How to Become a Locksmith
Locksmith is a professional who works with locks and safes and also provides a variety of other services to customers relating to lock and security. A locksmith can help a customer to choose locks for their home or business, install locks, cut keys for locks, rekey locks, or repair malfunctioning locks and locking devices. Locksmiths also help customers who are locked out of their homes, businesses, and vehicles. Opening a lock without a key is like solving a puzzle, and locksmiths try various methods to open locks without damaging them. If you live in North Las Vegas and want to become a professional locksmith, there are some steps you need to keep in mind.
Training is Required to Become A Locksmith
When you want to become a locksmith, you need to train for it. Training to become a locksmith is often involves a combination of classroom learning and hands-on experience. You can take both in-person and online courses in many locksmithing schools and training programs located across the country. The locksmithing training program will teach you in topics like key identification, key making, lock installation, lock picking, residential locks, commercial locks, automotive locks, electronic access locks, home, and business security systems, master key systems, safe and vault locks, and high-security locks. If you complete in-person programs, then you will have opportunities to put your learning into practice on the tools that locksmiths use.
Similarly, an online program may provide you with tools that they can use to practice at home. If you want to gain additional hands-on experience, you can complete an apprenticeship or work as a trainee with an experienced locksmith. Not all locksmiths are willing to take on trainees or apprentices, but many are. As an apprentice, you may perform tasks around the office or go out into the field with an experienced locksmith.
Duration of Locksmith Training
It can take you several months to complete your locksmith training course. Some of the training programs take as few as two months to complete, while others take four or more. On-the-job training can take additional months or years to complete, but apprenticeships typically last two to three years.
The income of a locksmith
In the year of 2012, the median annual pay for locksmiths in the United States was $37,560. Trainees and apprentices at locksmith usually start at minimum wage, and if you are productive, your salary will increase from there.
Locksmithing Job Prospects
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects, the employment of locksmiths is slower than the average growth for all occupations. It will grow 7 percent between 2012 and 2020. If you are offering your services in an area that is not already well-served by an established locksmith, then your job prospects should be best. If you are a certified locksmith, then you may have better job prospects as well.
Long Term Career Prospects for Locksmiths
As you gain experience as a locksmith, you can be promoted to positions with greater responsibility or move on to larger companies. You can even find success in opening your private businesses.
Certification or Licensure Requirements
As a locksmith, you will be granted access to people’s homes and sensitive security information and high-security areas, employers and clients should be able to trust that you are qualified and reliable.
Many states require locksmiths to obtain a license to practice their trade, and a voluntary certification can show clients that the locksmith has met high standards for training and experience. In some states, locksmiths are required only to pass a criminal history background check, but in others, locksmiths must complete an approved training course and pass a licensing examination. Some jurisdictions also require locksmith apprentices to obtain licenses. To get an apprentice license, one may have to pass a criminal history background check. Apprentice applicants must show that a licensed locksmith employs them. In addition to their license, locksmiths can pursue voluntary certifications. Associated Locksmiths of America offers certifications for locksmiths at various levels of expertise. One typically starts by continuing the Certified Registered Locksmith designation. With additional training and experience, locksmiths can become Certified Professional Locksmiths and Certified Master Locksmiths.
To become a Certified Registered Locksmith, one must pass an examination that measures knowledge in ten mandatory categories, which include codes and code equipment, cylinder servicing, key blank identification, key duplication, professional lock opening techniques, lockset functions, lockset servicing, basic master keying, and cabinet, furniture, and mailbox locks.