How to Become a Locksmith: 12-Month Roadmap to First Job
8 min read ยท 2026-10-16
To become a locksmith, first check what your state and city require, then practice rekeying, key cutting and lock installation on your own locks. Start the license or background check paperwork early, and don't touch a customer's lock until you have written approval. After that, work under an experienced locksmith and add one specialty.
This plan covers how to become a locksmith in five phases over about 12 months. It assumes you start with no trade experience and can practice in the evenings and on weekends. One rule shapes the order of the whole plan: you practice only on locks you own until your paperwork clears.
The roadmap at a glance
Goal: Get hired as a locksmith trainee and finish your first paid jobs on your own, with your paperwork in order. Duration: 12 months
Check the rules and set up (Weeks 1 to 2)
Know what your state, county and city ask for before you spend money.
- Find your state's official licensing page, or confirm that no state license exists.
- Note the minimum age, fingerprinting, background check and any required training hours.
- Check whether trainees must register before they work on customer locks.
- List three to five local shops, security companies or door hardware installers.
Milestone: A one-page note with your local requirements and the shops you plan to contact.
Learn the core skills on your own locks (Months 1 to 3)
Learn how pin tumbler locks work and repeat the basic jobs until they feel easy.
- Take a locksmithing course from a trade school, community college or a reputable online program.
- Rekey used locks to a new key until you can do it without instructions.
- Learn key identification, key blanks and how a key cutting machine works.
- Install a deadbolt and a knob set on a scrap door or frame.
Milestone: You can rekey a standard residential lock and install a deadbolt from start to finish.
Clear the paperwork, in parallel (Months 2 to 4)
Start this while you are still in Phase 2, because government processing takes time.
- Submit fingerprints and the background check if your state requires them.
- Complete any state-approved class or exam where one exists.
- Apply for a trainee, apprentice or locksmith license as your state defines it.
- Keep every certificate and receipt in one folder.
Milestone: Written approval from the licensing office, or written confirmation that none is needed. No customer work before this point.
Work under an experienced locksmith (Months 4 to 9)
Turn practice into real job skills with a pro checking your work.
- Apply to the shops on your list with your course and practice log.
- Ride along on rekeys, lock changes and lockouts, and take notes after each call.
- Learn the shop's ownership check, invoice routine and key control policy.
- Ask to handle simple jobs alone once your mentor trusts your work.
Milestone: You complete a full residential rekey for a customer without help.
Choose a specialty and certify (Months 9 to 12)
Add one area where you can take on harder jobs.
- Pick one: automotive, commercial hardware, safes or electronic access control.
- Take a course in that specialty and practice on the tools your shop uses.
- Prepare for a voluntary certification, such as one from ALOA.
- Keep a list of jobs you have done, with photos where the customer allows it.
Milestone: You pass a specialty course or certification exam and handle those jobs on your own.
Licensing and your background check
Locksmith rules in the US vary by state. Some states license locksmiths and require a background check. Others have no state license, but a city or county may add its own. Some places also license the business separately from the person.
Read your state's official page or call the licensing office, and get clear answers on the points listed below.
If you have a past conviction, ask the office directly before you pay for a course. The answer decides whether this plan works for you as written, and it costs nothing to ask.
If your state requires a sponsoring employer, Phases 3 and 4 merge. You apply to shops first, then the shop helps with the paperwork, and you still wait for approval before working on customer locks. Change your dates to match.
- How a criminal record is reviewed, and whether you can ask for a review before you apply.
- Whether you need fingerprints, and how long processing usually takes there.
- Whether you need a sponsoring employer to apply.
- How often the license renews and what continuing education it needs.
Ethics: the part of the job other trades don't have
A locksmith's skill is opening doors that belong to someone else. That is why customers, employers and licensing offices care so much about trust. Learn these habits before your first lockout, not after.
Practice saying no politely. "I can't open this without proof that you live here" is part of the job.
- Verify ownership every time. Ask for a photo ID with an address that matches the door, or another proof of residence such as a lease or a utility bill. If the person can't show it, don't open the door, even if the story sounds fine.
- Be careful with vehicles too. Ask for the registration or title along with an ID that matches it.
- Write it down. Note the name, the ID checked, the address and the time of each lockout. Many shops require this, and it protects you if a job is questioned later.
- Respect key control. Follow your shop's policy for restricted and master keys. Never cut a copy of a key on a restricted system without the owner's authorization.
- Keep methods private. Don't share bypass techniques with customers or online.
Your first kit and your first job
You don't need a full tool kit to start. Buy what Phase 2 needs and add tools once a shop shows you what its jobs require.
A typical first solo job is a residential rekey for someone who just moved in. You confirm ownership, remove each cylinder, rekey them all to one new key, test every door, hand over the keys and write the invoice. If you can run that job calmly from start to finish, you are ready for more.
- Rekeying kit with pins and a pinning tray: the core skill of Phase 2.
- Plug follower and key gauge: remove plugs cleanly and read key cuts.
- A few used locks from different brands: real variety beats one practice lock.
- Assorted key blanks: practice identification and cutting.
- A scrap door or frame: install and adjust deadbolts.
The skills that get you hired
Shops value trainees who handle the routine work well. Focus your practice on the skills below, in this order.
Log how long each rekey takes you every week. When your time stops dropping and every lock works, start applying. Bring the log and a lock you rekeyed to interviews.
For the job search itself, independent shops, door hardware installers and facilities teams are good places to ask. Keep your pitch short: the course you finished, the skills you practiced and your license status.
- Rekeying pin tumbler locks.
- Key cutting and duplication.
- Installing and adjusting deadbolts, knob sets and lever sets.
- Opening locked doors without damage, using proper tools.
- Basic master key systems, needed for commercial work.
Choosing a specialty
After a few months of general work, you will see which jobs you enjoy and which ones your area needs. Pick one.
Check whether your state asks for an extra license for some of these. Access control can overlap with alarm or low voltage rules in some places.
For certification, ALOA lists voluntary programs by area on its certifications page, including general locksmithing, safes, automotive and electronic locks. According to that page, the Certified Registered Locksmith (CRL) requires passing a mandatory exam plus two electives of your choice. A voluntary certificate doesn't replace a state license where one is required.
Review your roadmap once a month. If a shop offers to train you, move Phase 4 earlier. If your background check is still pending, push it back. The phases stay, only the dates move.
- Automotive: car lockouts, key cutting and key programming, which needs specific tools.
- Commercial: master key systems, exit devices and heavy duty hardware.
- Safes: opening and servicing safes, slower and more technical.
- Access control: electronic locks, keypads and card readers, close to low voltage work.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying a full tool kit before checking your rules, so start with the basic kit above.
- Working on customer locks before approval, so wait for written confirmation from the licensing office.
- Skipping the ownership check because the customer seems honest, so ask every time and write it down.
- Paying for a course before asking how your record will be reviewed, so call the licensing office first.
- Learning only from videos, so pair them with real locks and time under a pro.
- Chasing every specialty at once, so master residential work first.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to be a locksmith?
It depends on where you work. Some states require a license with a background check, others have none, and some cities or counties add their own rules. Check your state's licensing office before taking any paid job.
Can you become a locksmith with a criminal record?
It depends on your state and on the record. Where a license exists, the licensing office reviews background checks. Ask that office how your record will be treated before you pay for training.
How long does it take to become a locksmith?
Many people learn the core skills in a few months and work paid jobs under supervision within a year. Your state's processing time and how fast a shop hires you matter most.
Can you learn locksmithing online?
You can learn the theory online. You still need practice on real locks and time with an experienced locksmith. Online training may not count toward your state's requirements, so check before you enroll.
What certifications should a new locksmith get?
Start with whatever your state requires. After that, ALOA offers voluntary certifications. According to ALOA, the CRL requires a mandatory exam plus two electives.