Section 1240.515  Approval of Firearm Training Programs and Firearm Instructors

a)         Any person, business entity, agency, or institution offering the training courses described in Section 1240.505 of this Part shall first apply to and receive approval of the course, based upon compliance with Section 1240.510, from the Division.  Application shall be made on forms provided by the Division and accompanied by the required application fee established under Section 1240.570.

b)         Any person teaching the firearms training courses described in Section 1240.510 of this Part must be approved by the Division.  Application for approval shall be on forms provided by the Division and must be accompanied by the required application fee (see Section 1240.570), a current photograph of the applicant, a photocopy of the applicant's valid Firearm Owners Identification Card, which is a continuing requirement of registration, and:

1)         Proof that the applicant is recognized and approved by the National Rifle Association (NRA) having taken a Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Course that includes security personnel within the course.  Proof shall be a copy of the applicant's Certificate from the NRA; or

2)         Proof that the applicant is approved and recognized as a range instructor by the Illinois Law Enforcement Police Training and Standards Board.  Proof shall be a copy of the Instructor's Certificate issued by the Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.  Nothing in this subsection (b)(2) shall obligate the Law Enforcement Police Training and Standards Board to train, recognize or approve range instructors for any purpose other than as specified in the Illinois Police Training Act [50 ILCS 705] and Peace Officer and Probation Officer Firearm Training Act [50 ILCS 710]; or

3)         Proof of other firearm instructor education or experience that the Division may consider to be substantially equivalent to subsection (b)(1) or (2), such as experience or education received in military service or federal law enforcement service.

c)         Upon application to the Division, any full-time or part-time faculty employed by an institution under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Board of Higher Education or the Illinois Community College Board to teach a firearms training course or security training course shall be approved as satisfying the requirements of this Section.

d)         Any firearm training program approved by the Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board shall be approved as satisfying the requirements of this Section.

e)         All approvals of firearm instructors shall expire on December 31, 2012 and then every five years thereafter.  Failure to apply for and receive renewal of approval by that date shall cause the Division's previously granted approval to expire.  The approval may be renewed by the firearm instructor by making application for renewal on forms provided by the Division and accompanied by the required renewal fee (see Section 1240.570) and an affirmation by the firearm instructor that the certification or other qualifying basis on which the Division originally granted approval under this Section remains current or in effect.

f)         In addition to any other requirements, a firearm instructor applicant shall meet the following:

1)         Not have a felony conviction in any jurisdiction or at least 10 years have lapsed since the time of full discharge from a sentence imposed for a felony conviction;

2)         Be of good moral character. Good moral character is a continuing requirement of licensure. Conviction of crimes other than felonies may be used in determining moral character, but shall not constitute an absolute bar to licensure, except when the applicant is a registered sex offender;

3)         Not be declared incompetent by reason of any court of competent jurisdiction due to intellectual, physical, or developmental disability, unless a court has subsequently declared the applicant to be competent;

4)         Attest they will not engage in instruction while impaired due to illness or the use of alcohol, drugs, chemicals, or any other materials;

5)         Not be dishonorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States;

6)         Not have prior violations of any provision of the Act or this Part.

(Source:  Amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 16228, effective September 6, 2022)