​

       The question is asked day after day, "How do I become a locksmith?". There is no simple answer, but four options come to mind. The first option is being "born" into the trade. Many successful locksmith businesses are family owned and operated and have been for generations. The trade is passed down from father to son. This option is preferable since it is in the father's best interest to share secrets learned and passed down from previous generations to their own sons. These types of businesses are difficult to obtain employment with as the families regard their techniques and secrets as "proprietary" in most cases.

​

       The second option is to be hired as an apprentice with an established locksmith. This does happen from time to time, but many locksmiths are reluctant to hire individuals off the street. The reason for this is as soon as the apprentice feels they know the trade, they quit, start their own business, and become competition. Generally this drives down rates in the area due to the apprentice lowering prices in an attempt to gain more business. This in turn hurts the entire local locksmith industry.

​

       The third option is to take an online or correspondence locksmith course. While these courses are reasonably cheap, the material is extremely outdated and only covers the "bare basics". For example, the oldest of these programs has not provided a major update to their training in over 40 years. While these courses teach basics like rekeying locks, they do not teach disassembly. Many locksmith hopefuls have purchased and completed these courses only to start a business and discover they were not taught what is required to do the job effectively.

​

       The fourth and best option (if you were not "born" into the trade) is attending locksmith training in a classroom setting. Locksmith training schools are far and few between. When attending a school, you gain hands on training and have the ability to ask questions and receive immediate answers. Generally class sizes are kept reasonably small in order to devote more individual attention to each student. You are able to work with a wide variety of locks, tools, and machines. When you complete your training and leave the school, you are certain you are prepared to begin your new occupation and be successful.

​

       American Center For Locksmith Training (ACLT) in Ogden, Utah is one such school, but with a twist. ACLT is a division of Key Man Lock & Safe Company. Key Man is family owned and operated by 3rd and 4th generation locksmiths who also instruct the courses. Training at ACLT is almost like being "born" into the trade. ACLT instructors pass on their generations of experience and trade secrets to their students. No other training program in the country offers this benefit.

​

       American Center For Locksmith Training offers courses in General Locksmithing, Advanced Locksmithing, Automotive Locksmithing, BMW, Volkswagen/Audi/Porsche (VAG), Mercedes, Volvo, Saab, and EEPROM Locksmithing. There is absolutely NO other locksmith training facility in the United States offering "hands-on" training in these areas of locksmithing all in one place. In addition to our own in house 3rd and 4th generation locksmith instructors, ACLT has some of the top specialty locksmiths from around the country on staff as instructors for various automotive and EEPROM courses. These instructors travel in several times a year and seating is very limited. Check our class schedule for availability.

​

For more information on American Center For Locksmith Training, visit our website at www.traintolocksmith.com or contact us at American Center For Locksmith Training 2050 Wall Ave. Ste. 2 Ogden, UT 84401 Tel. (877) 217-3786.