Becoming a locksmith in Maryland isn’t the easiest thing to do. Being a locksmith requires significant training, certification, licensing and professionalism. There are a number of hurdles the locksmith-to-be must face. If you didn’t know about them, we will lay them out here so that you may have a better grasp on the profession. Or, that you may be able to assist someone entering the vocation one day.
Secretary of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation
To become a locksmith always lead through the Secretary of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation. With the Secretary of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation on must include both a copy of the Articles of Incorporation and a Certificate of Good Standing. This comes with an application that you receive through them. It sounds much more technical than it really is. They are pretty basic forms overall.
The next thing which needs to be submitted is a background check along with proof of fingerprinting. These steps are to ensure obvious precautions. The fingerprinting and the background check must be done at locations approved by the state. To find a location that suits you, you can visit the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. You must also submit a Central Repository Livescan Pre-Registration Application prior to your fingerprinting appointment.
Lastly, you will need to provide your licensing fee of $225. Not all training cost money but, only pay when the DLLR sends you an invoice when you’ve been approved. Undesirable fines result from practicing without taking these measures and precautions.
Enrollment
In Maryland, there are several ways to obtain official locksmith certification. One can do online programs, go to a community college or enroll in a trade school. Usually programs take no longer than a year (or two semesters). During this time the applicant or trainee must prove that they can not only perform standard operations but they are well-kept and ethically inclined. A good program will refuse those who don’t meet these standards.
Some of the standard locksmithing knowledge your program should offer:
-
Basic Locksmithing
-
Safe Locksmithing
-
Electronic Security
-
Home Alarm Systems
-
Access Control Hardware
-
E-key and High-security lock innovations
-
Vocational insight and market insight
Because of a bill passed in 2009, the HB370, all locksmiths must now be fully licensed to work in the state of Maryland. The criteria for a locksmith may seem like a lot, but it’s only because nothing was in place before the law that would ensure one’s locksmith was legitimate. Thanks to this law the resulting vocation and security business has a higher profile and community recognition. Although becoming a locksmith in Maryland is more difficult it’s stringent policies are creating excellence and model for other states.