1) Spent quite a bit of time doing 'research' on this forum and the net in general. Based on my own needs and the opinions of others, I decided that Foley-Belsaw was the right starting school for me.
2) Signed up with FB. My experiences there can be found in a separate thread. Suffice to say, it was very positive. Total cost: $599. I paid in advance and had all thirty lessons shipped at once.
3) I worked through all thirty lessons and submitted my homework and exams to FB for grading.
4) Visited the www.bsis.ca.gov site to learn about licensing requirements. You can download instructions and forms there. CA requires "Live Scan Fingerprinting" -- so I also looked up the info on a local Live Scan site.
5) Paid $51 (CA fees) + $18 (operator fee) to Live Scan operator to have my fingerprints electronically submitted for DOJ and FBI processing.
6) Paid $8 to have passport photos taken for BSIS Identification App.
7) Completed BSIS documentation. This includes a Locksmith License app, Personal Identification form, Business Name Request, and Live Scan forms from #5 above.
Since I am using my own name and not a special business name, I do not need a "Doing Business As (DBA)". This saved me some money and time. If you do require a DBA, you will have to file one with your local paper and wait for it to be published before continuing with the next steps.
9) I opened a business checking account with a local bank.
10) Visited my local city gov't site and downloaded the business license form.
11) While waiting for paperwork to be processed, I very carefully prioritized an initial expenditure for key blanks, pinning kit, critical tools, and general supplies. My budget for this initial expense is $1500. I don't want to spend more than this until I have practical experience to justify additional purchases.
12) Wrote a letter of introduction for myself describing my qualifications to a potential master locksmith mentor.
13) I used the local yellow pages to list locksmiths in my area that I can contact for potential apprenticeships. I also thought about any friends and/or family who might know someone that I can apprentice to.
14) Maintain a realistically humble view that even after all of the above, I still am a beginning novice in the art/craft of locksmithing.
This is where I am right now. It's an exciting journey so far!
RwP
