Trade Schools
Locksmiths have many responsibilities in a growing field.
The locksmithing industry is ever evolving because of emerging trends and the latest technologies.
Completing a locksmith program that addresses the current needs and changing technologies is important for anyone who wants to work in this field.
Locksmiths perform important services that include things like repairing and replacing locks and providing security consultations.
They also help people secure their homes, their vehicles, and their businesses.
People who want to have more career opportunities may work in a specialized area.
Some examples of specializations include automotive locksmithing, residential locksmithing, or commercial locksmithing.
Some locksmiths become specialists in forensic locksmithing or vault locksmithing.
Completing one of the best online locksmith programs allows students to complete coursework in their own home, and usually at their own pace.
This complete guide to the best locksmith programs online helps people choose the best program for their interests and goals, while also helping them to understand licensing or other requirements in their state.
Earn your accredited, affordable Locksmith career diploma online with Penn Foster in as little as 2 months!
Best Online Locksmith Training Programs
The best online locksmith training programs offer students the chance to gain the knowledge and skills that they need to work in this evolving field.
The programs prepare students to work in a changing field that requires them to have the knowledge and skills that are related to the latest technologies and trends in locksmithing.
Students do not have to earn a four-year degree to start or advance their locksmith career.
They often complete their training program within a few months to a year.
Complete a locksmith program online, and you may earn more than the average locksmith salary, which was $55,107 on October 1, 2025.
1. American Locksmith Academy
The American Locksmith Academy has been training locksmiths for more than 25 years.
The school touts itself as being the world’s largest provider of locksmith training.
The academy offers one of its locksmith training programs in an online format.
Students who are interested in automotive locksmithing can complete the online Certified Automotive Locksmith program in just 90 days.
The school indicates that while the program is meant to provide comprehensive training, it is also meant to be fun.
Students enjoy a flexible education that allows them to gain basic and advanced knowledge and skills related to being an automotive locksmith.
Some things covered in the program include vehicle opening, lock repair and replacement, key identification, key impressioning, and high security keys.
Students also learn about making keys in all key-loss situations, transponder chip identification, cloning, production, and key building.
The program educates and trains students in other areas, including Lishi tool picking and decoding, programming remotes, programming smart keys, and key programmers.
Students who complete these and other training areas will become certified automotive locksmith specialists.
The cost of the program is $499.
2. Penn Foster
Penn Foster students who enroll in the online Locksmith and Home Security technician program earn a career diploma in just two months.
Students progress through the program by starting with the basic knowledge and skills for learning to become a locksmith.
They learn how to make keys and how to work with various locks, including automobile locks, safes, and vault locks.
The program trains students to identify keys and how to duplicate keys.
Students learn about the various tools that locksmiths use, how to open locks without keys, and how to dial open, service, and change combinations.
The program at Penn Foster also educates students about how to identify career opportunities for locksmiths and home security technicians.
The school reminds students that they should check to see if there are locksmith licensing requirements in their state.
Tuition for the program is $939.
3. Udemy
The Complete Automotive Locksmith Training Course at Udemy is geared towards beginners who do not have prior locksmithing training.
The online training includes nine hours of on-demand videos, nine downloadable resources, and hands-on demonstrations.
Students learn about key cutting, key duplication, transponder programming, and vehicle entry techniques.
Some other topics covered in the course include vehicle locks and security systems, methods for extracting pin codes, introduction to OBD-CAN BUS systems, and safe and effective techniques for unlocking various car models.
Students who complete the course receive a certificate of completion and lifetime access to Udemy.
4. California Institute of Locksmithing
The California Institute of Locksmithing invites people who are interested in a locksmithing career to unlock their future.
The certified, professional school offers several program options for future locksmiths, including its Live Online Program.
Instructors are professionals in the industry who prepare online students to start a locksmithing career.
Students learn the latest skills, the latest technology, and the current trends in the world of industry.
They gain the basic knowledge of locksmithing and the latest locksmithing techniques and methods.
Students start the program by enrolling in the Lock Box course.
The introductory course teaches students the terms that are used by locksmiths, the basic knowledge of the industry, and how to get started in the locksmithing business.
The curriculum then takes students through several more courses, which include topics like locksmithing tools, lockpicking, installation, and lock and key parts and construction.
Some other course topics include code and code machines, lock troubleshooting, lock bypass techniques, and forensics.
Advanced coursework covers safes and safe manipulation, commercial locksmithing, and high security locks.
The school offers students the chance to pay an additional fee to visit the school and take an additional course for a special accreditation.
The tuition for the Introductory LOCKBOX course is $400.
The Online Basic LIVE Locksmithing course costs $2,500.
It covers the toolkit and all 45 lessons.
Enroll in the Advanced Bypass Online course and pay $500, which covers the cost of all 33 lessons.
5. Foley Belsaw Locksmithing
The professionals at Foley Belsaw Locksmithing have trained thousands of locksmiths over the last 60 years.
Today, the company trains locksmiths to start their own business or to work in an institution, such as a correctional institution, a hospital, a university, or another type of business.
The Ultimate Professional Locksmithing Online Course with Key Machine training consists of 50 online lessons and exams.
Students receive an HPC Mini-Speedex Key Duplicator machine, various tools, keys, and locks, and a six-month online subscription to GCODE Online Lock Codes.
Some lessons and topics included in the program include key identification and duplication, combination locks, pin tumbler locks, and lever tumbler locks.
The curriculum also covers topics like resettable padlocks, lock picking, rekeying, master keying, and cutting keys by code.
Students also learn about safe and vault locks, safe deposit box locks, and automobile locks.
The company provides students with reference guides, technical support, and valuable business guides that help students start their own business.
The tuition, with a money-back guarantee, is $1,090.
6. UHS Hardware
UHS Hardware gives students the opportunity to choose their preferred course from several locksmith training course options.
Students have the chance to enroll in a course or courses that match their career interests and goals and complete them in an online format.
Choose from options such as Auto 101 Automotive Locksmith, Access Control Introduction to Safe Opening, or Professional Gun Safe Opening.
Choose to enroll in other options, including Electronic Access Control Training, Aluminum Storefront Door Service Training, Toyota 2019+ Key Programming, BMW Key Programming, or Automotive EEPROM and Advanced Key Programming.
All online courses offered by UHS Hardware include the chance for students to learn from trained professionals who have many years of experience in the locksmithing industry.
Students gain basic knowledge of the tools, techniques, and trends in the locksmithing industry.
Learn how to pick locks, key locks, key codes, transponders, and cutting-edge technologies.
The tuition varies by individual courses.
Some courses cost just $99 to enroll.
The tuition for several courses is $299.
The tuition for the Automotive EEPROM and Advanced Key Programming course is $399.
Courses take a few weeks to a few months to complete, depending on the course.
What Courses Are in an Online Locksmith Program?
The courses that are in online locksmith programs vary for several reasons.
One reason that they vary is because of the type of program.
A program that includes all or mostly all advanced-level locksmith courses is usually geared towards people who already have some locksmithing experience or education.
Many programs are specifically tailored for beginning locksmith students who have little to no knowledge or experience in the locksmith field.
Another reason that the courses may vary is that different schools or companies develop their own curriculum and courses.
The courses that are offered at one school may not be the same as those offered at another school.
Some courses offered in online locksmith training programs include key identification, key impressioning, how to duplicate keys, transponder programming, locksmithing tools, lockpicking, and master keying.
Some programs include courses that cover things like safe and vault locks, automobile locks, and technologies and trends in the locksmithing industry.
Students who have an interest in specializing in a specific area should review courses offered at each school to see if there is a course or program that matches those interests.
Can You Earn a Locksmith Certification Completely Online?
Many states do not require locksmiths to earn a certification.
13 states require locksmiths to be certified.
Some states include California, Connecticut, Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Illinois.
The other states that require locksmiths to be certified include New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina, Louisiana, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia.
The city of Provo, Utah, also requires locksmiths to have a license.
Check with employers to see if they require a certification.
Although most states do not require locksmiths to earn a certification, individual employers may still require the certification.
It is possible to earn a locksmith certification by completing an online locksmith program.
It is important for future locksmiths to understand that a certificate of completion or a program diploma is not the same as a certification.
A diploma or certificate shows that you completed a locksmith program.
A certification means that you are a certified locksmith and that you have certification from a professional organization.
Some examples include the ALOA Fundamental Locksmith, the Certified Professional Locksmith, and the Certified Automotive Locksmith.
How Long Does It Take to Earn a Locksmith Certification Online?
There is no set time that it takes to earn a locksmith certification online.
The certification process varies with different types of locksmith training and certification requirements.
Students need to make sure that the program they enroll in leads to a certification or the opportunity to take a certification exam.
The time that it takes to earn a locksmith certification after completing an online training program also depends on the agency or governing body that issues the certification.
How Much Does an Online Locksmith Certification Cost?
The cost of earning an online locksmith certification depends on several things.
The cost of the online locksmith program that students enroll in, and whether students have to pay extra for materials and supplies, are some examples.
The cost of a certification varies with the type of locksmith certification and the organization or entity that offers it.
Summary
Locksmithing is an evolving and rapidly growing industry.
The latest technologies, such as smart locks, smart homes, and other technologies and trends, require locksmiths to have in-depth knowledge and skills to work in this industry.
They earn a good salary working in the locksmith industry.
People do not have to earn a degree to become locksmiths.
They can enroll at a school that offers one of the best locksmith programs online.
Students learn the same things as students who enroll in the traditional programs.
Many programs exist so that students can excel in a specialized area or can advance their knowledge of locksmithing.
Some examples include automotive locksmith programs, safe and vault locksmithing, and other programs.
Make sure that you understand the difference between earning a certificate and a certification.
A certificate indicates that you completed the program.
Certification shows that you have certification as a professional locksmith.
Sources
- https://www.vocationaltraininghq.com/how-to-become/locksmith/
- https://www.pennfoster.edu/programs/trades/locksmith-career-diploma
