---
title: "How to Become a Licensed Locksmith, State by State · LockCommand"
description: "How to become a licensed locksmith: all 51 places sorted into four groups, with who issues each license, first-license board fees and where only cities license."
url: https://lockcommand.com/blog/how-to-become-a-licensed-locksmith
---

# How to become a licensed locksmith: a state by state guide

How to become a licensed locksmith: all 51 places sorted into four groups, with who issues each license, first-license board fees and where only cities license.

[Jonas Ben](https://lockcommand.com/blog/author/jonas-ben)

October 24, 2026

11 min read

12 sources checked

(LockCommand Blog, All 51 states. Become a licensed locksmith. Four credential cards fanned like a hand: 9 License, 4 Register, 3 City only, 35 None.)

Short answer

Thirteen states license locksmiths statewide: nine with a full license and four with a registration, certification or permit. New York, Utah and Washington license only in certain cities or counties, and the other 35 places have no locksmith license. Find your group first, then ask the agency.

Key takeaways

- Find your group first: 13 states license statewide, 3 license only some cities, and 35 places license no locksmith.
- A first license costs one person from $49 in Oklahoma to $538 in North Carolina in board fees, before fingerprints, classes and insurance.
- Several states let you work under supervision first, from 90 days in Virginia to 3 years for a North Carolina apprentice.
- Oregon wants its own certificate even if you hold a license elsewhere, so expect to apply again when you move.
- Cities add rules the state does not, so check Las Vegas, New York City, Provo and Olympia before you take a job there.

How to become a licensed locksmith starts with one question: which of four groups is your state in? Thirteen states license locksmiths statewide, three more license only in certain cities, and the other 35 places do not license at all, as of October 2026.

This guide sorts all 51 into those groups, shows what each licensing state asks for first, and tells you what to check when your state has no license. For the full path from first lesson to first customer, read our [complete guide to becoming a locksmith](https://lockcommand.com/blog/how-to-become-a-locksmith).

## How many states require a locksmith license?

Thirteen of 51 places license locksmiths statewide: nine with a full license and four with a registration, certification or permit. Our [locksmith license by state tool](https://lockcommand.com/tools/locksmith-license) counts them from each state's own agency or statute.

13

States that license statewide

9 licenses, 4 lighter credentials

3

States that license only locally

New York, Utah, Washington

35

Places with no locksmith license

34 states and DC

We count a state when its law requires a license, registration, certification or permit to work as a locksmith. Contractor licenses that may apply to some lock work do not count, and neither do city rules.

The four groups, sorted into cubbiesNine places issue a license, four a registration or permit, three license only locally, and 35 license no one. Checked October 2026.

| Group | Places | Your first move |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Full license** | AL, CA, IL, LA, MD, NJ, NC, OK, TX | Apply to the state agency |
| **Registration, certification or permit** | CT, NV, OR, VA | Register, certify or get the sheriff's permit |
| **Local only** | NY, UT, WA | Ask each city or county where you work |
| **No locksmith license** | The other 34 states and DC | Check city rules, advertising rules and your ID routine |

## Which states give you a full locksmith license?

Nine states issue a license through a state agency: Alabama, California, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas. Some license the business, some the person, and some both.

| State | Who issues it | Who holds it | What it asks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Alabama](https://lockcommand.com/tools/locksmith-license/alabama) | Electronic Security Board | Company and each locksmith | Training certificate; trainees get 6 months |
| [California](https://lockcommand.com/tools/locksmith-license/california) | Bureau of Security and Investigative Services | The company; every employee registers | DOJ and FBI background check |
| [Illinois](https://lockcommand.com/tools/locksmith-license/illinois) | Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation | Locksmiths and agencies | Exam, then proof of $1,000,000 liability insurance |
| [Louisiana](https://lockcommand.com/tools/locksmith-license/louisiana) | Office of State Fire Marshal | Firms and employees | Check the Fire Marshal's current rules |
| [Maryland](https://lockcommand.com/tools/locksmith-license/maryland) | Department of Labor | The business | $300,000 liability insurance; employees fingerprinted |
| [New Jersey](https://lockcommand.com/tools/locksmith-license/new-jersey) | Division of Consumer Affairs | Individuals and businesses | 5,040 hours or a 2-year apprenticeship, plus an exam |
| [North Carolina](https://lockcommand.com/tools/locksmith-license/north-carolina) | Locksmith Licensing Board | The person | Exam, 70% to pass |
| [Oklahoma](https://lockcommand.com/tools/locksmith-license/oklahoma) | Department of Labor | Companies, managers, technicians, trainees | Fingerprints for an OSBI background check |
| [Texas](https://lockcommand.com/tools/locksmith-license/texas) | DPS Private Security Program | Company, plus each locksmith who works for it | Company liability insurance minimums |

### Three details that change the plan

- **Maryland licenses the business, not the tech.** Employees are not licensed themselves, but each is fingerprinted and registered under the business's license, and the license runs 2 years.
- **Illinois takes ALOA scores.** IDFPR's packet accepts ALOA's Mandatory, Code and Electricity sections, each passed at 70% within 3 years, in place of the state exam. The Illinois act also carries a January 1, 2029 repeal date, so check whether lawmakers have extended it.
- **Texas defines "locksmith company" widely.** Selling, installing, servicing or maintaining locks, or using "locksmith" in your name or ads, makes you one. Texas also requires government ID and a signed ownership statement before you open anything, except when someone is in imminent danger.

Who holds the license in Texas, Maryland and North CarolinaTexas licenses the company and each locksmith. Maryland licenses the business. North Carolina licenses the person.

## Which states register, certify or permit locksmiths?

Four states use something other than a board license. Connecticut and Virginia register you, Oregon certifies you, and Nevada's county sheriffs issue the permit.

Registration

Connecticut

The Department of Consumer Protection charges $200 to apply and $200 to renew. Registrations expire December 31 of every even-numbered year, and you submit state police and FBI criminal history records first.

Registration

Virginia

DCJS asks for 18 hours of entry-level training and 4 hours of in-service training. Fingerprints must be in by your hire date. A DCJS-licensed employer can then have you work up to 90 consecutive days while you finish.

Certification

Oregon

An 80-question online test costs $60, and the 2-year certificate costs $60. It must be associated with a licensed contractor business, and Oregon requires it even if you are licensed elsewhere.

Sheriff permit

Nevada

NRS 655 has you apply to the sheriff of the county where your principal place of business is. Counties set their own rules, and the City of Las Vegas adds a business license.

## What if your state has only local rules or none?

New York, Utah and Washington have no statewide license, but some of their cities and counties do. In the other 35 places, nobody licenses locksmiths.

### Cities and counties that license on their own

New York City shows how fast a local rule can change. DCWP licenses each locksmith now, on a 2-year license that expires May 31 of odd-numbered years. Under Local Law 183 of 2025, that ends in 2027.

New York City swaps its locksmith license in 2027DCWP begins taking Locksmith Business applications in February 2027 and stops licensing individual locksmiths on May 31, 2027.

Our license tool also lists these local rules, each worth a call to the clerk:

- **Nassau County and Yonkers, New York:** a county license and a city permit.
- **Provo, Utah:** a city license, plus a personal license for each employee.
- **Olympia and Mountlake Terrace, Washington:** city licenses with police checks.
- **Las Vegas, Nevada (on top of the sheriff's permit):** vehicle lettering at least 4 inches high on two surfaces, plus uniforms that show the business name.

Washington also has a statewide advertising rule. A locksmith whose main business is locksmith work must show a business license number or a UBI number on the website and in all advertising.

### States with no locksmith license

No state or city board approves a locksmith there, but other rules can still apply. Ask your state and city what they expect from any new business.

- **District of Columbia:** a Basic Business License from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.
- **South Dakota:** locksmith services are subject to sales tax, so a sales tax license applies.
- **Alaska and Arizona:** installing locks that become part of a building may count as contractor work, so ask their contractor agencies.

Old guides still list repealed licenses

Tennessee repealed its Locksmith Licensing Act in 2021, and Nebraska repealed its county registration the same year. A guide that still lists either state is out of date.

## What training do states ask for?

States measure training in classes, hours of work and exams, and they mix the three. Locksmith training by state ranges from an 80-question online test to years of experience.

| State | What it asks |
| --- | --- |
| Virginia | 18 hours of entry-level training, then 4 hours of in-service training |
| New Jersey | 5,040 hours of experience or a 2-year apprenticeship, plus 2 hours each on 5 topics |
| Alabama | Training certificates for the kind of work you do |
| Illinois | The state exam; IDFPR also lists an approved 20-hour basic training program |
| North Carolina | No required course, but an exam that suits about a year of experience |
| Oregon | An 80-question online test |

North Carolina's board states plainly that the state does not regulate how locksmithing is taught or learned. A class certificate is still not a license. Our [guide to becoming a locksmith](https://lockcommand.com/blog/how-to-become-a-locksmith) compares classes, apprenticeships and on-the-job learning.

## What does a first locksmith license cost?

Board fees for one person's first license run from $49 in Oklahoma to $538 in North Carolina. Fingerprints, classes, exams and insurance come on top.

(Board fees for one person's first locksmith credential. Oklahoma $49, California $60, Alabama $87, Oregon $120, Connecticut $200, North Carolina $538. Board fees only.)

Six states with published fees, October 2026. Each row is the fee for one person, not for a company.

- **Oklahoma:** $49 for a new technician license. A trainee license costs $75.
- **California:** $60 for an employee registration, for applications on or after October 1, 2025. Live Scan fingerprinting is separate.
- **Alabama:** $50 for an individual license, plus $37 for the background check.
- **Oregon:** $60 for the test and $60 for the 2-year certificate.
- **Connecticut:** $200 to apply.
- **North Carolina:** $300 application, $38 background check and $200 exam.

Company fees run higher. Alabama charges a company a $150 first-time fee plus $300 (sole proprietor) or $400 (corporation or LLC), and California's company license is $275 to apply and $275 for the license.

### How long a license lasts

Renewal clocks differ, so put the date in your calendar the day you are licensed.

| Place | Term | What renewal takes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Connecticut | 2 years, ending December 31 of even years | $200 |
| Maryland | 2 years | $225 license fee |
| North Carolina | 3 years | $300 and 16 hours of continuing education |
| New York City | 2 years, ending May 31 of odd years | A new license, until individual licenses end in 2027 |

## Can you work before the license arrives?

Some states let a new hire start under conditions while the paperwork finishes. The longest window, North Carolina's apprentice license, runs 3 years.

| State | Window | The condition |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Virginia | 90 consecutive days | Fingerprints in by your hire date, and a DCJS-licensed employer |
| Oklahoma | 90-day temporary trainee license | Recent quick check plus an OSBI report |
| California | 120-day temporary registration | You submit your application first; a conviction of any crime rules it out |
| Texas | 48 hours after fingerprints | If the state has not posted your result, your employer checks the DPS site and keeps the search |
| Alabama | 6 months as a trainee | Then you need your training certificate |
| North Carolina | 3-year apprentice license | A licensed locksmith employs and supervises you |

Ask in writing

A window is not a license. Before you start, ask the agency what you may do, and keep the answer.

## What happens when you move to another state?

Plan to apply again. Oregon requires its certificate even if you are licensed in another state, while New York City and Illinois treat outside credentials as evidence.

(Moving to a new state. Oregon: certificate required even if licensed elsewhere. New York City: another state's license counts as proof of qualifications. Illinois: ALOA exam scores can replace the state exam.)

Three ways a second state treats what you already hold. None of them replaces applying.

- **Oregon:** the CCB says the certificate is required even if you hold a locksmith license or certification in another state.
- **New York City:** proof of licensure from another U.S. jurisdiction is one of the proofs of qualifications DCWP accepts, as is ALOA certification.
- **Illinois:** exam scores count for 3 years, and an applicant licensed in another state must have that state complete a verification form.

## How to check your state in 10 minutes

Look up your state, read its agency's page, then call the clerk where you will work. Five steps cover it.

1. Find your group: Use the [locksmith license tool](https://lockcommand.com/tools/locksmith-license) to see your state's group, agency and law.
2. Read the agency page: Fees and forms change, so take the numbers from the agency, not from a guide.
3. Call the city or county: Ask the clerk where you will work whether a local license, permit or sign rule applies.
4. Ask what you may do while you wait: Get the answer in writing, and note the date.
5. Write down the number you must display: Several states want your license, registration or business number on ads, vehicles or both.

If you are also deciding whether to open your own business, [how to start a locksmith business](https://lockcommand.com/blog/how-to-start-a-locksmith-business) covers the basics that come after the license.

[Free tool · no account neededLocksmith license by stateWhich states license locksmiths, who issues the license, and local rules, with sources.](https://lockcommand.com/tools/locksmith-license)

How LockCommand does this

Solo locksmiths

How a one-person mobile locksmith stops losing calls while on a job or driving.

[See how it works](https://lockcommand.com/for/solo-locksmiths)

## Questions locksmiths ask

### Can you work as a locksmith without a license?

In the 35 places with no statewide or local locksmith license, yes, though ordinary business rules still apply. In the 13 licensing states you need the license, registration or permit, with a few supervised windows for new hires. New York, Utah and Washington license only in certain cities or counties, so check where you will work.

### How long does it take to get a locksmith license?

It depends on the state. Oregon's certification test is 80 questions online. Virginia asks for 18 hours of entry-level training. New Jersey asks for 5,040 hours of experience or a 2-year apprenticeship, plus an exam. Ask the agency how long its own processing takes before you plan a start date.

### Does an ALOA certification count as a license?

No. A license comes from a government and lets you work. A certification comes from a trade association. Some governments accept it as evidence: Illinois takes ALOA exam scores in place of its state exam, and New York City lists ALOA certification among the proofs of qualifications it accepts.

### Do you need a license to duplicate keys?

It depends on how the state defines a locksmith. California's fact sheet says a person who only duplicates existing keys is not a locksmith. Oregon exempts certain key-duplication shops from its certificate. Other states define the work differently, so read your agency's definition before you assume.

### What is the cheapest state to get a locksmith license in?

Of the six states we compared, Oklahoma had the lowest board fee for one person: $49 for a new technician license. Board fees are only part of the cost. Fingerprints, training, exams and insurance come on top, and the fees change, so confirm them with the agency.

This post explains what the law and the agencies say, checked on October 19, 2026. It isn't legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency or a lawyer before you act.

## Sources

1. [How to get licensed, Alabama Electronic Security Board of Licensure](https://aesbl.alabama.gov/applicants/how-to-get-licensed/) Checked October 19, 2026
2. [Locksmith fact sheet, California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services](https://www.bsis.ca.gov/forms_pubs/locksmith_fact.shtml) Checked October 19, 2026
3. [Locksmith registration, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection](https://portal.ct.gov/DCP/License-Services-Division/All-License-Applications/Locksmith-Registration) Checked October 19, 2026
4. [Locksmith examination instruction sheet, Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation](https://idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/renewals/apply/forms/loc-ex.pdf) Checked October 19, 2026
5. [Locksmith licensing frequently asked questions, Maryland Department of Labor](https://labor.maryland.gov/license/locksmiths/locklicfaqs.shtml) Checked October 19, 2026
6. [N.J.A.C. 13:31A-2.1, Locksmith qualifications, State of New Jersey](https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-13-31A-2-1) Checked October 19, 2026
7. [NC Locksmith Licensing Board instructions 2025, North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board](https://nclocksmithboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Locksmith-How-To-Apply-2025ed.pdf) Checked October 19, 2026
8. [Technician license, Oklahoma Department of Labor](https://www.oklahoma.gov/labor/safety-and-health/safety-standards/alarm-locksmith-fire-sprinkler-service/licensing-requirements/technician-salesperson-license.html) Checked October 19, 2026
9. [Locksmith certification, Oregon Construction Contractors Board](https://www.oregon.gov/ccb/Pages/specialty%20licenses.aspx) Checked October 19, 2026
10. [Locksmith FAQ, Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services](https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/faq/locksmith) Checked October 19, 2026
11. [Licenses affected by new local laws, New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dca/businesses/licenses-new-local-laws.page) Checked October 19, 2026
12. [RCW 19.355.020, Washington State Legislature](https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=19.355.020) Checked October 19, 2026

[Jonas Ben](https://lockcommand.com/blog/author/jonas-ben)

Written for LockCommand, the AI office for locksmiths. Questions, or a topic you want covered? Email [support@lockcommand.com](mailto:support@lockcommand.com).

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