Locksmithing

Locksmithing is the craft of making and opening locks. It is a traditional job. In many countries, people 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. 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.

An illustration of a German locksmith, 1451.

Terminology

A lock is a way to keep buildings, rooms, cabinets, or things safe. The word “smith” means a person who works with metal. Locksmithing is making and designing locks and their keys by hand. Locksmiths use special tools to shape keys. Many of these tools use batteries or electricity.

Work

Locks have been made for more than 2,500 years. People first made them from wood, and later from metal. Long ago, locksmiths made every part of a lock by hand, which took a lot of time. By the 1700s, locks became more complicated, and locksmiths often fixed or made new locks.

Today, locksmiths help by making new keys for cars and homes. They can also change locks to make them safer. They install strong 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 large places. Some locksmiths also work 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. This apprenticeship 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. There is a group called the Irish Locksmith Organisation that helps members learn 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.

US Locksmith Licensing
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.^: 1Pinellas 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

A Locksmith, 2013

Locksmiths can work in many ways: from a store, from a vehicle, or for a special group. They might focus on some skills, like working on car locks or making master key systems. Some locksmiths also help make places safer, though not all safety workers know about locks.

Besides fixing locks, many locksmiths also fix other parts of doors, such as hinges, door closers, and electric strikes. They may have special skills or certificates that show they are good at different things in locksmithing.

Full disclosure

The idea of full disclosure began with locksmiths in the 1800s. It asked an important question: should people keep secrets about lock weaknesses, or share them with everyone?

Some people worried that sharing these secrets might help thieves. But others, like A. C. Hobbs, thought honest people needed to know the truth. He believed criminals already knew these tricks, and keeping secrets only made honest people less safe. Sharing the facts helped everyone stay safer.

Notable locksmiths

Many famous locksmiths helped make locks better and safer. William F. Banham made the first automatic latch bolt lock in 1926.

Robert Barron created a double-acting tumbler lock in 1778 to make locks more secure. Joseph Bramah made a very strong lock in 1784 that was hard to pick.

Other important people include Jeremiah Chubb, who made a lock that only opened with its own key, and James Sargent, who made early combination locks and time locks for banks. Samuel Segal made locks that were hard to break open, and Harry Soref started the Master Lock Company, improving padlock designs. Linus Yale Sr. and Jr. helped invent the modern pin tumbler lock and combination lock. Alfred Charles Hobbs showed that some famous locks were not very strong at an exhibition in 1851.

Main article: List of locksmiths