Opinion ID: 2225360
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Licensing Examination

Text: Although we agree with the plaintiff's argument that the experience requirements for private alarm contractors under the Act are invalid, we reject his claim that the circuit court properly ordered the Department to issue him a license. Nothing in the statute or the record before us supports the circuit court's conclusion that the plaintiff is automatically entitled to a license. As previously noted, section 14(c)(12) of the Act specifically states that the Department may conduct an examination which shall include subjects reasonably related to the activities licensed so as to provide for the protection of the health and safety of the public. (Emphasis added.) (225 ILCS 445/14(c)(12) (West 1992).) Here, the Department determined that the plaintiff was not qualified to sit for the examination, because his experience did not meet statutory requirements. Our conclusion that the statutory experience requirements are invalid does not ipso facto lead to the conclusion that the plaintiff is entitled to a license. Rather, we simply reverse the Department's finding that the plaintiff is not qualified to take the licensure examination. Our decision does not affect the validity of that portion of the Act which authorizes the Department to conduct an examination. For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the judgments of the circuit court and the appellate court, set aside the decision of the Department, and remand this cause to the Department with directions that the plaintiff shall be allowed to sit for the licensing examination. Appellate court judgment reversed; circuit court judgment reversed; department decision set aside; cause remanded with directions.