A question concerning apprenticing in Texas

[redzebra]

This is my 6 month check in...(go ahead, do a search on how many post I've contributed. I'll wait...) and I've got a question that I hope someone can answer.

An acquaintance and I have been talking about locksmithing for awhile, and he seems a bit misinformed about some things. He knows that I'm finishing up the Foley-Belsaw course (as he is also a proud graduate... ) and knows I would like to eventually start doing this as a change in career. After I've shown him the criteria that needs to be met for it to become possible, he seems to think that the FB lessons should be good enough to count towards apprenticeship (so I can eventually operate on my own), I may be a tad bit ignorant on some things, but I'm not naive enough to believe it to be that easy either. On a sidenote, he also believes I shouldn't really make such an effort to attend ALOA's 48 hour course this May.

On a less irritating thought, I recently acquired some stuff from my grandfather-in-law. It mainly consist of a some old door locks, a small box of blanks (to practice my impressioning), and a few tools. He says he has more to give, he just has to find it.

[bitbuster]

I finished the FB course in '79. It was only Belsaw then.It cost just a hair over $300. While taking the course and after I finished it, I rode shotgun with a 'smith in a nearby town. I learned tips, tricks, and much valuable info from him. If you can, seek out a 'smith that will let you ride along.I have never attended an ALOA course but you should if given the opportunity. Just give it your best shot.
Belsaw was originally based in KCMO. Now it is in River Falls, WI. I was born in RF and from the late '80s to 2004 I lived there. When I order supplies from FB I now just go to their HQs and pick it up myself, saves on the delivery charges. Good luck.

[cledry]

Not to discourage you because I'm sure you can become capable and skilled, but the FB course is just a start. You will learn more if you apply yourself in a few months as an apprentice (provided the teacher is skilled) than you will learn from a course.

[redzebra]

To start off, thank you both. And I agree, the more I can learn about something, the better off I can be...theoretically. I've actually called around to some of the known operating shops close by, and although they are not (yet) looking to take on someone as an apprentice, they at least give some advice and a few pointers.

Right now, my biggest challenge is getting ahold of someone at ALOA to see if my GI Bill can pay for the course. If I'm able to have both under my belt, I feel that will hopefully open up a few doors as well.

[redzebra]

One thing I forgot to clarify, as he and I talked a little bit more about this yesterday. I believe he has this confused with it taking the place of being a Qualified Manager; i.e a certificate of completion from Foley-Belsaw in place of a Qualified Managers certificate. It's what I suspected but never really asked him too much. I still don't think he understands, but I'm not going to argue about it with him, because it seems almost trivial. He's not working as a locksmith, he barely touches his equipment, and cuts the occasional key for a friend or two.

I will, at least, defend him in saying that finding this info explaining it is hard.

[Tyler J. Thomas]

He's not working as a locksmith

Rant time!

Most people that say they've been a locksmith are full of it, in my experience at least.

I've been involved in two hiring processes for institutions where I helped the facilities manager sort through resumes and make sense of it. You would not believe how many jack-of-all, master-of-nones applied to actual locksmith positions because they had either rekeyed locks at the apartment complex where they worked at or cut keys at Home Depot.

I mean it's great you can install a deadbolt or know about Protecto-keying but do you know what NFPA 80/101? I tell people that if I only cut keys and installed locks, I wouldn't be able to command much over minimum wage. Go to any construction site and let someone see you installing or rekeying locks if you ever get the chance. I guarantee someone will start talking to you about how they did this or that or saw someone do this or that.

What's worse is that when I worked for a locksmith company, I'd be sent to various institutions to either fix their work or do something they couldn't. I don't see how any facility allows that to happen. The only time another locksmith comes on campus to perform work is when it's Title IX funds - which can't be used in our budget so I cannot perform the work.

What I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't give much weight to what a non-locksmith says about locksmithing.

[GWiens2001]

And that is why you see frequently where I state that I am not a locksmith. If a real locksmith says something contrary to what I say, you should probably trust the locksmith.

Gordon

[Big Jesse]

In texas, you have to be an apprentice for a minimum of 1 year, under a certified locksmith, that has a qualified managers license as well. no matter what you know, what you trained in, what certificates you have from aloa, Texas will not recognize it. I was an apprentice locksmith in colorado, and you dont need a license there. i moved to texas, and i cannot work here without someone hiring me. i can own my own lockout business, and i can work for pop-a-lock without any license whatsoever, but if i want to sell hardware, or alter the state of the hardware in any capacity, which is what a locksmith does, i have to have a license. FB Certificate or not, you wont be able to be a locksmith until you work for one for atleast one year, then guess what, THEY hold your license! when you leave them, you lose it.

good luck.