Fidelity Investigative Training Academy

State of Illinois Licensed Security & Investigative Training Academy

State of Illinois Lic. # 102-000232

35 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601

Office: (312) 235-6389

"Your Road To Your Future."

Train With Experienced Security & Investigative Professionals

What To Expect

Why Settle For Poor Training?

Why drive miles through traffic, fighting through construction on the expressway, or try to find someone to give you a ride, only to get to a “classroom” with sticky floors, chairs that are older than you, and handouts copied so much that they are almost unreadable? Why burn expensive gas, only to sit in class and watch a videotape made in the 80’s, on a VCR made in the 70’s? Why spend your hard-earned money listening to someone “teach”, who has never stood a post, arrested a suspect, testified in court, or written an actual report? At the end of such a “training” course, what will you really know how to do?

There Is A Better Way…

For those who care about their security career, there is a better way. Come to an academy where the student comes first. Centrally located in downtown Chicago, we are easily reachable through every CTA train line in the city, as well as through Metra train lines, as well as through PACE buses that service the downtown area. Instead of traveling to an unfamiliar area that may not be safe, come and study in the heart of the city.

Why burn through a tank of gas, when you can be at our academy and home each day for a few bucks? Attend courses in an environment that helps you to be your best. No creaky floors or missing tiles on our floors, come and learn in classroom settings with wall-to-wall carpeting, central heating and air, and the latest in audiovisual teaching aids. Learn from instructors that have real-world experience that you can learn from. Speak to true professionals that have “been there” and “done that” and can pass that knowledge on to you.

You’ll Need A Job Too! We Can Help…

We won’t just take your money and run, we will help you get started. Our Referral Program is designed to be a resource for security and investigative agencies in Chicago, to provide qualified persons for job openings. To you, this means that as a graduate of one of our courses, if you wish, you will be added to our Referral Program, to be contacted by licensed agencies looking for people with the skills you will have. Although not a guarantee of employment, it is a good step in the right direction. Other training organizations do not provide this service.

You’ll Graduate With Goodies!

Everybody likes stuff. When you graduate from any of our programs, you will have a wealth of knowledge between your ears, and also in your hands. We provide our students with training manuals that they can keep and take home with them after they graduate. This is important, because questions pop up all the time, you want to have the tools and the answers to deal with them when they do. Our training binders are legendary for the wealth of knowledge they posses.

It’s Too Easy To Be Cheesy!

There are organizations that will take your money, show you a videotape on report writing, give you a Certificate, and push you out the door. That’s not training – that’s an embarrassment. It is also dangerous for those who “graduate” from such places and go into the workforce. Don’t take risks with your career, start with good, solid training that will give you a advantage. It really is true, you get what you pay for! Our promise to you, is that, upon successful completion of our courses, you will be fully trained in that subject matter. You will know what to do, and how to do it.

When You Are Going For That Promotion

And you need that edge to put you ahead, you need to be here. Our training courses of advanced subjects can provide you with the edge you need. In addition, many good jobs require additional specialized training, in addition to the basic state-required training. Unlike many other “schools”, we provide that training, along with additional resources to help you develop your career. Some of our courses are so specialized, that students from other states travel in to take them.

Meet Other Security Professionals

Visit our new Discussion Board for Security and Investigation Professionals. It’s free and it is fun. Register and have full membership right now!

Our Statement of Purpose

To provide professional, sound investigative training to individuals at all levels of their investigative careers. To sponsor and host both private and public sector investigative and protective trainings, seminars, and instructional programs, in order to produce professional, ethical and detailed investigators and officers for the sectors requiring their services. Many individuals wish to get a sound start in an investigative or protective career, but don't know where to go to get sound knowledge. Many "security academies" teach handcuffing, how to wear the uniform, or basic physical techniques to use to physically disarm an offender. Many graduates of these programs lack the sufficient amount of time needed to train themselves to make such training smooth and automatic. Although we do provide some basic instruction on restraining techniques, we focus on providing the student with the proper knowledge to make the right decisions, which often result in that investigator or officer avoiding the need to restrain someone. A thinking investigator or officer evaluates the circumstances in order to make the right decision before leaping into action.

About Our Instructors

Our instructors are all professions in their respective field. Each instructor teaches from a wealth of personal experience and knowledge. More than the information you get from textbooks, you get knowledge hard earned from decades in the field. Our instructors all are successful in their respective disciplines, so when you ask a question, you can be sure to get the right answer. Our instructors are certified through national and international organizations, from both the private security and private investigations field, as well as from public sector law enforcement training agencies.

Courses Offered

Standard courses offered by the academy include the state-mandated Twenty-hour Basic Security Officer Course, the state-mandated Twenty-hour Private Detective Employee Course, and the Twenty-hour Firearms Course. Other courses and programs periodically offered are: Firearms Requalification, ASP Telescopic Baton Course, OC Pepperspray Course, Tactical Firearms, and Specialized Investigative Courses in Retail Loss Prevention, Personal Protection, Service of Process and Bail Enforcement. Not content to stop there, the Academy also hosts seminars for individuals interested in becoming Private Detectives, and in owning their own Investigative Business.

Need A Job?

We can help! We provide a Referral Service for all successful graduates of our program. The cost for this service is automatically included in your tuition. How does it work? Students who complete our course may indicate if they want to be included in a referral listing for potential employers. When an employer contacts us, requesting a list of qualified graduates to fill positions in their organization, we provide our referral list, based upon their request. Only those students who give their consent, participate in the Referral Service. Check our Discussion Forum also, for posting of new positions opening up.

Dates & Registration For Courses

Dates for upcoming courses can be viewed below, on this page. Registration can be made by telephone or by fax. Prospective attendees are advised to register quickly, as seats cannot be held without payment, and go quickly. All courses are taught by instructors who are recognized experts in their respective fields. Attendees who successfully complete a course (certain courses require written and/or practical examinations prior to completion) will received a Fidelity Investigative Training Academy “Certificate of Course Completion". Completion of certain courses will also result in the conferring of State of Illinois Documentation of State Certified Training.

Course Schedule & Programs Offered

The Academy’s Course Schedule is very integrated, so that it can provide a variety of training to those who require it, every year. It is extremely important to register early and submit payment in a timely fashion to ensure a guaranteed seat in the course you want. Certain courses are only held once or twice a year, due to instructor availability or other factors, and those courses generally fill up very quickly. Seats will not be held for registrants who have not submitted their registration with the proper tuition. Failure to attend all parts of the courses provided will result in failure to qualify to sit for the qualifying examination, and forfeiture of any “Certificate of Course Completion”. Students are expected to be in class, on time, for all sections of their course, without exception.

Course Texts and Materials

Course texts and materials are included in the cost of the course (see additional costs for Firearms Training). Each student will receive a course textbook with an abundance of information that they can use. The course texts are the student’s to keep after the course is concluded. These texts are unique, as no other Training Academy provides such detailed and helpful tools to their students such as we do.

Examination

Courses that are required for State of Illinois certification will always conclude with a qualifying examination. Students attending those courses must obtain a passing score on those examinations in order to receive certification of their training. Individuals who do not receive a passing score, may re-test, at the testing component of the next incoming class, for a small fee. No one will receive a “Certificate of Course Completion” of State certified training without successfully completing the mandated examination. Individuals attempting to cheat on any exam in any course, will immediately be dismissed from the course. No refund for tuition will be given. Such incidents will be reported to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, for state-mandated disciplinary action.

Tuition Payment

Payment for course tuition is made by certified check, cash or money order. Personal checks are not accepted. On the first day of class, students must provide a valid State ID Card or Driver’s License, as proof of identity.

Course Details