courses from the taol

[commadore]

If you have seen my previous thread about information on becoming a locksmith in ontario a poster recomended the website http://www.taol.net/theassociation/ which is The Ontario Association of Locksmiths. Now i mostly hear about becoming a locksmith through apprenticships, yet the taol offers education classes. Now i hear that there are alot of classes and courses that are basically a rip off because they lack 70 percent of the vital information and such, i think theres a thread about it. Do these classes fall under that? and my last question, would it be wiser to take say the Basic Locksmithing course 1 and 2 and then try to obtain an apprenticship or is there a better way to go about it, and can the taol help me find somone to take me on? many thanks to all!

[torontosafecracker]

Taol is great, I know a couple people who worked there, I think one still does. If you have the money go for it, it's a foot in the door, they have a large network and could help you find the right people . Don't rely solely on them though. I'd take the basic course, make use of their social circle and find yourself placement with anybody nice enough to take you under their wing. Be honest, tell them you'd like to start your own business (if that's your intention) and state that you'd like to continue working and helping them even after you are on your own. I have mutual understandings with a few safe and vault techs and locksmiths that readily share information. When they call me, I do the same

Then again. I just learned everything I could from the internet and from practical work. Any Jobs I could take, I did, just for the experience. I now have access to hundreds of books in my field (safes and vaults) and I have clients that range from small charities and convenience stores to huge high end jewelery stores. I'm always looking to expand and that motivates me.

[torontosafecracker]

When I say hundreds of books, I count owners manuals, lock diagrams, safe diagrams, opening procedures and manipulation techniques. I am an avid collector of information.