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LVS vs. Foley-Belsaw courses

Wondering which locksmith course to take? Looking for locksmith license info for your locale? This is the forum for you.

LVS vs. Foley-Belsaw courses

Postby Jack-in-Rags » 23 May 2020 23:27

Hi all,

I want to enter the field of locksmithing as a professional locksmith and I had been considering taking this course for awhile;
http://www.locksmithvideoschool.com/Advanced-Plus.html

I was wondering if anyone had any experience or opinion as to the quality of this course, compared with some of the courses offered by Foley-Belsaw?

For example, for $650, the LVS course offers a curriculum that seems to cover a lot of (but not all) the topics only covered by Foley-Belsaw in their $800 "Institutional Locksmith course", and not their comparably priced $625 "Deluxe Professional locksmithing course"...things such as master-keying, and includes a set of some tools.

For comparison, this is the $625 FB Deluxe Professional locksmithing course;
https://foleybelsawlocksmithing.com/col ... ing-course

...and this is the $800 FB Institutional locksmithing course;
https://foleybelsawlocksmithing.com/col ... ine-course

Does anyone have any opinion or information as to the quality of any of these courses? I'd really appreciate hearing from you.

Thank you for your time.
Jack-in-Rags
 
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Re: LVS vs. Foley-Belsaw courses

Postby billdeserthills » 24 May 2020 2:04

Lockmasters offers real locksmith training,
of course they probably charge more $$$ too



http://lsieducation.com/wp-content/uplo ... atalog.pdf
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Location: Arizona

Re: LVS vs. Foley-Belsaw courses

Postby jfolk1000 » 23 Dec 2020 17:25

Hi Jack-in-Rags,

I'm not sure if you are still interested in this information but in case you are or someone else is here is my option.

I completed the Foley-Belsaw institutional course earlier this month, including the deluxe professional locksmithing course. It was worth what I paid for it (I received a discount because I didn't buy any tools or supplies as a had more than what was needed already). The courses are mainly read through the 5 books and do some lab activities, nothing too complicated. There were three short videos to watch. Each section had an exam that was about 5 - 10 questions long.

The main reason I took the course was for the master systems design and looking at level 4 and 5 systems as I seem to run into them more and more and have to decode them. It was a good course and I received what I needed out of it. I decided to take the full course offerings to see if I could learn some new information and have the certifications in case a client would want it.

I looked at others including the Lock Master courses and they looked very basic for all three levels. I had a chance to look through the binders from their course from a friend who took it earlier, and for me, it wasn't worth the price and travel. I will look at them for safe training in the future.

I hope this helps.


Just so you know where I'm coming from, I work in the security field, not as a locksmith, I've been in this area for over 15 years and could pin, service, by-pass locks as needed before the course.
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Re: LVS vs. Foley-Belsaw courses

Postby Peter Martin » 24 Dec 2020 11:06

ALOA also has begun a fundamentals online courses since the elidemic began. It seems more expensive and covers many of the same topics. I do not know if the classes come with a membership to ALOA, but that would be nice.
ALOA wants you to take a practical "hands-on" exam at a location in your region.
https://securityceu.com/ALOA_fol.php

Pete
Sioux Falls SD
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Re: LVS vs. Foley-Belsaw courses

Postby pickmonger » 24 Dec 2020 15:47

Hmm Is Belsaw still business online or 100% shut down.

https://www.sopl.us/basic-locksmithing---ltp.html

I learned a lot from the prerequisite Society of Professional Locksmiths online course.

The textbook is $99.00
https://www.clksupplies.com/products/locksmith-training-program-book?ref=5984db1c4a13b

Online
https://www.sopl.us/basic-locksmithing---ltp.html

I got it for free

I would love opinions and comments on this course
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Re: LVS vs. Foley-Belsaw courses

Postby Jacob Morgan » 24 Dec 2020 19:42

Foley-Belsaw is still around. https://foleybelsawlocksmithing.com/ The old Foley Belsaw sold off the locksmith training part of it to one of their employees, and he is running it now.

LVS is, well, based on videos. Foley Belsaw is based on a set of booklets. More material in Foley Belsaw, but some people would learn more from videos. I took the LVS course when it was on sale a few years ago, and have read the Foley Belsaw course binder.

Big question is if someone wants a piece of paper or not. I do not think a locksmith company would be impressed with either course, but in some states with license laws one or the other course may be recognized. As a random example, Tennessee recognizes both if one comes on as an apprentice to a company.

If you just want to learn, could just buy an old Foley Belsaw binder, although their prices on eBay have been kind of high as of late. Collections of Locksmithing Institute booklets are good as well. The Foley Belsaw Commercial Locksmithing books looks like what used to be their continuing education book, which was useful. Regardless, I think the best thing to do is to gather an assortment of used door knobs, mortise locks, lock cylinders, etc., from thrift shops and such and learn by doing. If you want to learn safes, check out local auctions--I picked up one for $1 a while back (locked, no combo).

Unless something has changed recently, neither course has anything very useful about automotive locksmithing.
Jacob Morgan
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Re: LVS vs. Foley-Belsaw courses

Postby billdeserthills » 24 Dec 2020 22:40

Lockmasters offers auto locksmithing along with many other things


http://lsieducation.com/


No blade sharpening tho...
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Re: LVS vs. Foley-Belsaw courses

Postby dennyd68 » 3 Jan 2021 8:37

Jacob Morgan wrote:Foley-Belsaw is still around. https://foleybelsawlocksmithing.com/ The old Foley Belsaw sold off the locksmith training part of it to one of their employees, and he is running it now.

LVS is, well, based on videos. Foley Belsaw is based on a set of booklets. More material in Foley Belsaw, but some people would learn more from videos. I took the LVS course when it was on sale a few years ago, and have read the Foley Belsaw course binder.

Big question is if someone wants a piece of paper or not. I do not think a locksmith company would be impressed with either course, but in some states with license laws one or the other course may be recognized. As a random example, Tennessee recognizes both if one comes on as an apprentice to a company.

If you just want to learn, could just buy an old Foley Belsaw binder, although their prices on eBay have been kind of high as of late. Collections of Locksmithing Institute booklets are good as well. The Foley Belsaw Commercial Locksmithing books looks like what used to be their continuing education book, which was useful. Regardless, I think the best thing to do is to gather an assortment of used door knobs, mortise locks, lock cylinders, etc., from thrift shops and such and learn by doing. If you want to learn safes, check out local auctions--I picked up one for $1 a while back (locked, no combo).

Unless something has changed recently, neither course has anything very useful about automotive locksmithing.

Go out and buy the complete book of locks and locksmithing by Bill Phillips you will not be dissapointed it covers just about everything you need to know to get started.
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