Education · 1 of 4

The path

Learn on the job. Some provinces run an apprenticeship, and BC makes you get a security licence first.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Shop, math and any electronics course. A clean record matters: employers and licensing bodies check.

2. 2

   Get hired by a locksmith shop

   Weeks to months

   Most start as a helper cutting keys and doing rekeys. A security guard or alarm background helps.

3. 3

   Register an apprenticeship (optional)

   Days

   Ontario has a Locksmith apprenticeship (trade code 259L). Alberta runs a 3-period program: 1,560 hours of work plus 8 weeks of class each year.

4. 4

   Work and learn

   2 to 4 years

   Residential, then commercial hardware, then safes, automotive keys and electronic access control.

5. 5

   Certificate (where offered)

   After your hours

   Alberta issues a Journeyperson Certificate after the exam. Ontario issues a Certificate of Apprenticeship, with no final exam.