How to Become a Locksmith in Montana

In Montana, where the capital city is Helena, there are 1.1 million people as of 2021, according to the US Census Bureau.

The time it takes to get to work in this scarcely populated state is 18 minutes for adults.

If you were to lock your keys in your truck, you are really in a pickle here.

Plus, it is generally cold, and the limited number of towns and distances between urban areas in Montana makes it stressful when emergencies like this arise.

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This is where getting your training and a job as a locksmith in Montana puts you in the front of the competitive pack in terms of employment.

Learn more about how you can become a locksmith in Montana and have a good-paying career.

Steps to Become a Locksmith in Montana

As for the typical steps to become a locksmith in Montana, most individuals start with some localized job experience.

This may be work as an auto body repair person or a mechanic, or someone in a tool and die shop.

Someone new to locksmithing has to have connections and networking, and these come from working in similar industries.

The idea here is to have some experience related to locksmithing in order to be best suited for this position.

For example, if you have worked in mechanic and repair technology or precision systems maintenance, you are in line with what you need to be a locksmith.

When you search for training in Montana, there are a few different paths you can take.

There are professional locksmiths, including Rapid Lock that offer consulting services.

This may be somewhere you can request professional information and maybe interview a local locksmith.

Making mentorships is a valuable asset in this freelancer and small business owner field.

You can also get started with an apprenticeship this way, and Montana locksmiths apprentice programs are common in the state.

Licensing Requirements to Become a Locksmith

A Montana locksmith is required to receive formal training that should include an apprenticeship program.

You also need to have at least a high school diploma or a GED in order to start a formal training program, which is a post-secondary degree program in most cases.

A locksmith training program in Montana generally takes about one to two years, including the apprenticeship.

This includes, typically, a paid apprenticeship, which helps alleviate the cost burden.

However, in Montana, locksmiths are not required to have a locksmith license according to How to Become a Locksmith.

Locksmith Programs

Montana has a limited number of specialized locksmith training programs.

Most students attend local technical or trade schools in a vocational sector in order to receive this training.

Ashworth College offers online training for locksmiths in Montana that is convenient and takes only four months.

However, this will lack the apprenticeship component and require the student to find a local apprentice opportunity on their own.

The training and mentor experience is important in order for a student to be able to provide on-demand professional locksmith services to the public.

There are no professional schools offering locksmith training in Montana, and the trade schools do not appear to have locksmith certificate programs.

However, you can contact the Workforce Development officers at any of these schools in Montana and request locksmith training services.

Find out if they have local apprenticeship resources or training facilities you can utilize or if they are able to start a locksmith training program.

Salary

The average salary for a locksmith in Montana is $40,090 a year.

Compared to an average of $54,145 a year for a US locksmith’s salary, this is lower on the pay range.

However, the national range for pay for a locksmith is $46,973 to $61,041.

This opens the doors for plenty of growth and expansion for your locksmithing business to neighboring states in the West.

This is a salary after taxes and is not gross for a locksmith business owner.

You have to consider other expenses including training and certification.

Professional training is needed if you want to get certified as a locksmith in Montana.

This starts with trade schools and includes online colleges like Ashworth College where tuition is $749 to $999 for locksmith training.

After graduating from a locksmith training program, the next step is to apply for a business license.

This allows you to operate as a licensed and certified locksmith in Montana.

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