Canadian Locksmith
Associations
Professional Locksmiths Association Nova
Scotia is one of the groups a locksmith in Canada would want to
be involved with to increase their chances of a solid career in
locksmithing. There is also the Association of Professional
Locksmiths, the Canadian Alarm and Security Association, the
Master Locksmiths of Quebec, Inc., and the Professional
Locksmiths Association of Alberta. While it is not necessary to
overwhelm your schedule and your interests, joining at least
one of these important groups can provide positive benefits.
One of those benefits is to be able to keep abreast of the
latest news and happenings in the world of the locksmith.
Another benefit is to build a bond between yourself and others
in the same field of work.
Making a positive image for a
locksmith and his/her business is just one of the most
important investments towards a healthy future in the business.
Canadians take pride in their country and in their training for
locksmiths. An apprentice must first be hired as a trainee,
then must find a journeyman for a mentor, and finally must
enroll in the apprenticeship program. Eight weeks of class at a
college is required followed by an exam that is administered by
the government. There are four periods of training this way
that must be completed successfully before being given the
honor of the Journeyman Locksmith title.
The
Canadian locksmith must do more than simply memorize the test
material to pass the written exam. He or she must understand
and apply the material with competence. The hands-on learning
is supervised by the instructor.
There is an annual locksmith
auction for Ontario locksmiths, a golf tournament, a locksmith
academy, an electric door operator class, and a locksmith
convention. The basic locksmithing courses cost $300. There are
separate costs for each area of locksmithing. Panic Exit
Devices course costs $275, Lock Picking costs $175, Basic Safe
Searching costs $275. There's also Access Control, Door Closer
Installation, Tricks of the Trade, and many more courses
available for advanced learning.
There is, of course, an at-home course that
one can enroll in that suggests a budding locksmith can earn
over $17 an hour after only nine months of training. Much like
the distance courses offered in the United States for
locksmiths, Kwikset and IICO are listed as the locks and key
making machinery used during training. This course does give
locksmith skills that are necessary; however, apprenticeship
under an established locksmith gets you paid while you learn
real life situations rather than textbook versions. You can
learn much from a seasoned professional including what not to
do!
Whether you are learning in
Canada, the United States, or Australia, the education and
apprenticeship are necessary to establish a base for a
locksmith career.
Learning on your own may give you the barest
of starts, but you will need to prove yourself worthy of your
title. Many times the only way to convince future employers or
future customers that you deserve their business is to be able
to show valid certificates and licenses. Landing the big
accounts will mean showing that you had the devotion and
interest to prove yourself trustworthy.
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