Locksmithing

Your at-home learning program includes six Instruction Sets designed to take you step-by-step through the techniques and skills you’ll employ in your new career as a Professional Locksmith. Your first Instruction Set will be sent to you as soon as your enrolment has been accepted. Other Instruction Sets will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with.

You will need access to a Microsoft® Windows®-based computer (running Windows Vista® or later) and the Internet in order to complete your program with ICS Canada.

Here is an overview of what you’ll learn and the order in which you’ll receive your learning materials:

Instruction Set 1

• Learning Strategies
  • The advantages of learning at home; types of study materials; types of examinations; accessing and using the features of our website; determining what kind of learner you are; establishing a study schedule; using study tips; preparing for and taking examinations.
• Locksmithing: An Expanding Career Field
  • Definition of locksmithing and the security industry; how the locksmith can help fight crime; employment opportunities; qualifications for professional locksmiths.

Instruction Set 2

• Introduction to Locks and Keys
  • Basic types of lock mechanisms; basic key types and their parts; typical locksmithing tasks; standard and specialized tools used by locksmiths.
• Key Identification
  • Basic types of keys and their parts; how keys are duplicated; distinctive key characteristics; how to compare an original key to a blank; how to find key blanks in a key catalog.
• Practical Exercise: Identifying Keys
• Lock Mechanisms
  • Construction and operation of warded locks, lever locks, disk tumbler locks, and pin tumbler locks; padlock construction and operation; how combination locks work.
• Supplement: Locksmithing Glossary
• Learning Aids:
  • Assorted key blanks
  • Lever Tumbler lock
  • Disk Tumbler lock
  • Papaiz® Cutaway Padlock

Instruction Set 3

• Residential Locks
  • The mortise lock and the rib lock; operation of key-in-knob locks and tubular deadbolts; installation steps for key-in-knob locks, deadbolts, rim locks, and other door locks.
• Keymaking and Rekeying
  • Key duplication by hand and by machine; how to duplicate cylinder keys, flat keys, and bit keys; rekeying locks.
• Practical Exercises:
  • Duplicating a key by hand
  • Rekeying the Kwikset® door lock
• Supplement:Using Tools Safely
• Learning Aids:
  • File Set
  • Bench vise
  • Kwikset® door lock
  • Kwikset® pinning kit

Instruction Set 4

• Opening Locks Without Keys
  • Various methods of opening locks without keys; lockpicking techniques; “reading” a lock; impressioning keys; forcing a lock open using emergency techniques.
• Home and Business Security
  • Security in retail and industrial settings; “target hardening” techniques; improving security in home and business settings; performing a security analysis.
• Practical Exercise:
  • Impressioning a Key for a Mortise Cylinder
  • Shimming Open and Rekeying the Mortise Cylinder
• Learning Aids:
  • Lockpicks
  • Tension wrench
  • Mortise cylinder
  • Shims
  • Screwdriver set

Instruction Set 5

• Automotive Locks
  • Basic auto lock mechanisms; replacing lock cylinders in doors, ignitions, and trunks; troubleshooting and servicing auto lock cylinders; electronic security devices for auto protection.
• Safes and Vaults
• Basic safe construction; combination lock theory; basic safe maintenance and repair techniques; changing safe combinations; making keys for safe deposit boxes.
• Panic Hardware and Electric Locks
  • Basic types of panic-hardware devices; installing panic hardware; repairing and troubleshooting panic hardware; basic electricity for locksmiths; installation of electric locks.
• Learning Aid: Master combination padlock

Instruction Set 6

• Electronic Security
  • Basic types of alarm systems; alarm components; designing an alarm system for a customer’s use; troubleshooting and programming an alarm system.
• Starting a Small Business
  • Creating a business plan; obtaining finances; obtaining needed insurance; necessary permits and licenses; finding a location; setting up your shop; purchasing office equipment and supplies; keeping business records.
• Working as a Professional Locksmith
  • Determining what services to offer and what to charge; evaluating your competition and targeting your customers; setting an advertising budget; legal issues and locksmithing ethics; bonding and licensing; how to look and act like a professional.
• Supplement:Starting a Mobile Business

Online Library and Librarian
Students in ICS Canada have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and to assist students in research activities during their studies with ICS Canada.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.

In order to further enhance your performance in this field, ICS has researched and recommended specific practical activities designed to complement your course work.

To ensure that you acquire the manual skills which are important in this program area, we encourage you to follow all of the course instructions.

Kwikset is a trademark of Kwikset Corporation registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.

Papaiz is a trademark of Papaiz U.S.A. Ltd. registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.