How To Get Student Loans for Locksmithing School in 2025

Becoming a locksmith can be a natural fit for someone who enjoys solving problems and working with their hands. Though the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the locksmithing profession is on the decline, with just under 14,800 of these trained professionals employed as of 2023, there continues to be a need for this practical trade.

While the requirements to become a locksmith can vary depending on your state, you typically need to attend school and work as an apprentice before you can get a job with a locksmith company. In some areas, you may also need to get a license.

Here's what you need to know about paying for this kind of vocational training, including your student loan options for locksmithing school.

Current private student loan rates

Can you get student loans for locksmithing school?

You may be able to access federal student loans to pay for your training, depending on the specific locksmithing program you plan to attend. If your locksmith school is both accredited and also qualifies for Title IV federal student aid, then you may be eligible for federal student loans.

However, even if your program is ineligible for federal student aid, you may still be able to take out private student loans to help you pay for locksmith training. While private student loans don't offer the same borrower protections and benefits as federal student loans, they can help make your locksmith program affordable.

Check Out: How To Take Out a Student Loan

Other options to help you afford your locksmith vocational education might include a paid apprenticeship or union training program. These options may cost you nothing out of pocket, but you might have to commit to an employment requirement for a certain amount of time after completing your training.

Federal student loans for locksmithing school

Locksmithing schools may or may not be eligible for federal student loans. That's because vocational schools need to meet two criteria to qualify for federal student aid:

1. The school must be accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Several online and short-term locksmithing programs aren't necessarily accredited by a recognized agency.
2. The school must also meet Title IV requirements to be eligible for federal student aid. In particular, vocational schools must have a minimum of 10 or 15 weeks of instructional time consisting of 300 to 600 clock hours.

While some locksmithing programs may meet this instructional time requirement, shorter initial training programs are more common, according to Dawne Chandler, an education coordinator for ALOA Security Professionals Association Inc. (formerly the Associated Locksmiths of America).

“Most new locksmiths begin with our five-day ALOA Fundamentals of Locksmithing (AFL) course,” says Chandler.

While this has the benefit of getting new locksmiths trained and ready for their careers quickly, it means students interested in locksmithing typically aren't eligible for federal student aid.

If you're not sure if your locksmith program is eligible for federal student aid, contact your school's financial aid office or use the Department of Education's School Search tool.

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Student Loans: Are They Right for You?

Private loans for locksmith certification

Even if your locksmithing program isn't eligible for federal financial aid, you may still be able to take out private student loans to help you pay for this kind of vocational training. A few lenders that offer loans specifically tailored for students in vocational training programs include:

• Ascent: If you take out a career training loan through Ascent, you have the option to defer payments until you've received a job offer after completing your locksmithing training.
• Sallie Mae: Sallie Mae's Career Training Smart Option Student Loan can offer up to 100% of your trade school's cost of attendance.

If you decide to use private student loans for locksmithing school, compare your options carefully, looking at each of these factors:

• Interest rate and type (variable or fixed)
• Fees
• Repayment terms
• Cosigner requirements
• Cosigner release
• Deferment options
• Discounts

Cost of locksmithing school and training

The cost of locksmithing school can vary significantly, depending on the program's format, length, and whether tools, certification fees, and materials are included.

The least expensive options tend to be online-only courses, which generally cost under $1,000 and are self-guided, so you can complete them at your own pace. However, you may also have to pay for tools, materials, or other necessary items on top of the tuition cost for online locksmith training.

In-person, hands-on instruction may last anywhere from a few days to several months and typically costs a couple thousand dollars or more. Most in-person training includes the cost of tools with tuition.

“At ALOA, our flagship course is the AFL-ALOA Fundamentals of Locksmithing, which costs approximately $1,500 to $2,000, depending on the session and location,” Chandler says. “The course includes tools, training materials, and five full days of immersive, in-person education.”

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Other costs might include a background check and drug screening, and the cost of licensure if you live in one of the 14 states that require locksmith licenses. There may also be a fee for your licensing exam and for any practice exams you access from organizations like ALOA prior to taking your licensing exam.

One other option for locksmith training is an apprenticeship, a structured program where a paid trainee learns the trade on the job under the supervision of a professional locksmith. Typically, apprenticeship programs can last months or even years. This can be a good way to become a locksmith without having to pay for training.

Potential earnings for locksmiths

According to the BLS, the median annual wage for locksmiths was $48,380 as of 2023, with locksmiths in the 10th percentile earning an average of $31,620 and those in the 90th percentile earning an average of $76,460.

Locksmiths can increase their potential earnings by adding advanced certifications or specialties to their basic training. For instance, Chandler explains that “most locksmiths begin with the CRL [Certified Registered Locksmith] and pursue additional credentials gradually as they gain field experience.”

“ALOA also offers specialty certifications such as ICRL (Institutional), CMAL (Automotive), and CEL (Electronic), depending on the technician's focus,” she adds. These kinds of certifications can broaden a locksmith's skill set and boost their earnings.

One potential benefit of becoming a locksmith is that many are self-employed, which offers career flexibility and business ownership potential.

Other ways to pay for locksmithing school

In addition to loans, there are many other options available to fund your locksmith training. These might include:

• Employer-sponsored training: Employers will often pay for locksmith training, according to Chandler. “We frequently see employers cover the cost of the AFL course, testing fees, or travel to our conventions as part of their workforce development, especially in institutional, government, or franchise settings,” she says. Workplaces may also offer tuition reimbursement or cover the cost of education to reach a required level of certification.
• Grants and scholarships: Trade organizations and schools may offer grants or scholarships to help students afford the cost of training. Chandler highlighted the ALOA Scholarship Foundation (ASF), which helps students entering the trade cover the cost of their education.
• GI Bill benefits: Veterans, service members, National Guard members, and qualified dependents may be able to use the GI Bill to pay for trade school, including locksmith training. However, not all locksmith programs are eligible for GI Bill benefits. For example, ALOA courses don't qualify for GI Bill funding.

Tips for borrowing responsibly

Before you take out a loan for your locksmith program, consider the following tips. They can help protect you from taking on more debt than you can handle:

• Exhaust your free aid options first: Covering the cost of your training with grants, scholarships, GI Bill funding, or an apprenticeship will mean you don't have to pay out of pocket for your program. Prioritize these free sources of aid before you consider taking on any loans.
• Don't borrow more than you need: You'll need to repay anything you borrow, plus interest, so don't take out a larger loan than you need.
• Compare the program cost vs. your expected income: Figure out what you believe your starting salary will be as a first-year locksmith and compare that with the cost of your program. If you're taking out a loan to pay for your program, try to set up your repayment plan based on your expected income, remembering that a shorter repayment term means a cheaper loan cost overall.
• Review rates: Your loan's interest rate determines how much you'll pay for the loan over its repayment term. Crunch the numbers on the interest rates offered to you so you know exactly how much you'll be paying for the loan over time.
• Understand your repayment options: You may have several options for when to start repayment, but each repayment option has different benefits and drawbacks. Make sure you understand what each repayment plan means for your finances and budget.

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