Program Overview
Develop your skills and learn how to become a locksmith with the Penn Foster Career School Professional Locksmithing program. and complete your program in as little as two months. With Penn Foster Career School you study train at home and at a pace that’s right for you — and you can complete this online training program in as little as two months. And, professional locksmiths can make an average annual salary of $40,620.¹
In the Locksmith training program, you will learn everything from key making to electronic security. You’ll be able to work with any type of lock, including automobile locks, safes, and vaults. Your tuition includes industry-recognized Kwikset® and Papaiz® learning aids, such as cutaway padlocks, door locks, and pinning kits.
Program Goal and Outcomes
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Program Goal
The program goal for Penn Foster's Professional Locksmithing Program is to train students to become professional locksmiths and operate a Locksmithing business.
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Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Comprehend the mission of a locksmith, the need in today's world for ethical locksmiths, and how locksmithing fits into the larger security industry.
- Interpret key codes in order to use a key catalog, and comprehend the process for duplicating or cutting flat, cylinder, and bit keys.
- Identify types and features, and the working order of locking mechanisms, including key-in-knob locks, auxiliary locks, and deadbolts.
- Recognize how a master key structure operates in order to create and maintain a working system.
- Understand common methods and tools used to open locks without keys, including lockpicking and impressioning.
- Comprehend the details of how and why people enter buildings for the purpose of theft, and security measures designed to prevent stock shrinkage and burglary.
- Identify tools and procedures for opening and replacing typical car door, trunk, and ignition locks.
- Recognize the components of safe and vault locks and procedures for servicing, cleaning, unlocking, and changing the combination of these locks.
- Identify types of panic hardware, electric locks, and electromagnetic locks, and how to install, operate, and troubleshoot these locks.
- Comprehend techniques for maintaining a successful career as a locksmith, including crafting a professional resume, safe business practices, licensing, and certification.
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Unit 1
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Starting Your Program
Succeed by learning how to use your Penn Foster program.
Objectives:
- Understand how to use your Student Portal.
- Access the Penn Foster Community and use it to find answers.
- Connect with Penn Foster on various social media sites.
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Locksmithing: An Expanding Career Field
- Identify employment opportunities and the qualifications for professional locksmiths.
- Describe the security industry.
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Unit 2
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Introduction to Locks and Keys
- Describe the basic types of lock mechanisms.
- Identify specialized tools used by locksmiths.
- Outline typical locksmithing tasks.
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Identifying Keys
- Identify the basic types of keys and their parts.
- Duplicate keys.
- Find blank keys in a key catalog.
- Compare an original key to a blank.
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Practical Exercise
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Lock Mechanisms
- Understand the construction and operation of warded locks and padlocks.
- Explain the operation of combination locks.
- Describe lever locks, disk tumbler locks, and pin tumbler locks.
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Additional Unit Materials
Supplement: Glossary of Locksmithing Terms
Learning Aids:
- Assorted Key Blanks
- Lever Tumbler Lock
- Disk Tumbler Lock
- Papaiz® Cutaway Padlock
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Unit 3
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Residential Locks
- Understand the operation of mortise locks, rib locks, key-in-knob locks, and tubular deadbolts.
- Describe the installation steps for key-in-knob locks, deadbolts, rim locks, and other door locks.
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Keymaking and Rekeying
- Outline key duplication by hand and by machine.
- Duplicate cylinder keys, flat keys, and bit keys.
- Explore rekeying locks.
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Practical Exercises
- Duplicating a Cylinder Key for the Papaiz® Padlock
- Rekeying a Kwikset® Lock
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Additional Unit Materials
Supplement: Using Tools Safely
Learning Aids:
- Files
- Bench Vise
- Kwikset® Door Lock
- Kwikset® Pinning Kit
- Tweezers
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Unit 4
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Opening Locks Without Keys
- Outline the various methods of opening locks without keys.
- Impression keys.
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Practical Exercises
- Shimming Open and Rekeying the Mortise Cylinder
- Impressioning a Key for a Mortise Cylinder
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Home and Business Security
- Describe security in retail and industrial settings.
- Explain "target hardening" techniques.
- Improve security in home and business settings.
- Perform a security analysis.
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Additional Unit Materials
Learning Aids:
- Lockpicks
- Tension wrench
- Mortise cylinder
- Shim stock
- Screwdriver set
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Unit 5
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Automotive Locks
- Describe basic auto lock mechanisms and electronic security devices for auto protection.
- Outline how to replace lock cylinders in doors, ignitions, and trunks.
- Troubleshoot and service auto lock cylinders.
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Safes and Vaults
- Understand combination lock theory.
- Describe basic safe construction, maintenance ,and repair techniques.
- Outline how to change safe combinations and make keys for safe deposit boxes.
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Panic Hardware and Electric Locks
- Install, troubleshoot, and repair panic hardware devices.
- Understand and install electric locks.
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Additional Unit Material
Learning Aid: Master Combination Padlock
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Unit 6
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Electronic Security Systems
- Describe the basic types of alarm systems and alarm components.
- Design, program, troubleshoot, and repair an alarm system.
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Starting a Small Business
- Create a business plan.
- Obtain capital, insurance, permits, and licenses.
- Find a location and set up your shop.
- Purchase office equipment and supplies.
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Working as a Professional Locksmith
- Determine what services to offer and what to charge.
- Evaluate your competition and advertise your services.
- Describe legal issues and locksmithing ethics.
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Additional Unit Material
Supplement: Starting Your Own Mobile Business
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Computer Specifications
As you know this is an online academic program. This means you will need high-speed internet access to begin your program. In addition, you will need access to a Microsoft® Windows® based computer running Windows 7® or later or an Apple® Mac® computer running OS X® or later, and an email account to participate in and complete your program.
Sample Lesson
To view a Professional Locksmithing sample lesson, click here.
Become a Locksmith: Program Details
In the Penn Foster Career School Professional Locksmithing training program you’ll cover topics such as:
- Duplicating keys by hand and machine
- Installing, troubleshooting, and maintaining door locks, auto locks and security devices, safes and vaults, and panic hardware
- Methods of opening locks without keys
- Electronic security and how to design and program an alarm system
Professional Locksmith Requirements
Requirements may vary for Locksmith professionals based on location. Penn Foster Career School recommends you check with the appropriate agency in your area for specific requirements.
State Licensing Information
Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in this field are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered by your Penn Foster Program. You should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where you plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in your Program. Please click here for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information.
