For those interested in excellent locksmith training.

[pickmonger]

Most of us are familiar with the correspondance courses that teach locksmithing.

They look pretty wimpy compared to training offered at Red Deer College in Alberta, Canada.

You have to complete four sessions of training . each session is 8 weeks at 30 hours a week. (240 hours) Thats 960 hours in the classroom and hands on lab.

To understand the level that topics are carried have a look at http://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/PDF_File/APP%2 ... ksmith.pdf

Even better is the online locksmith training they offer.. Anyone can take the courses regardless of where they live as long as they have internet.

If you live in the USA you can save big $$$ because Canadian money is
sometimes up to 15 cents cheaper for each US Dollar.

http://www.rdc.ab.ca/rdc/trades/locksmi ... ointro.htm

You maybe interested in checking out some of those pages just to see what you do not get from the usual Correspondence Courses.

Is anyone aware of other locksmith courses offered that are similar or even go into greater depth?

[Hardliner]

I'm sure that course is in-depth but...

The one issue I have with formal schooling regardless of the field of study is: does it REALLY take that much time? For example, my job title is "senior programmer". Technically one needs a four-year university degree to have that job, but I was able to acquire the skills on my own and learn as I worked, without having spent one single minute in a university. I am one of the most respected people at my job, and honestly would not have gone to university to end up hip deep in debt to work where I am let me tell you.

I mean, I've been into locks for only six months or so and have learned so much just from coming here, taking them apart, researching online and reading some books and quite frankly, it ain't rocket science from what I can tell. I live in Ontario where there is no regulation for locksmiths (yet), and some in the locksmith community here feel that Alberta has gone TOO far in terms of regulation, educational and licensing requirements. I mean, what does a starting locksmith make? After spending the hefty amount that I'm sure that course costs I can see being in debt while working for years at a less-than-living wage as an "Apprentice" (read: guy that gets shat upon daily) until one finally gets ahead.

I like the idea of the courses offered here, in Ontario:

http://www.taol.net/academy/academy.html

One can do them at night, on a pay-as-you go basis...

[Hardliner]

Sorry if that sounded a little harsh, but the point I was really trying to make is that people rely too much on formal schooling. Unless you want to become a surgeon or lawyer, etc., all you really need is drive, determination to learn on your own and some basic skills to get your foot in the door somewhere. I started out answering a tech support phone. The rest just comes with experience.

The problem is that once the government starts regulating things you get stuck with expensive, mandatory schooling. (No doubt to drum up business for community colleges, which are government-run up here in Canada).

[Varjeal]

If you reside in Alberta you are 95% almost hooched (if you believe locksmiths shouldn't be regulated or have mandatory training) already. It looks like laws will be coming into effect very soon that require mandatory training.

This is a good news/bad news situation.

Good news: in the future, in order for someone to call themselves a locksmith, they must actually have or get some training. This is a good thing when someone is working with people's safety and security.

Bad news: ya gotta spend a few dollars and take some time to either attend or work at home on completing training.

I'm currently near the completion of the locksmith program offered by Red Deer College that pickmonger mentions. Does it really require 8 weeks? No. It's just a valid option for those who want to take full advantage of classroom activities, have access to the tools, information and instructor training available.

Here's the process I have undertook/am undertaking in regards to this program.

1st Period: Challenged 1st period exam without taking the training due to 2 years of previous experience.

2nd Period: Attended Red Deer College for the 8 weeks of training/study. Very worthwhile, highly recommended, and can be completed early if you so desire.

3rd Period: As I am operating my own business and did not have time to attend class, took it by distance training. This meant studying material at home, completing exams online, then attending a nearby center for supervised exams, a final lab exam at the college, and then successfully writing the provincial exam.

4th Period: Currently in the midst of this, and completing it by distance as well.

Did they take the laws too far? Perhaps, but I'm not here to debate that, just clarify a few points.

re: cost...at roughly $800CND/period of training, I don't think that's really high in comparison with what is offered.

The completion of this training REQUIRES hands on experience/"trade hours". Experience is a fine teacher, but it's awful nice to know what to do BEFORE you make stupid mistakes.

Starting wages are absurdly low for locksmiths for the following reasons:

1. Previous lack of opportunity for pre-employment training.
2. Greedy employers.
3. Employers who don't understand the benefit of pre-employment training.
4. Employers who are scared their employees will learn too much and then take off to start their own business.
5. Employers who don't charge what they are worth.
6. Most places don't truly recognize the locksmith as a tradesperson, just a "handyman who specializes in locks."

Licensing requirements for a locksmith in Alberta, though more strict that nearly everywhere else with the exclusion of B.C. are currently kind of a joke.

Any idea what you need to be a locksmith in Alberta? A business license, commercial insurance, and a little plastic card from the Solicitor General you get when you send them a letter of request from the "company" accompanied by a copy of your clean criminal record. That doesn't sound too tough to me.

Currently, there are NO educational requirements and basically no regulation. That will change within the coming year as mentioned above.

Remember that next time you see a locksmith working on a vehicle, repairing a safe, or securing a premises of a home or business, and ask yourself this:

Which would you rather have doing work for you?

a.) A 2nd year apprentice with 16 weeks of formal training and 2 years of practical experience.
b.) A guy with 2 years of practice.



I hope my comments didn't sound harsh, and they are not intended to bash anyone, just to inform on the current status of the trade here.

[LockNewbie21]

Yea i was going to take the foley beslaw course to get my certificates to get a nice job working in the hospital as the door and lock installer/ maintainer, orcasianly picking, and mosty making lost or removing broken keys. So i figured for the price of the course, the job i will get will be full time, with benifits, plus theres two other guys already int hat department that i met when inquireing if they needed an extra guy and with new additions they said i would be welcome with proper training. So theres an instance where i amnto becoming alocksmith but i am doing the basic locksmithing things and in this case the course and all my hours pf practice and reading will help out on here.

I live in the US so i really dont know how it goes up there in Canada, but i do agree with the thought that locksmiths arent exactly pulling 400,000+ a year so Debt can sometimes be enbidable unless mommy and daddy pay for it, but i am on my own and working simple jobs now to save for the course in my eyes is owrth it.

Sorry if i didnt help just thought i would put in my story. Good luck anyway on your endevors man.

Andy

[Mollywirebandit]

The law regarding locksmiths in the UK is similar to Ontario - there is no formal qualification or license necessary. This means any bozo with a lock cracker and a set of cylinders can charge what ever they want!

In fact there was a locksmith featured on a UK TV programme last night called 'House of horrors' - basically they wire a house with loads of hidden cameras, and call out builders, plumbers, electricians with bad reputations (no qualifications needed for plumbers etc either in the UK, although you can get them, and be part of a guild) and watch these buggers layabout, overcharge and generally rip off the people (actors) for a ton of money.

This guy was called out for a simple lockout (I think they had a curtain lever lock with the curtain blocking the keyway) (for noobs thats a 10 second job with a screwdriver to fix), he fixed it, then destroyed the lock with a drill and charged them something like UK£500 to replace it!

I guess if they ever do bring in locksmith licences in Ontario or the UK there would be an provision for experienced locksmiths to avoid going through the qualification process...[/b]

[Varjeal]

As with any program of this type, there would always be what's called a "grandfather" clause. The applicant would have to prove the required time in as trade experience and then would be granted the title.

This time period in the past was 10 years when the locksmith program was firsted started here. Unfortunately it may allow the odd crook to slip through, but at least it gives the old-timers access.

[pondman]

The one issue I have with formal schooling regardless of the field of study is: does it REALLY take that much time? For example, my job title is "senior programmer". Technically one needs a four-year university degree to have that job, but I was able to acquire the skills on my own and learn as I worked, without having spent one single minute in a university. I am one of the most respected people at my job, and honestly would not have gone to university to end up hip deep in debt to work where I am let me tell you.

The most important characteristic necessary for success in the world is "How to interact with other people." For most of us, this will be the skill that will make us the most money.

I would argue against the " I don't have and education or formal training, but look at me." I don't find it to be true in the U.S. Do I think a person should be formally trained? Yes. And that is in addition to reading everything they can on the subject matter. When doing this over time a person will learn their strengths and weaknesses.

I'm not sure going down to the local locksmith looking for a job, and expecting to learn anything on the job is realistic. In the U.S. if you are hired as a counter person, you probably will remain a counter person, until you take the initiative to study outside the work environment. I would recommend not relying on an employer or the employer's work space to privide anything. In the long run formal training will pay for itself.

If you look through many of the post at lockpicking101.com, you will find a high level of communication. There are many well education in the Security field. It's a field that is rapidly changing. And those people with business, industry, and interpersonal skill are those who will prosper and survive.