How to Become a Locksmith in Vermont

Locks have been around for at least 4,000 years and were commonplace in ancient Egypt.

More recently, all-metal locks came into the picture over 1100 years ago in England.

However, it was not until the late 1700s that real advancement came to the craft.

Robert Barron patented a lock that was unpickable for almost seven decades.

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With the storied timeline that locks have given us, to say that locksmithing has been around for a long time is an understatement.

If the idea of locks sounds intriguing, you would not be alone.

King Louis XVI of France, the husband of famed Marie Antoinette, was said to be so fascinated by them that he could not be bothered to do his kingly duty of producing heirs.

That is passion.

While you may not want to forgo life’s responsibilities in the process, becoming a locksmith might offer you the specialization and flexibility you have been attempting to pick out of a profession.

How to Become a Locksmith in Vermont

Before we give you the steps to unlock the career of your dreams, let’s discuss what you should expect from the day-to-day grind of being a locksmith.

To begin with, you will be expected to become an expert and be able to fix a wide variety of locks in a multitude of places.

From front doors to car doors and windows to safes, you will be going all over the place working on all kinds of mediums.

You will be installing, replacing, repairing, inspecting, and consulting.

Now that you have a little more of an idea of what all locksmithing entails, here’s how you get started.

Get Trained

While there is no minimum training to become a locksmith in Vermont, it would be in your best interest to get educated on the fine art of locks.

There is a lot to learn about, including lock types and the intricate tools you will be using.

Be an Apprentice

Once you have got a solid foundation for locksmithing, it is time to apply all you have taken in.

Get hands-on training by becoming an apprentice.

In Vermont, the state has an apprenticeship registry you can apply to be a part of that you can use to find an employer.

This apprenticeship allows you to earn while you learn.

Invest In Equipment

You will need to be familiar with and use an array of items to efficiently handle locks.

In addition to locks themselves, below is a list of tools that will come in handy on the job:

• Key decoder
• Key duplicator
• Key extractor
• Tension wrench
• Lockpick set
• Pinning kit
• Re-keying kit
• Lock by-pass
• Code cutting machine

Licensing Requirements to Become a Locksmith in Vermont

In Vermont, to become established as an independent locksmith or own a locksmithing business is pretty simple.

There are no licensing requirements or registration needed.

There is no minimum education or formal training requirements either.

While this makes the prospect of starting a career as a locksmith more tangible for some, that can be a downside.

Locksmith Programs

• Ashworth College. In four months, this self-paced course will train you in the ways of locksmithing. Tuition includes beginner tools, a study app, and access to a resource center. Study online and pay $699 upfront or installments of $50/mo for a total of $899.
• Foley Belsaw Locksmithing. This online course is $800 and covers everything from an intro to keys to commercial locksmithing. In total, there are 80 lessons and an option to complete tests for certification. This is self-paced and can be done in three months.

Salary

The average salary for a locksmith in Vermont is about $52k a year.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locksmithing
• https://www.howtobecomealocksmith.org/
• https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/locksmith-salary/vt
• https://labor.vermont.gov/apprenticeship
• https://www.aloa.org/education/aloa-education.html

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