The DOD’s LEOSA police, DODI 5525.12 (included as a link on our IROCC website) was recently amended to address this issue.

The IROCC application fee is $75 for one firearm type, or $100 for both Revolver and Semi-Automatic. These application fees are the only funds collected to operate the program. The IROCC program is set up as a not-for-profit and receives no state or federal funding.

No. All firearm qualifications must be completed at designated IROCC ranges, using IROCC approved range officers.

Unfortunately, without a photo identification card issued by your retiring department/agency you are not eligible for the IROCC program. As the applicant, it is your responsibility to obtain this from your department/agency.

No. To participate in the IROCC program you must reside in Illinois.

No. You must have a valid FOID card to apply for the IROCC program.

No. We do not have access to the IL Driver’s License or FOID photos. You must provide a photo to be used on your IROCC card. The photo needs to be in color, at least 2in. x 2in, and a centered view of full face. Keep in mind the photo that is submitted will be the photo on your IROCC card.   

No. We will keep the submitted photo in our database. However, you are welcome to update your photo. All you need to do is include an updated photo with your renewal application.

Yes. You may qualify with two weapon types (Revolver and Semi-Automatic).

No.

Once the application has been processed you will receive a pre-qualification packet with instructions on attending a firearm qualification shoot. Included in this packet will be a current range schedule with dates and locations. You must schedule to secure the preferred date for your firearm qualification.

In order to qualify, you must place 21 hits out of 30 rounds within the 8x14 target area (70% proficiency). You will be provided two opportunities to qualify: shooting a total of 30 rounds for each opportunity. If you are qualifying with two firearms, a revolver and a semi-automatic, you will be given one opportunity (30 rounds) for each weapon. The course of fire is 12 rounds from the five-yard line, 12 rounds from the seven-yard line and 6 rounds from the fifteen-yard line.

In order to attend another IROCC qualification shoot, you will need to send in a renewal application, which includes another application fee.

Yes. You must re-qualify annually. The federal law you are carrying under requires an annual qualification.

No. The issue and expiration dates are based on when you shoot this year, regardless of your previous IROCC card. - No Extensions in the federal law.

No. If we have record of past participation, you are considered a renewal applicant.  Once you are in the program you remain a renewal candidate.

Clear “documented” guidance has not been provided for ILETSB or IROCC.

No.  You must contact the specific airline and follow their prescribed procedures. For information provided by TSA on transporting firearms and ammunition, please click here.

No. We do recommend everyone obtain personal liability insurance. 

3 months from date of processing 

HR Representative, Chief/Sheriff, Deputy Chief 

No. Only public law enforcement officers are eligible.