How to Become a Licensed Locksmith in California?

Want to learn how to become a locksmith in California? In this article, let’s explore the process of becoming a California locksmith: find the best locksmith schools in California, get locksmith training, and become a licensed California locksmith.

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California: Who is a Locksmith?

As per the laws of California, a “locksmith” refers to any individual or entity that, in exchange for payment, is involved in various locksmithing activities. These activities include rekeying, installation, repair, opening, modification of locks, key creation for locks, electronic cloning of transponder keys, electronic programming of automotive keys and devices, and other advanced high-security key technologies.

The definition of a “locksmith” does not include individuals who solely duplicate keys based on existing keys. Meaning, if you are offering key duplication service alone, you do not need any locksmith license.

How to Become a Locksmith in California?

Anyone can become a locksmith in California. No special educational qualification or locksmith training is required. However, each individual working as a locksmith must be registered with the state.

To work as a locksmith, you have two options:

• Employment or locksmith job
• Start your own locksmith business

To get employed as a locksmith in California, the general eligibility requirements are:

• Must have attained 18 years of age.
• Most have completed high school (though no education qualification is defined).
• You must have no criminal record. Those with felony convictions are not be permitted to work as a locksmith in California. Convictions by the juvenile court or convictions under California Health and Safety Code sections 11357(b), (c), (d), (e) or section 11360(b) which are two years or older, as well as dismissed criminal charges do not disqualify the individual.
• Criminal background check by the Department of Justice and the FBI.
• No experience or training requirement for locksmith employee license.
• Get registered as a Locksmith Employee with the BSIS.

The eligibility requirements for a locksmith business (individual, partnership, LLC or incorporation) are:

• Minimum 18 years of age
• Criminal background check by the Department of Justice and the FBI
• Specify who will manage the business on a day-to-day basis
• No experience or training requirement for locksmith license
• Obtain a Locksmith Business license from the BSIS
• For locksmith contractor license, four-year experience as locksmith, or locksmith training with 1 year work experience
• For locksmith contractor license, clear contractor license board examination
• For individuals employed as locksmiths, provision for registration as locksmith employees

To work as a locksmith employee or business in California, you need to obtain a locksmith license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), which licenses and regulates the locksmith industry in the state. All locksmiths are governed by the applicable laws available here. A locksmith business license is required even when you operate as an individual, which qualifies as a sole proprietorship without employees.

In California, there is no training or exam for locksmith business license, which allows you to take up works up to $500. You will need a locksmith contractor license for high-value locksmith works. The process for getting a contractor license requires successfully passing an examination.

For employment as a locksmith with any locksmith business, you need to get registered as a locksmith employee. Check for the details of getting locksmith employee registration below.

How to Get Locksmith Training in California?

Proper training and knowledge are essential for success in any field, and the locksmith trade is no exception. To become a successful locksmith in California, it’s crucial to gain comprehensive knowledge of the trade through formal training and hands-on apprenticeship.

Enroll in a reputable locksmith school, whether in California or elsewhere in the U.S. Quality locksmith training will equip you with the skills and confidence to handle professional tasks effectively from day one.

Start with general locksmith training to master the basics, including understanding lock mechanisms, lock picking, key duplication, and making keys for various types of locks. Once you’ve built a strong foundation, consider specializing in areas like automotive locksmithing, master key systems, access control installation and maintenance, safe services, and other advanced locksmith techniques.

How to Get Locksmith Company License in California?

Anyone looking to start a locksmith business in California must get a locksmith company / business license. It is illegal to engage in the locksmith business in California without obtaining a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.

The locksmith company license includes all types of business entities as well as sole proprietorship businesses. This means that even if you want to be self-employed as a locksmith, you will need the locksmith business license as a sole owner. In this case, you will be applying as a sole proprietorship business.

A separate Locksmith Company application must be filed for each entity applying for a license. For example, if an applicant wants to have a Locksmith Company sole ownership in addition to having a partnership with someone else, the applicant must file two separate Locksmith Company applications.

All company license applications must identify a “person in active charge” responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the business. This could be an owner, partner, or corporate officer, or someone hired specifically for this role.

In addition, everyone listed on the application (owner, partner, corporate officer, person in charge) must go through criminal history background check with the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Live Scan.

Locksmith Business Address: To get a locksmith license, you need to provide a physical business address as your official address. You can use a mailbox or post box service only if mail can’t be delivered to your business’s physical location or if your main business location is at your home. If you’re running your locksmith business from home, you can request to use a mailbox address in writing along with your license application.

Request Authorization of Business Name: If you want to use a brand or business name, you can get your business name authorized via Form 31E – 12. No fee is required. You cannot conducted business under a fictitious or other business name without authorization. For a license under a fictitious business name, you need to include a certified copy of the fictitious business name statement filed with the County Clerk.

For any locksmith business, there is a license application fee of $250, and a new license fee of $250 after your application is approved. Each year, you will have to pay the license renewal fee of $500.

You should wait for the Locksmith Company license to get your business name approved before getting any website, print stationery, business cards, advertising, telephone listings, etc.

Denial of locksmith license due to conviction or felony: The BSIS has the discretion to deny a license to individuals or entities whose actions or history raise concerns about their integrity, qualifications, or compliance with professional standards. Your application may be denied if you have a prior conviction for a crime substantially related to the functions and duties of a locksmith.

How to Apply for Locksmith Business License in California?

You can download the application form and get updated details from the BSIS website here. (https://www.bsis.ca.gov/ industries/ locksmith.shtml)

Only businesses get a locksmith license. Employed individuals are registered as a locksmith employee and issued registration cards. (Check details below.)

A criminal history check is required for all locksmith license applicants (owners and principal employees) through the completion of a Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Live Scan.

An individual (sole ownership business), partnership, or corporation seeking a license as a locksmith must specify in the application the individual who will manage the business on a day-to-day basis.

How to submit your locksmith license application? You can submit your locksmith license application online (through BreEZe), which expedites the application processing time by up to two weeks.

You can also send you application by mail with all required documents and payment to:

Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
P.O. Box 989002, West Sacramento, CA 95798-9002

To apply for a Locksmith Company license you must:

• Submit the application for license along with the application and license fee.
• Submit two recent passport-quality photographs (of the applicants).
• Submit a Locksmith Company Live Scan form signed by the Live Scan Operator, including the ATI number.
• Pay $32 DOJ fingerprint processing fee, $17 FBI fingerprint processing fee, and Live Scan site processing fee must be paid at the Live Scan site for each applicant, partner and officer.
• For a license under a fictitious business name, the application shall include a certified copy of the fictitious business name statement filed with the County Clerk.
• If your locksmith work (at any single location) exceeds $500, you need a locksmith contractor license. You can find more information about getting a locksmith contractor license below.

The state of California requires all locksmiths to maintain a current license and conspicuously displayed at their business premises at all times. When operating from a mobile locksmith van, a copy of the business license must be displayed on the vehicle.

If you are opening a branch of your locksmith business, you will also be charged additional branch office fee, currently $250 for each new branch. The renewal fee is $150.

Get Locksmith Contractor License in California

To take works valued more than $500, a California locksmith must have a contractor license issued by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), the licensing and regulating authority for the state’s construction industry.

Download the locksmith contractor license application form from the CSLB website. You will be applying for the Lock and Security Equipment (C-28) contractor license.

Carefully go through the application form, and complete it properly. It is accepted for processing by CSLB, and you will be sent instructions on the process for obtaining and submitting fingerprints, as required by law. (Business and Professions Code sections 144 and 7069 ).

You need to submit the application form along with the fees, currently $330 (for each classification, nonrefundable). You will have to pay a license fee of $200 after passing the exam.

Do not submit incomplete applications. It can cause delays of weeks or even months. The application fee gets forfeited if the application is deemed abandoned.

Make sure you submit Certification of Work Experience forms that have been filled out completely, ensuring that you have provided four (4) years of applicable experience as a locksmith.

CSLB may grant up to three years of credit toward the four-year experience requirement for completed training in an accredited school and/or apprenticeship programs in the locksmith trade.

California Locksmith Contractor Examination

For a California locksmith contractor license, you need to pass the Lock and Security Equipment (C-28) Examination. The syllabus or examination content is divided into six major sections.

1. Planning and Estimation(25%)
2. Install, Repair, and Maintain Doors and Hardware(20%)
3. Install, Repair, and Maintain Electronic Locking Systems(18%)
4. Install, Repair, and Maintain Mechanical Locking Systems(18%)
5. Install, Repair, and Maintain Safes, Vaults, and Other Security Containers (5%)
6. Safety (12%)

The California locksmith contractor examination is a multiple-choice examination. Each question has only one BEST answer. Some questions require mathematical computation. A calculator is provided during the exam. There is no penalty for guessing. If you are unsure about a particular question, it is better to try to answer the question than to leave the question blank.

Study Material for California Locksmith Contractor License Exam

If you want to study for California locksmith license, here is a list of reference books and code. You can find more reference books may be found online at www.bsc.ca.gov

• 2016 California Building Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24. International Code Council. Website: www.iccsafe.org
• 2016 California Fire Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24. International Code Council. Website: www.iccsafe.org
• Basic Architectural Hardware, Door and Hardware Institute. Website: www.dhi.org
• The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing. 2005. Sixth Edition. Bill Phillips. McGraw Hill.
• Keying Systems and Nomenclature, Door and Hardware Institute.
• NFPA 80: Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, National Fire Protection Association
• NFPA 101: Life Safety Code, National Fire Protection Association
• State of California General Industry & Electrical Safety Orders (Cal/OSHA) and State of California Construction & Electrical Safety Orders (Cal/OSHA) . 2015. California Code of Regulations, Title 8. Mancomm.
• Ugly’s Electrical References. 2014. Jones & Bartlett Learning

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