Unless exempt from licensure under this Act, no person engaged in or offering to engage in any act or service for which a license under this Act is required may bring or maintain any action in any court of this State to collect compensation for the performance of the licensable services without alleging and proving that he or she was the holder of a valid pawnbroker license under this Act at all times during the performance of those services.
205 ILCS 511/10-85