Concealed carry classes in Peoria, IL run 16 hours, cost roughly $125 to $250, and end with a live-fire test you must pass to earn the training certificate required for an Illinois Concealed Carry License (CCL). The class is only one step. You also need a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card, a $150 state application fee, and three to five months of patience while the Illinois State Police process your paperwork.
Who Can Take the Class and Apply
Confirm you qualify before you spend money on a course. You must be at least 21 years old, hold a valid FOID card at the time you apply, and be a legal U.S. resident.1Illinois General Assembly. 430 ILCS 66/25 – Qualifications for a License If your FOID is expired or revoked, resolve that first.
The Illinois State Police also look back five years at your personal history. You can be disqualified for:
- A conviction for any misdemeanor involving physical force or the threat of physical force within the past five years.
- Two or more DUI-related convictions within the past five years.
- Residential or court-ordered treatment for alcohol or drug issues within the past five years.
- Any pending arrest warrant or legal proceeding that could lead to disqualification.
The five-year window runs from your application date, not your class date.1Illinois General Assembly. 430 ILCS 66/25 – Qualifications for a License If you’re close to a cutoff, waiting a few months can be the difference between approval and a $150 non-refundable loss.
What the 16-Hour Course Covers
Every new CCL applicant in Illinois must complete at least 16 hours of training from an instructor approved by the Illinois State Police.2Illinois General Assembly. 430 ILCS 66/75 – Applicant Firearm Training It’s one of the longest civilian training requirements in the country, and no civilian shortcut exists. Depending on the instructor, you can split the hours across two days or sit through a single extended session.
The curriculum covers firearm safety, basic marksmanship, cleaning and loading, and the state and federal laws on storage, transportation, and carry. It also walks through how to interact with law enforcement while armed. That section carries more weight than most students expect. Knowing what to say and do during a traffic stop keeps a routine encounter from going sideways.
Military Credit
Active-duty service members, retirees, and anyone with an honorable discharge can take an eight-hour credit toward the requirement.2Illinois General Assembly. 430 ILCS 66/75 – Applicant Firearm Training You still complete at least eight hours covering Illinois-specific carry and transportation law, plus the full live-fire qualification. Bring a DD-214 or military ID so the instructor can document the credit on your certificate.
Finding a Peoria-Area Instructor
The Illinois State Police Firearm Services Bureau keeps a searchable registry of every approved instructor in the state.3Illinois State Police Firearm Services Bureau. Concealed Carry Firearms Instructors Search by city or ZIP code to pull up instructors teaching in or near Peoria. Verify any instructor through the registry before paying. If the name isn’t listed, the state won’t accept the certificate.
Prices in the area generally run $125 to $250 for the full 16 hours. Some classes bundle ammunition and range fees; others charge separately. Ask what’s included before you book so your budget doesn’t shift at the door.
The Live-Fire Qualification
The shooting test is built into the course and uses a B-27 silhouette approved by the Illinois State Police. You fire a minimum of 30 rounds at three distances:
- 10 rounds at 5 yards
- 10 rounds at 7 yards
- 10 rounds at 10 yards
At least 70% of your rounds must land in the scoring area to pass, which works out to 21 of 30.2Illinois General Assembly. 430 ILCS 66/75 – Applicant Firearm Training The scoring zone is generous at close range, but 10 yards is where new shooters tend to drop points. If you’ve never shot a handgun, book an hour at a range before class day. Your instructor cannot issue the training certificate if you fail the live-fire portion.4Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Administrative Code Title 20, Part 1231
What to Bring to Class
Showing up prepared avoids the most common day-of problems:
- Your physical FOID card. Not a photo on your phone.
- A functional handgun, unloaded and cased. Confirm with your instructor beforehand that your specific model is acceptable for the range.
- At least 50 rounds of ammunition. You need 30 for the qualification, and most instructors run practice drills that use another 15 to 20.
- Wrap-around safety glasses and over-the-ear or in-ear hearing protection. Some ranges loan gear, but plan to bring your own.
- An Illinois driver’s license or Secretary of State ID card. Having it on hand speeds up the paperwork.
After you pass the written exam and the live-fire test, the instructor signs your training certificate. That document is required for your state application. Keep a digital scan in case the original goes missing.
What the Class and License Will Cost You
The class is just one line on the bill. A realistic Peoria breakdown:
- Training course: $125 to $250
- Ammunition, if not included: $15 to $40 depending on caliber
- State application fee: $150 (resident); $300 for non-residents5Illinois General Assembly. Firearm Concealed Carry Act – 430 ILCS 66/60
- Live-scan fingerprints, optional: $30 to $60
All in, expect $320 to $500. The $150 state fee is non-refundable even if the application is denied, so re-read the eligibility list before you submit.
After You Pass: The State Application
Applications go through the Illinois State Police online portal, not through a local office or by mail.6Illinois State Police. Concealed Carry License You create an account, upload a clear scan of your training certificate, complete the form, and pay the $150 fee by credit card or electronic check.
The Fingerprint Decision
During the application, you choose whether to submit electronic fingerprints from a licensed live-scan vendor. It’s optional, but it affects timing. The statute requires the Illinois State Police to issue or deny within 90 days of a complete application.7Illinois General Assembly. 430 ILCS 66/10 – Issuance of Licenses to Carry a Concealed Firearm Submitting prints speeds the background check and tends to keep processing inside that window. Without them, the ISP falls back on a name-based check, which historically pushes closer to 120 days.
Live-scan prints run roughly $30 to $60 at Peoria-area vendors. You visit a licensed location, show ID, and the vendor transmits the prints directly to the Illinois State Police. If speed matters, it’s money well spent.
Decisions and Timing
The Illinois State Police notify you through the online portal or by mail. Approved applicants receive a physical license card that must be carried whenever you’re armed. Denials come with a written reason and a right to appeal through the process in the Act. From first class to license in hand, plan on three to five months depending on whether you submitted fingerprints.
Renewing Later On
An Illinois CCL is valid for five years. Renewal takes a three-hour class instead of the full 16, plus another $150 application fee, and no new fingerprints.8Illinois General Assembly. Firearm Concealed Carry Act – 430 ILCS 66/50 Most Peoria instructors offer the three-hour renewal for $50 to $75. If you let the license lapse past the renewal window, the state treats you as a new applicant, which means repeating the full 16-hour course. Put the expiration date on your calendar well before it arrives.