What do I need to do to be Certified?

[pointofview]

I have a question for Varjeal, which is sort of on this topic.

Lets say that down the line, I wish to become a locksmith. I am about to begin a correspondance course, and I was wondering if there was anything else that I need to do afterwards to become a "Certified" locksmith. I ask you, because I, like yourself, live in Canada (Ontario). I noticed you mentioned something about registering your tools. How would I go about doing that? Do I need to become bonded? How do you do that?

I have tried to find this information on the websites for the Governments of Canada and Ontario, but to no avail. Any help would be appreciated.

[Varjeal]

I hope you don't mind that I moved your post to a new thread, since there might be a fair amount of discussion on this topic.

From what I am aware of Ontario laws, there is technically no "certification" required to operate as a locksmith there. (Please correct me anyone if you have information otherwise.)

That said, there are schools available in the extremes of the country that offer certification, which I believe would truly well enough to justify ANY expense involved in getting it.

In Alberta, locksmithing is provincially considered a "recognized trade". Therefore, become a CJL (certified journeyman locksmith) requires successfully completeting a combined 4 years of trade time plus 4 periods of 8 weeks each "class training". Each period is completed successfully when a final exam is passed with at least a 70% average. A seperate exam is required that covers all four periods of training to successfully gain your CJL status, which I have yet to accomplish.

I would highly recommend checking out the sticky above relating to locksmithing schools/courses. Shaun Lovell at Red Deer College would be more than happy to either direct you to a more local school, or willing to discuss with you the on-line courses and distance education possibilities available.

In Alberta and B.C. in particular, there is a special license that must be acquired in order to legally have picking tools in your possession. You'll have to check out your specific laws. Contact your provincial justice department for the precise details. Here in Alberta, in order to get that license one must be an employee of a locksmith business, or a business owner, and must have liability insurance to go along with that.

That insurance will take care of your bond. Companies that sell locksmithing tools, and lockpick tools in particular, are required by law to keep records of whom/when/where tools they sell go to. This means that if you have purchased tools in Canada legally...they have been "registered".

That is also why there are special rules regarding the selling of locksmithing tools. It's a pretty serious offense if you do so improperly.

I hope this answers most of your questions. If/when you find out the exact procedure for your province, please post your information in here so that we can better inform others.

Hope that helps.

[doktarZues]

I live in the United States. Right now I am in the crucial learning and "hobbyist" stage, but I might want to be a locksmith as a career. I've read in many places you need years of apprenticeship and time doing this, etc, to become "certified". I've also seen advertisements for "Get your locksmith certification in 30 days", etc. I realize some 'certifications' have more credibility than other ones, but is there a de facto standard anywhere, or maybe an organization that regulates and is considered de facto? If so, what type of certification do they require.

In other words, I'd really like to become a 'certified locksmith' as quickly as possible, but I dont want to shell out a good deal of money on a quickie course and get a certification that has very little real value. Any comments or suggestions would very much be appreciated.

dok

[Varjeal]

There is a nationally accepted standard in the U.S. Contact the ALOA or talk to your local locksmith about the local chapter of it.

They will give you all the help and assistance you need in becoming a nationally certified locksmith.

It's not really a very quick process though.

All correspondence courses give you a "certificate" saying that you're now "certified". It's kind of interesting that although the gov't doesn't officially recognize locksmithing as a trade, any locksmiths that do work for THEM must be certified through the ALOA if I understand correctly.

Anyways, I'm rambling a bit. You can also check out courses as offered through Lockmasters.com as well, but the ALOA apparently is as close as you'll get to being a nationally recognized CJL.

[Eyes_Only]

So does this mean that the "certification" you recieve from those correspondance classes you can take like from Foley-Belsaw arnt legit or worth anything?

[lockpickroy]

foley-belsaw is a member of ALOA and is listed in the education/schools section of the ALOA website http://www.aloa.org/education/education.htm

[Eyes_Only]

sounds good to me!