How to Become a Licensed Locksmith in Virginia?

Interested in becoming a locksmith in Virginia? Are you looking to get trained and licensed as a locksmith in Virginia, US? Don’t know how to become a licensed locksmith in Virginia? It is one of the states that regulate the locksmith trade with own rules and licensing requirements.

If you live in Virginia, keep reading to learn the requirements for becoming a licensed locksmith in Virginia. This guide will apply when you want to become a locksmith anywhere in Virginia, including Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Richmond, Norfolk, Newport News, Alexandria, Hampton, and other cities in Virginia.

Who is a Locksmith in Virginia?

According to the laws of Virginia, a locksmith is any individual who performs locksmith services, or advertises or represents to the general public that the individual is a locksmith even if the specific term locksmith is substituted with any other term by which a reasonable person could construe that the individual possesses special skills relating to locks or locking devices. This includes words such as lock technician, lockman, safe technician, safeman, boxman, unlocking technician, lock installer, lock opener, physical security technician, or similar descriptions.

“Locksmith services” mean selling; servicing; rebuilding; repairing; rekeying; repining; changing the combination to an electronic or mechanical locking device; programming either keys to a device or the device to accept electronic controlled keys; originating keys for locks or copying keys; adjusting or installing locks or deadbolts, mechanical or electronic locking devices, egress control devices, safes, and vaults; or opening, defeating or bypassing locks or latching mechanisms in a manner other than intended by the manufacturer with or without compensation for the general public or on property not his own nor under his own control or authority.

Now, let’s see how you can become a Virginia locksmith, get the necessary locksmith training course from Virginia-accredited locksmith schools, and finally get a Virginia locksmith license.

How to Get Locksmith Training in Virginia?

Virginia requires an 18-hour entry-level training certification for locksmith licensing. The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services has prescribed list of accredited institutes for the locksmith training certification. You can find the list of locksmith training schools offering the course (25E – Locksmith Entry-Level) via the link provided on https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/ or check under the schools license type and locksmith as the category on the business license search page.

To search for locksmith training schools in your area, visit the business license search page and choose the training you need under “Category” and optionally enter your location in the “City” field. Here’s the list of accredited locksmith schools in Virginia as on 25 March 2023.

The Virginia’s locksmith course syllabus is as below:

25E – Locksmith – 18 hours

1. Code of Virginia and 6VAC20-174, Regulations Relating to Private Security Services
2. Signs of Terrorism
3. Orientation to Locksmithing
   1. History of locksmithing
   2. Ethics
   3. Trade resources
   4. Terminology
   5. Professional conduct
   6. Job safety
4. Public Safety Codes
   1. NFPA (80, 101)
   2. Overview of Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs)
   3. ADA
   4. Terminology
   5. Safety code resources
5. Technical Applications
   1. Terminology (to include definition/purpose/function)
   2. Locks/types
   3. Handing
   4. Master keying
   5. Key records and codes
   6. Key blanks and keyways
   7. Physical security
   8. Types of client sites
   9. Safes/vaults
   10. Access control
   11. Handling restricted keys
   12. Door system components
   13. Automotive

In addition, there’s also the 25I – Locksmith In-Service course for continuing education, which is also available online.

How to Obtain Locksmith License in Virginia?

Virginia requires that locksmiths obtain a license before working as a locksmith.

A locksmith can work without a license for 90 consecutive days while completing the training requirements, provided your fingerprints were submitted on or before their date of hire and your employer provides you with a 90-day authorization. This authorization document along with a photo ID must be carried until a registration is issued.

Eligibility Requirements for Locksmith License

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Successful completion of training requirements for each registration category, including a firearms endorsement if applicable
• Must be US citizen or legal resident alien of the US
• Clear background with no criminal history (major convictions and felonies)

For a locksmith license after completing the locksmith training (25E – Locksmith Entry-Level), apply online at Online Regulatory Licensing System, and pay the fees. A Criminal History Processing form is part of the online application.

Once you have applied online, schedule an appointment for fingerprints. Schedule an appointment at www.fieldprintvirginia.com or call 877-614-4364. DCJS will automatically be notified once you have been fingerprinted.

Individuals convicted or found guilty of a felony or misdemeanor (not to include minor traffic violations) in Virginia or any other jurisdiction (including military court martial) or currently under protective orders must submit a Criminal History Supplemental Form.

Can I get my locksmith license from other state transferred to Virginia? No, but you get some relief when applying for a license. As far as the information available, there’s no direct provision for any license transfer from another state. You need to start afresh and get a new locksmith license after completing the training. However, you can get waiver for the entry-level training if you had been previously employed as a locksmith in another state. Also, you can work without a license for 90 days on getting employed with a licensed locksmith company. Virginia does not seem have any license reciprocity (in March 2023) even though there’s a provision allowing such arrangement.

Though we aren’t able to give you legal advice, the Code of Virginia has a rule that allows issuing of locksmith license without examination, provided the person had been plying trade continuously for two years before 1 July 2008.

Code of Virginia § 9.1-140.1. Registration; waiver of examination; locksmiths: Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, unless an applicant is found by the Board to have engaged in any act that would constitute grounds for disciplinary action, the Board shall issue a registration, without examination, to any applicant who provides satisfactory proof to the Board of having been actively and continuously providing locksmith services immediately prior to July 1, 2008, for at least two years.

Entry-Level Training Exemption for License

A person working as a locksmith may seek exemption from the entry level training in accordance with § 9.1-141. Powers of Board relating to private security services business of the Code of Virginia.

The 6 VAC 20-171-450 of 6 VAC 20-171. Regulations Relating to Private Security Services and 6VAC20-174-190 of Chapter 174. Regulations Relating to Private Security Services Registered Personnel says:

You may apply for a training exemption if you meet the eligibility. The term “official documentation” refers to personnel records; copies of business licenses indicating ownership; certificates of training completion; a signed letter provided directly by a current/previous employer detailing dates of employment and job duties; letters of commendation; certifications, and/or licenses from other states; and/or other employment, training, or experience verification documents.

Virginia Continuing Education for Locksmiths

Virginia has a continuing education requirement for locksmiths.

For renewals of existing locksmith licenses, there is a 4-hour training requirement. You can take the course (25I – Locksmith In-Service) through any licensed locksmith training school.

(All information as in September 2023.)

For further details regarding the locksmith trade license in Virginia, you should visit https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/

How to Obtain Virginia Locksmith Business License?

Locksmith business is under the Private Security Services Businesses category in Virginia. To run a locksmith business, you need to get a business license.

“Private security services business” means any person engaged in the business of providing, or who undertakes to provide, security officers, private investigators, alarm respondents, locksmiths, electronic security technicians (and more) to another person under contract.

Another category is the electronic security business. Any person who engaged in the business of or undertakes to sell, install, service, maintain, design or consult in the design of any electronic security equipment to an end user; respond to or cause a response to electronic security equipment for an end user; or have access to confidential information concerning the design, extent, status, password, contact list, or location of an end user’s electronic security equipment.

Before issue of a private security services business license, the applicant needs to meet the requirements of initial licensing before submitting their application.

1. FieldPrint scans fingerprints for each owner, supervisor, and electronic security employee.
2. You need insurance with at least $1 million coverage and Virginia’s Department of Criminal Justice Services as a certificate holder. The insurance must be from a Virginia-authorized company.
3. Unless you’re a sole proprietor or partnership, you must have a Virginia State Corporation Commission identification number to do business in the state.
4. You need a physical address in Virginia (not a P.O. box) to keep required records.
5. For the license, at least one person must be a certified compliance agent. They should complete the necessary training for license renewal.
6. Specify the type of private security business license you want in your application. The initial fee covers only one category. You pay extra for each additional category, such as security officers, private investigators, locksmiths, and more.
7. If you hire independent contractors who are personal protection specialists or private investigators, they need at least $1 million liability insurance. Provide proof before hiring.
8. If you’re not a Virginia resident, you must submit an irrevocable consent for the department to be your service agent for Virginia court actions.

For applicants who meet the license application requirements, the DCJS department may issue an initial license, with validity up to 24 months. The department may also issue a temporary license for not more than 120 days while awaiting the results of the fingerprint search conducted on the principals and compliance agent of the business.

All locksmith licenses are issued to the legal business entity named on the applications, whether a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity. A license cannot be assigned or transferred to another legal entity. A new license is required whenever there is any change in the ownership or type of organization of the licensed entity that results in the creation of a new legal entity.

All locksmith licenses are valid for 2 years and need to be renewed before expiry. A license renewal application should be submitted at least 30 days before expiration.

All locksmith businesses (and other private security services licensed businesses) are required to maintain administrative requirements and standards of conduct as determined by the Code of Virginia and the DCJS department guidelines.

Display locksmith business license: All locksmiths in Virginia must display their business license number on all advertisements, letterhead, business cards, contracts, and any electronic medium promotions, including the Internet, social media, and digital advertising. 

Compliance Agent

When a certified compliance agent is employed solely for the purpose of being designated as such for a licensee, there’s no need for the compliance agent does not have to be trained and registered in any category unless he/she is actually providing regulated services in addition to compliance agent duties. Compliance agents have to undergo 12E: Compliance Agent Entry-Level training, or 12E Compliance Agent (Entry Level Online) or 12I Compliance Agent (In-Service Online). A compliance agent must meet the training and other eligibility.

Compliance agents ensure that the locksmith business and all its employees conform to all application requirements, administrative requirements and standards of conduct pursuant to the Code of Virginia and the state regulations. Compliance agents also maintain documentation for all employees, or persons otherwise utilized, that verifies compliance with legal requirements.

Any individual above the age of 18 years who meets the eligibility and satisfactorily completes the regulatory compliance entry-level training can become a compliance agent.

There are work experience requirements. Compliance agents must have (i) three years of managerial or supervisory experience in a private security services business, a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency, or in a related field; or (ii) five years experience in a private security services business, with a federal, state or local law enforcement agency, or in a related field.

Business Administrative Requirements for a Locksmith Business

1. The business must prominently display its business license for public inspection. Your storefront window or outside wall or the entrance is a good place.
2. A business needs to keep the DCJS updated with its physical address in Virginia where records required to be maintained by the Code of Virginia and this chapter are kept and available for inspection, and keep updated the the physical address of all its business locations in Virginia. Notification of any change has to be provided in writing and received by the department within 10 days of any change.
3. Maintain the required records at all times at its physical address in Virginia where records required to be maintained by the Code of Virginia and this chapter are kept and available for inspection.
4. The business needs to inform the department its current operating name and all fictitious names. Any change has to be submitted in writing within 10 days and accompanied by certified true copies of the documents that establish the name change.
5. Any change in the business ownership or principals has to be reported within 30 days. Any change in the business entity of the licensee that requires a new license has to be reported within 10 days of such change.
6. All businesses have to maintain the current liability coverage of the prescribed amount.
7. At all times, the business must have at least one individual designated as a compliance agent who is in good standing and holds a locksmith license. If a compliance agent is terminated, the department must be notified within 10 days. If the sole compliance agent is terminated, the business must notify the details of a new compliance agent within 90 days. This notification has to be signed by a principal of the business and the designated compliance agent. A new compliance agent who is not currently eligible for certification may pursue certification.
8. All locksmith businesses have to maintain their employee records for at least three years from the date of termination of employment. The following employee records need to be maintained: electronic images of the date of hire; documentation that the fingerprint processing application was submitted on the date of hire; verification that the employee is a US citizen or legal resident alien; registration certificates and training certificates; and current physical and mailing addresses and telephone numbers, if applicable.
9. Maintain at all times with the department a completed irrevocable consent for service if the licensee is not a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Licensees that move their business from the Commonwealth shall file a completed irrevocable consent for services within 15 days of the change in location.
10. All the employees required to get their fingerprint scanned for search of criminal history must have it done at the time of employment.
11. Not fail to honor the terms and conditions of a warranty or written agreement.
12. Ensure that all employees regulated by the board carry a department issued registration card or temporary registration letter along with a photo identification while on duty.

Disclaimer: The information on this website is for education purposes only. Please refer to Chapter 172. Regulations Relating to Private Security Services Businesses of the Code of Virginia.