To become a locksmith, you learn the trade as a trainee with a locksmith company or through recognised training courses, then meet the licensing rules where you'll work. In California, every locksmith employee must register with the state and pass a Department of Justice and FBI background check. In the UK, most people start as a trainee and build skills through courses.
Locksmithing sits in an odd spot. You're trusted with access to people's homes and businesses, so some places regulate it tightly and others barely at all. Here's how the route works using California's Bureau of Security and Investigative Services as the US example and the National Careers Service for the UK. I read both on 26 October 2026.
Step by step: from beginner to working locksmith
- Build practical skills. The National Careers Service says it helps to have good practical skills and some experience of carpentry, mechanical work or electronics.
- Get trained. Ask local locksmith companies if they'll take you on as a trainee, or take courses from private providers or a professional body such as the Master Locksmiths Association.
- Choose a specialism. Domestic, commercial, vehicle security, or safes and electronic security systems all need different skills.
- Check your licensing rules. In California, locksmith employees must register with the state.
- Pass the background check. California runs it through the state Department of Justice and the FBI.
- Decide whether to run your own business. That's a separate company licence in California, with its own conditions.
California's two locksmith licences
California splits locksmiths into companies and employees, and each has its own process.
| Locksmith employee registration | Locksmith company licence | |
|---|---|---|
| Who needs it | Individuals working for a licensed locksmith company | The business that installs, repairs, opens or modifies locks |
| Background check | Department of Justice and FBI | Department of Justice and FBI for each owner, partner or officer |
| Other paperwork | Application and registration fee | Application, licence fee, two passport photos, named day-to-day manager |
| While you wait | A 120-day temporary registration | Licence issued with a copy of the Locksmith Act |
Two details catch people out. First, the bureau says someone who only duplicates existing keys isn't considered a locksmith, so key cutting at a hardware counter doesn't need this licence. Second, anyone convicted of a crime won't be issued the 120-day temporary registration, which means waiting for the full check before you can start.
The bureau also recommends applying online through its BreEZe system, saying it can cut processing time by up to two weeks compared with mailing your application. For the company licence, you must submit your application before completing your Live Scan fingerprints, under FBI guidelines.
When a locksmith also needs a contractor's licence
This is the catch most guides skip. The bureau says that if a locksmith company does work at a single site worth more than $500, it also needs a contractor's licence from the Contractors' State License Board, as of October 2026. Local governments may require a business permit too. So if you plan to fit access systems or security doors on larger jobs, budget time for a second licence.
The UK route
The National Careers Service doesn't list a formal licence for locksmiths. Instead, the route is about training and reputation. You could contact local locksmith companies to see if they'll take you on as a trainee, or take courses with private training providers or the Master Locksmiths Association, from beginner to advanced. The service advises researching any course before signing up.
You'll also need to decide early what kind of locksmith you want to be, because the work varies a lot. Some specialise in safes and electronic security systems, others in domestic, commercial or vehicle security.
What the job involves
- Assessing jobs and quoting for time and costs
- Installing new locks on doors and windows, and cutting keys
- Fitting combination locks and timing devices to safes
- Selling, servicing and repairing locks and other security devices
- Responding to call-outs from people locked out or after break-ins
- Advising customers on home and business security
The working environment can be outdoors in all weathers and you'll travel often, usually to clients' homes and businesses. Patience and the ability to stay calm in stressful situations are on the service's list of key skills, and that's no surprise when many of your customers are locked out and having a bad day.
Running your own locksmith business
The National Careers Service sees several directions once you're experienced: specialising in domestic, commercial or vehicle security, or setting up on your own. A lot of locksmiths end up self-employed. If you're in the US, work out your business structure early: here's a plain guide to LLC versus sole proprietorship. In the UK, compare sole trader and limited company options before you register.
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My verdict
Locksmithing is a practical trade you can enter without a degree, but trust is the real qualification. Get trained by people who do the work every day, specialise in something customers will pay for, and in states like California, start your registration early because the background check sets your start date.
If you would rather work on vehicles than locks, my mechanic guide explains the training and certification.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a licence to be a locksmith?
It depends where you work. California requires locksmith employees to register and locksmith companies to hold a licence, both with a Department of Justice and FBI background check. The National Careers Service lists no formal licence for UK locksmiths.
How long does it take to become a locksmith?
There's no fixed length. In the UK, you can start as a trainee with a firm or take courses from beginner to advanced level. In California, you'll also need to wait for your registration and background check.
Can you start work while your California registration is processing?
Usually. Once you apply and pay, the bureau issues a 120-day temporary registration, except to anyone convicted of a crime.
Is key cutting the same as being a locksmith?
Not in California. The bureau says an individual who simply duplicates existing keys isn't considered a locksmith.
Do locksmiths need a contractor's licence?
In California, a locksmith company doing work at a single site worth more than $500 also needs a contractor's licence.
What skills does a locksmith need?
The National Careers Service lists practical skills, the ability to use and repair tools and machines, and patience and calm in stressful situations.
