3 things you need to become a locksmith

Whether a lock gets broken, or you want to change the lock on your front door, it can be a good idea to know how to become a locksmith yourself.

Sooner or later, you’re probably going to need the services of a locksmith. Whether a lock gets broken, you lose your keys, or you want to change the lock on your front door, it can be a good idea to know how to become a locksmith yourself.

The locksmith industry is a small field with very high demand, and remains stable despite changes in technology. If you’re interested in becoming a locksmith, read the tips below to find out how.

The first step to most professions or skilled trades requires education in some form. While formal education is not required to become a locksmith, extensive training and an apprenticeship are useful in order to become a certified locksmith.

Becoming a certified locksmith is not a legal requirement in the locksmith industry. However, a certification will provide credibility and boost your earning potential. Locksmith is not a designated trade in every province in Canada and it's a voluntary certification trade in Alberta and Saskatchewan. (certification trades are all provincially regulated). The Institutional Locksmiths Organization of Canada (ILOC) is a non-profit trade organization that provides support and education to its members in the institutional and in-house aspects of the locksmithing and security industry.

If you’re looking to become a locksmith, there are a number of traits and skills that you should have if you want to be successful. You'll need mechanical knowledge, excellent hand-eye coordination and, since you’ll be working one-on-one with clients, excellent people skills. As a service industry, being a locksmith is as much about forming relationships with people as it is about being handy with locks.

Becoming a locksmith is a great career choice that gives you the ability to choose your own hours, move to another city, and be your own boss. If locks and being self-employed are things you find interesting and exciting, then becoming a locksmith might be the perfect fit for you.