Everything you need to know to get your Illinois Concealed Carry License.

The 16-hour training requirement

Illinois law requires every Concealed Carry License applicant to complete 16 total hours of firearms training from an instructor approved by the Illinois State Police (ISP). That training must combine classroom instruction — covering firearm law, safe handling, and use-of-force principles — with a live-fire range qualification, where you demonstrate safe handling and marksmanship in person.

You cannot complete this requirement entirely online. The live-fire portion must be completed in person with your instructor observing. Our 16-hour Concealed Carry Class (also offered as a women's-only cohort) is built to satisfy this requirement in full over two days.

Do you need a FOID card first?

You do not need a Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) card to attend the 16-hour training class itself. However, you will need a valid FOID card — or a pending FOID application, depending on current state rules at the time you apply — to submit your final Concealed Carry License application to the ISP. Many students take our class while their FOID application is processing, then submit their CCL application once both are in hand.

If you don't yet have a FOID card, start that application with the Illinois State Police as early as possible — processing times vary and can be the longest part of the whole process.

The application steps, start to finish

The $150 state fee — what it covers

Every Illinois CCL applicant pays a $150 license application fee directly to the Illinois State Police. This fee:

• Is set and collected by the state of Illinois — not by The Carry Institute
• Is separate from and in addition to our course tuition
• Covers your background check and license issuance, not your training
• Is paid when you submit your application, not on the day of class

Renewing an existing CCL

Illinois Concealed Carry Licenses must be renewed periodically. Current or recently expired license holders can typically renew with our shorter 3-Hour CCL Renewal Class ($85) rather than repeating the full 16-hour course — confirm your specific renewal window and requirements with the state, since rules can change.

Reciprocity: carrying outside Illinois

Illinois maintains reciprocity agreements with a limited number of other states, and those agreements can change. If you plan to carry across state lines, verify current reciprocity status directly with the Illinois State Police or the destination state before traveling — we're glad to point new CCL holders toward the state's current reciprocity resources, but this list is maintained by the state, not by us.