Reveiw of Ashworth College's Locksmithing course

[Jburgett2nd]

Fist I would like to apologize for not being on the forum as much as I used to, lots of exciting stuff happening for me. Anyhow, I first started the course at Ashworth with very limited knowledge of locksmithing. I like to think more than your average bear but don't we all. In the first lesson it is all just about an introduction to the school, there is nothing about locksmithing just the typical blah blah Ashworth stands for excellence smear that all places like that have. After that to start my first real lesson involving the trade I had to wait near a month because the book Bill Phillips Locksmithing was back ordered the shipment also included a cheap wafer lock but with no instructions on what you were actually supposed to do with it since you don't get picks until your last lesson group. The first lesson group consisted of Introduction to Locksmithing,Keys and Locks,Pin Tumbler Locks and Locksmithing Tools. Now the book they send in the first lesson plan is an amazing book I highly recommend it but you can just order it off amazon. The second lesson plan is An introduction to master keying and security systems, fitting locks into doors, and an introduction to high security systems. Once again the book by Bill phillips is great, but there is absolutely no hands on material so far. And if you are a tactile learner like myself some concepts are hard to grasp unless you can see it and feel it yourself. Lesson group three is Lock Designs and Functions, Keyways and Master Keying High-Security Locks/Interchangeable Cores, Automotive Locksmithing/Modern Alarms. At this point you get a cheap kwikset key in knob lock and a pinning set that includes about ten different pins and springs and a wooden dowel as a plug follower, you also get two more books but they are not books just excerpts from them, Locksmithing by Joe Rathjen and the complete guide of locks and locksmithing by Bill Philips. I was very put off by the fact they did not send the full texts and only excerpts from them. The final lesson group Home and Business Services/Decoding, Picking, and Emergency Entry, Exam Combination Locks/Electrical Access and Exit Control Systems, Key Duplicating Machines/The Business and Law of Locksmithing. In this shipment you get your picks, they are crap, the brand is Unican, they feel like they are cut from sheet metal and have sharp edges, the southord picks I had bought before the class were a heck of a lot better quality. So I passed the class with a GPA of 3.60 now I have to wait 4-6 weeks to get my diploma and key machine.

My overall view of the class would be if it did not cost 900$ then great, I could see paying 200$ plus materials for it. The fact is it was not hands on almost at all and I feel that with an occupation like locksmithing it NEEDs to be hands on. Now if it was honest and said that it was a supplemental course just for beginners that is great but it made itself out to be the be all end all that one would need to start up a business. And to be honest I have learned just as much from being a member of the forum here. For anyone considering taking the course at Ashworth I would highly reccomend that you just purchase the books yourself then get some locks and what not to practice on because their diploma doesn't really mean anything, and you would have saved a lot of money and would have gotten much more experience dissecting locks to find out how they work in conjunction with the books. Now I will say this I did come out knowing a hell of a lot more than I did going in, but that was in part to Bill Phillips and his wonderful book I admit it was nice being able to take a test to see if I had a firm grasp of the content you are alllowed to take the test three times so you could just use the process of elimination since they are all multiple choice. They also offer the ALOA fundamentals test do not let this fool you like it did me, this is the equivalent of a six day course offered by the ALOA, it is not membership or anything like that it is just saying you have basic knowledge of locks that a six day course can give you. I find myself wanting to jump in and start a business but I know that I am no where near the level I need to be to do that so I am stuck with the options of "screw it Jump in the deep end and try to swim" or try to find an established locksmith to do an apprenticeship with.

In conclusion I cannot recommend this course to anyone, I would not have taken it had I known how poor it was. I can However Highly recommend the books by Joe Rathjen and Bill Phillips there.

James

[Farmall]

Thanks for the well written review.

[Jburgett2nd]

It was my pleasure. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask.

[cledry]

Sounds like with that course the only person going to be making money is them. I really wouldn't recommend just jumping in and trying to start a business just yet. I would say get a minimum of a couple of years working for a full service locksmith and then consider it.

[MatrixBlackRock]

In conclusion I cannot recommend this course to anyone, I would not have taken it had I known how poor it was. I can However Highly recommend the books by Joe Rathjen and Bill Phillips there.

James

James, someday down the road, you might want to consider writing out for yourself, the good the bad and the ugly of that course along with your thoughts and ideas on how to improve it. Then add to that the experience you will gain in time and use that to develop your own course, not to beat them on price, but to crush them on the actual value of the course to someone such as yourself trying to go from the known to the unknown.

And yes, I believe you are quite correct that any course designed to basically bring someone into the craft of being a locksmith must be hands on, as that craft presents two distinct roadblocks to entry, the ability to use ones hands to operate basic hand tools and not hurt oneself and not being afraid to get ones hands dirty.

Wayne

[Jburgett2nd]

I just got a call this morning from Ashworth they said they were "made aware" of some issues I had with the course, and offed to refund me back half of my tuition. I accepted might as well get a little back, I was amazed that they were willing to do that much.

[MatrixBlackRock]

I accepted might as well get a little back, I was amazed that they were willing to do that much.

Good deal for you.

Wayne

[Tyler J. Thomas]

Soap box speech time.

I enrolled at Ashworth to take their Electrician Diploma course. I also enrolled at Penn Foster to take their Electronics Technician Diploma course. I've spent close to 8 years working on access control systems and I wanted formal training/certifications for my resume in addition to my work experience. I have 4 locksmith certifications but they don't necessarily demonstrate my proficiency in access control. The goal was to use both courses to prepare for ETA-I's CETa certification (which Penn Foster advertises it will do) and eventually their CAST certification. (As far as I know, the CAST certification is the closest thing there is to an access control certification out there, although CompTIA's Security+ and ASIS's PSP do hit on some access control related topics.)

Both have 5 day full refund cancellation policies. I didn't even make it the full 5 days with either. Both courses were horribly outdated. Penn Foster, despite their claims, does not cover all of the topics found in the CETa certification.

My advice to you or anyone interested in actually learning to be a locksmith on your own and then either starting your own business or working for a business is this:

1) Join ALOA under a probationary membership ($200). In addition to a slew of benefits, you get a monthly copy of "Keynotes" which contains multiple technical articles that will teach you A LOT. You'll also have access to the past 5 years of "Keynotes". Hundreds and hundreds of technical articles.

2) Join an ALOA chapter or locksmith association in your area (price may vary). Another good source of education. Classes are usually free or dirt cheap for members. Also a good networking tool for future employment if you decide to not go out on your own.

3) Purchase ALOA's PRP study guide ($25) and read it. Understand the test and what is covered on the mandatory portion and the two electives you will test for and really focus on those areas.

4) Go to your local library and find Bill Phillips book. Learn it like the back of your hand. Read the LIST Council's dictionary (found in the study guide and online) and learn it like the back of your hand. Start reading manufacturer's literature on their products to learn more about mortise locks, cylindrical locksets, door closers, etc. Read what you can on here.

5) Spend about 6 months doing all of this, an hour a day if possible.

6) Test for ALOA's Certified Registered Locksmith certification ($75). If you've followed the first 5 steps and really dedicated yourself to learning the trade, you can pass it. As of now, the PRP is strictly a multiple choice test, no-hands on.

If you pass, you've invested $300 and obtained the most well known locksmith certification out there. You won't have a problem finding a job as an apprentice as they help you hone your head candy into hand candy.

If you or anyone have any questions, feel free to PM me. I was once trying to break into this industry and know what it's like. I don't mind trying to help others do the same.

[Robotnik]

Soap box speech time.

I enrolled at Ashworth to take their Electrician Diploma course. I also enrolled at Penn Foster to take their Electronics Technician Diploma course. I've spent close to 8 years working on access control systems and I wanted formal training/certifications for my resume in addition to my work experience. I have 4 locksmith certifications but they don't necessarily demonstrate my proficiency in access control. The goal was to use both courses to prepare for ETA-I's CETa certification (which Penn Foster advertises it will do) and eventually their CAST certification. (As far as I know, the CAST certification is the closest thing there is to an access control certification out there, although CompTIA's Security+ and ASIS's PSP do hit on some access control related topics.)

Both have 5 day full refund cancellation policies. I didn't even make it the full 5 days with either. Both courses were horribly outdated. Penn Foster, despite their claims, does not cover all of the topics found in the CETa certification.

My advice to you or anyone interested in actually learning to be a locksmith on your own and then either starting your own business or working for a business is this:

1) Join ALOA under a probationary membership ($200). In addition to a slew of benefits, you get a monthly copy of "Keynotes" which contains multiple technical articles that will teach you A LOT. You'll also have access to the past 5 years of "Keynotes". Hundreds and hundreds of technical articles.

2) Join an ALOA chapter or locksmith association in your area (price may vary). Another good source of education. Classes are usually free or dirt cheap for members. Also a good networking tool for future employment if you decide to not go out on your own.

3) Purchase ALOA's PRP study guide ($25) and read it. Understand the test and what is covered on the mandatory portion and the two electives you will test for and really focus on those areas.

4) Go to your local library and find Bill Phillips book. Learn it like the back of your hand. Read the LIST Council's dictionary (found in the study guide and online) and learn it like the back of your hand. Start reading manufacturer's literature on their products to learn more about mortise locks, cylindrical locksets, door closers, etc. Read what you can on here.

5) Spend about 6 months doing all of this, an hour a day if possible.

6) Test for ALOA's Certified Registered Locksmith certification ($75). If you've followed the first 5 steps and really dedicated yourself to learning the trade, you can pass it. As of now, the PRP is strictly a multiple choice test, no-hands on.

If you pass, you've invested $300 and obtained the most well known locksmith certification out there. You won't have a problem finding a job as an apprentice as they help you hone your head candy into hand candy.

If you or anyone have any questions, feel free to PM me. I was once trying to break into this industry and know what it's like. I don't mind trying to help others do the same.

Thanks for posting this. I'm in the early stages of positioning myself for a career change; this'll prove useful for me very soon.

[Tyler J. Thomas]

Thanks for posting this. I'm in the early stages of positioning myself for a career change; this'll prove useful for me very soon.

Best of luck.

Don't listen to people that say that the CRL test is difficult, it's not. I was 20? when I took it and had barely been a locksmith for a year. I passed the mandatory and one elective; failed the other elective by a single question. My mistake? I let people tell me it was a difficult test and that I should use it as a learning experience so that I'd know what I should focus on when I re-took it. In other words, I let people talk me into "it's too hard, you're going to fail" and I didn't bother studying.

[MatrixBlackRock]

My advice to you or anyone interested in actually learning to be a locksmith on your own and then either starting your own business or working for a business is this.

I would add if one is considering adding electronic access control, CCTV or communications they find out the required contractor licensing within their jurisdiction, for example here in Florida holding yourself out as a contractor in any of those three disciplines require a state electrical contractors license and many jurisdictions which require a permit to install such will not issue a permit unless the applicant holds such a license.

This of course requires understanding a bit more than locksmithing such as the NFPA 70 the National Electrical Code, local building codes and NFPA 101 the Life Safety Code.

Wayne

[Tyler J. Thomas]

My advice to you or anyone interested in actually learning to be a locksmith on your own and then either starting your own business or working for a business is this.

I would add if one is considering adding electronic access control, CCTV or communications they find out the required contractor licensing within their jurisdiction, for example here in Florida holding yourself out as a contractor in any of those three disciplines require a state electrical contractors license and many jurisdictions which require a permit to install such will not issue a permit unless the applicant holds such a license.

This of course requires understanding a bit more than locksmithing such as the NFPA 70 the National Electrical Code, local building codes and NFPA 101 the Life Safety Code.

Wayne

Very true. Low voltage licenses are a must if you're a contractor. I'm not sure how it is elsewhere but my low voltage test was open book

[MatrixBlackRock]

Very true. Low voltage licenses are a must if you're a contractor. I'm not sure how it is elsewhere but my low voltage test was open book

The electrical contractors test here in FL is entirely open book, now that doesn't translate into an easy five hour test as the code books to many who try testing are quite convoluted. I still remember when I tested for my Florida EF license back in 1988 and walking out couple of hours later I was thinking I either blew that test badly or I passed it really well, then on January 14, 1989 I received a letter from DPR informing me I had been issued license number EF0000499, which now heading into a second retirement, are in the process of re-upping.

Wayne

[pickmonger]

At this point you get a cheap kwikset key in knob lock and a pinning set that includes about ten different pins and springs and a wooden dowel as a plug follower, you also get two more books but they are not books just excerpts from them, Locksmithing by Joe Rathjen and the complete guide of locks and locksmithing by Bill Philips. I was very put off by the fact they did not send the full texts and only excerpts from them.

So are they are giving out photocopies of copyrighted material ?

If so it speaks loudly to their sense of ethics.

[Jburgett2nd]

At this point you get a cheap kwikset key in knob lock and a pinning set that includes about ten different pins and springs and a wooden dowel as a plug follower, you also get two more books but they are not books just excerpts from them, Locksmithing by Joe Rathjen and the complete guide of locks and locksmithing by Bill Philips. I was very put off by the fact they did not send the full texts and only excerpts from them.

So are they are giving out photocopies of copyrighted material ?

If so it speaks loudly to their sense of ethics.

Not photocopies, they are excerpts which means it is just a small section of the book, I assume they had some kind of contract or something but I could be wrong. I mean I had excerpts of books I had to read in actual college but I just thought that with this kind of trade a valuable asset like that would be nice to have around instead of just a couple chapters.