An initial Illinois Concealed Carry License is valid for 5 years from issuance. A renewed license runs for 5 years from the expiration date on the current license. To maintain your concealed carry privileges, complete at least 3 hours of ISP-approved renewal training unless exempt under 430 ILCS 66/75(h), and submit a renewal application before your license expires. Apply electronically through the ISP portal, or contact the Firearms Services Bureau Call Center if you qualify for a paper application.[1]
Renewal Eligibility
To renew your CCL, you must continue to meet all the eligibility requirements that applied to your original application under 430 ILCS 66/25. If you have become subject to any disqualifying condition during the license period -- such as a felony conviction, an order of protection, or a mental health adjudication -- your renewal will be denied. Illinois residents must also possess a valid FOID card at the time of renewal. Eligible nonresidents instead submit the documentation required by Section 40(d).[2]
The 3-Hour Refresher Course
Under 430 ILCS 66/75, CCL renewal requires at least 3 hours of approved refresher training unless a statutory exemption applies. Initial applications require at least 16 hours of approved training, including range qualification, subject to statutory training credits and exemptions. The refresher course must be conducted by an ISP-approved instructor and covers:[2]
- Updates to Illinois or federal firearms laws governing concealed carry in Illinois
- Updates to the Criminal Code provisions on use of force and weapons offenses listed in Section 1231.10
- Appropriate and lawful interaction with law enforcement while transporting or carrying a concealed firearm
When to Take the Refresher
Unless you qualify for a statutory training exemption, complete at least 3 hours of ISP-approved refresher training before submitting your renewal application, which must include proof of completion. Do not wait until the last minute -- scheduling a course well in advance ensures you have the training certificate ready when you apply.[1]
Live-Fire Requirement
ISP-approved renewal courses include a live-fire qualification. Renewal applicants complete a live-fire qualification with at least 30 rounds, including 10 rounds each at 5, 7, and 10 yards on a B-27 silhouette target, and must hit the scoring area with at least 70 percent of the rounds fired. The course includes two hours of required legal updates and instruction on lawful interaction with law enforcement, plus one hour of instruction that includes the live-fire qualification.
Step-by-Step Renewal Process
Step 1: Complete the 3-Hour Refresher Course
Find an ISP-approved instructor and complete the refresher training. Your training certificate must be submitted with the instructor and curriculum identification numbers assigned by ISP.
Step 2: Log In to the ISP Portal
Access the ISP Firearms Services Bureau portal at ispfsb.com and log in with your existing credentials.
Step 3: Submit the Renewal Application
After you sign in, start the CCL renewal from your account. Upload your refresher training certificate with the instructor and curriculum identification numbers, update any personal information that has changed, and upload a head and shoulder color photograph taken within the 30 days before applying.[1]
Step 4: Pay the Renewal Fee
The CCL renewal fee is $150 for Illinois residents and $300 for non-residents. This fee covers another 5-year license period.[1]
Step 5: Wait for Processing
Track your renewal application through the ISP portal. Except where the Act provides otherwise, ISP must grant or deny a renewal application within 90 days after receiving a completed application, with 30 additional days if the applicant has not previously submitted a full set of electronic fingerprints.[2]
When to Apply
Submit your renewal application before your current CCL expires. Given the ISP's processing timelines, applying at least 120 days before the expiration date provides a practical buffer. A CCL that qualifies for conditional renewal under 20 Ill. Adm. Code 1231.120(c) remains active until a new CCL is issued, unless it is subject to revocation or suspension.
What Happens If Your CCL Expires
If your CCL expires before the renewal is processed, you may not carry concealed unless the license remains valid under the conditional renewal rule or a statutory exception to the license requirement applies. Conditional renewal under 20 Ill. Adm. Code 1231.120(c) requires the CCL to expire during a gubernatorial disaster proclamation, a renewal application submitted while a statewide proclamation is in effect, an active FOID card and a CCL that is not subject to revocation. Your FOID card (assuming it is still valid) continues to allow you to possess firearms at home and transport them unloaded and enclosed in a case, but concealed carry in public generally requires an active CCL. A CCL is not required on your own land or in your abode, legal dwelling or fixed place of business, or on another person's land or in their legal dwelling as an invitee with their permission.[3]
Fingerprints and FOID Auto-Renewal
If you submitted fingerprints during your original CCL application, they remain on file with the ISP. You do not need to submit them again for renewal. With a full set of fingerprints on file for your CCL, ISP automatically renews your FOID card upon an FTIP approval if your card is not subject to revocation or suspension.[4]
Denial of Renewal
If your renewal is denied, the ISP will send written notice with the reason for denial. Appeals follow the same paths available for new application denials. A denial resting on an objection sustained by the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board is reviewed directly by the circuit court under the Administrative Review Law (430 ILCS 66/87), not through a hearing before the Director of State Police.[2]