SafekipediaLocksmithing
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
Locksmithing is the craft of making and opening locks. It is a traditional job that in many countries needs people to learn by working under someone experienced, called an apprenticeship. Different places have different rules about how much school or training someone needs to become a locksmith. Some places let people start with no special classes, while others want a training paper from a boss or even a full diploma from an engineering college after time spent learning from a master locksmith.
Terminology
A lock is a mechanism used to secure buildings, rooms, cabinets, or objects. The word “smith” refers to a metalworker who shapes metal, often using a forge or mould, into useful objects. Locksmithing involves creating and designing locks and their keys by hand. Locksmiths often use special tools to shape keys, many of which are powered by batteries or electricity.
Work
Locks have been made for over 2,500 years, starting with wood and later using metal. In the past, locksmiths made entire locks by hand, which took many hours. By the 1700s, lock designs became more complex, and locksmiths often focused on fixing or creating new locks.
Today, locksmiths help by making new keys for cars and homes and changing locks for better security. They also install high-quality locks and manage key systems. Many locksmiths work with electronic locks, such as programming smart keys for cars and setting up access control systems for big places. Some locksmiths also specialize in working on safes and car locks.
Regulation by country
In Australia, people who want to become locksmiths must take a special course and finish an apprenticeship, which can last from one to four years. They also need to pass a check to make sure they have no criminal record.
In Ireland, locksmiths need a license from the Private Security Authority, and there is a group called the Irish Locksmith Organisation that helps members stay updated with new skills. In the UK, there are no rules, so anyone can work as a locksmith without any special training. In the United States, fifteen states require locksmiths to have a license, and some cities have their own rules too.
| State | Regulatory body | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Electronic Security Board of Licensure | Certification course, continuing education, background check every two years |
| California | California Department of Consumer Affairs, California Contractors State License Board; California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services | California requires a C-28 Lock and Security Equipment Contractor license, with renewal every two years, in addition to a background check. |
| Connecticut | Department of Consumer Protection | Background check, registration (renews biennially) |
| Florida | No statewide regulation. Counties of Hillsborough and Miami-Dade require licensure for locksmiths and locksmith firms. Miami-Dade's ordinance covers locksmithing, as well as the installation of security alarm closed-circuit television systems. | Miami-Dade: must register with county and receive license. Each business performing locksmith services must have at least one license-holder in its employ. Fingerprinting and criminal background check accompany license application. Initial applicants must have a locksmith permit for one year before full licensure. Any work involving electrical systems must be done by someone who also holds a state electrician's or contractor's license. Hillsborough: must apply for a biennial locksmith license. The cost is $500 for an individual or firm of up to five employees, $750 for a firm of six to ten employees, and $1,000 for a firm of more than ten employees. A background check and proof of insurance are also required.: 1 Pinellas County: The City of Clearwater requires fingerprints applied by Clearwater police. |
| Illinois | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation | Must not have been convicted of a felony in the last ten years, must take twenty-hour licensure course, must pass examination |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshall | Must pass examination, pay initial registration of $250, and maintain registration for $50 annually thereafter. Additional training and certification are required for locksmiths dealing with locks on fire and safety equipment and alarm systems. |
| Maryland | Maryland Locksmith Licensing Program, Maryland Department of Labor | Must apply for a license and submit to a criminal records check, and after issue, must carry a state-issued locksmith license card at all times when performing work. Prior felony and misdemeanor convictions will be weighed by the Secretary of Labor according to statutorily-determined factors, including length of time since the offense and applicant's behavior since, when deciding to grant or withhold a license. The licensee must carry liability insurance, and submit proof of insurance to the secretary. |
| Nebraska | County Clerk | Registration with the county clerk in the county in which the locksmith's business is located |
| Nevada | County Sheriff | Must not be in arrears on child support, and must register with the county sheriff of the county in which the business is located |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors | Must be at least eighteen years of age, must complete three years of supervised locksmith work, working an average of at least twenty hours a week, or complete a formal two-year apprenticeship in a program approved by the United States Department of Labor, must not have been convicted of certain crimes within a ten-year period prior to application, and must pass an examination before being granted license. |
| New York | No statewide licensing requirement. In Nassau County, a county license is required. | Nassau County requirements include submission of passport-style photos for photo identification license card for the principal applicant; business or home address and phone number and proof of number operability in the form of a recent telephone bill; a listing of all employees and officers of the company along with passport photos; recent utility bill for the business location if the business is not operated from home; a statement of all criminal convictions for all employees and officers, along with court records if requested; statement all trade names used by the business, and incorporation documents, if applicable; proof of insurance; proof of workers' compensation registration; a federal employee identification number, and a state sales tax number, if applicable; and fingerprint records for all applicants, in addition to a non-refundable processing fee.: 2–3 |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board | Must submit documentation of criminal history. Must submit documentation of out-of-state licenses, immigration status, and military discharge, if applicable. May optionally submit training certifications and other data. Must pay an initial license fee and subsequent annual renewal fees and keep license on person at all times. Must notify state of any employees operating under the owner's locksmith license. All apprentices must be themselves licensed under an apprentice license, and may not perform certain services, except under the direct supervision of a full locksmith license holder. |
| Oklahoma | Alarm, Locksmith, & Fire Sprinkler Program, Oklahoma Department of Labor | Must not have been convicted of a felony and must register with Alarm, Locksmith & Fire Sprinkler Program. |
| Oregon | Oregon Construction Contractors Board | Must pass a criminal background check, pass a license examination, and renew registration biennially |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance | Must provide documentation of citizenship or legal residency, any criminal convictions, all changes of address; business license in county or city where business operates, or a notarized statement that services will be for an employer or association and not offered directly to the public; otherwise, must submit documentation of application for, or employment by, a Tennessee Locksmith Company duly registered with the state. Conviction of a felony, or any level of drug, burglary, or breaking and entering offense may bar the applicant from licensure. |
| Texas | Department of Public Safety Private Security Board | The owner or manager of a company providing locksmith services must hold a Locksmith Company License. To qualify for a license, the applicant must have two years service as a locksmith for a licensed company. Alternatively, the applicant may substitute one year's experience plus successful completion of a forty-eight hour licensure course, followed by successful completion of a comprehensive license examination. |
| Virginia | Department of Criminal Justice Services | Must be over eighteen years of age. Must complete an eighteen-hour training course. Must undergo a criminal records check and submit fingerprints. Anyone convicted of a felony or misdemeanor (excluding traffic violations) in Virginia or any other jurisdiction must complete a supplemental Criminal History form detailing the circumstances of arrest and conviction, completion of sentence, and any record pertaining to parole or probation. Any false statements or omissions can provide grounds for denial of license and possible criminal sanctions. |
Employment
Locksmiths can work in different ways: from a store, from a vehicle, or for a specific institution. They might focus on certain skills, like working on car locks or creating master key systems. Some locksmiths also help improve security, though not all security experts know how to work with locks.
Besides fixing locks, many locksmiths also repair other parts of doors, such as hinges, door closers, and electric strikes. They may have special skills or certifications that show their expertise in different areas of locksmithing.
Full disclosure
The idea of full disclosure started with locksmiths in the 1800s. It asked a big question: should people keep secrets about lock weaknesses, or share them with everyone?
Some thought sharing these secrets might help bad people steal. But others, like A. C. Hobbs, believed honest people needed to know the truth. He said criminals already knew these tricks, and keeping secrets only put honest people at a disadvantage. Sharing the facts helped everyone stay safer.
Notable locksmiths
Many famous locksmiths made important advances in lock technology. William F. Banham created the first automatic latch bolt lock in 1926 after some burglaries affected his wife's shop. Robert Barron patented a double-acting tumbler lock in 1778, improving lock security. Joseph Bramah invented a very secure lock in 1784 that remained hard to pick for many years.
Other notable figures include Jeremiah Chubb, who created a lock that could only be opened with its own key, and James Sargent, who developed early combination locks and time locks for banks. Samuel Segal invented locks that could not be easily broken open, and Harry Soref founded the Master Lock Company, improving padlock designs. Linus Yale Sr. and Jr. were key inventors of the modern pin tumbler lock and combination lock. Alfred Charles Hobbs showed how weak some famous locks were at a big exhibition in 1851.
Main article: List of locksmiths
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Locksmithing, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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