- Locksmith & Home Security Technician
- Getting a career diploma in as little as 2 months.
- Gain experience with practical exercises and interactive assignments.
- Learn how to identify, create, and duplicate keys.
- Learn to work with several types of locks including safes, valuts, and auto.
- and more...
To become a locksmith in the state of Illinois there are several general requirements:
- Be at least 21 years of age (you may need to be 18 to be an employee only)
- Not convicted of a felony within the last 10 years
- Can not be dishonorably discharged from the armed services
- Successfully pass the Locksmith Licensure Examination
- Proof of insurance sufficient for the individual’s business circumstances (only required if you are the Owner)
Table of Contents
The Application Process
The application for licensure can be found by clicking here.
Once you’ve read through the application you’ll find there are essentially 3 steps.
Step 1
Access and complete the Locksmith Licensure Examination via the Internet at www.continentaltesting.net.
There is an examination and licensure application fee of $167.
Note that this application is going to be for both the license and the exam.
Step 2
Within 60 days of submitting the licensure application schedule a fingerprinting appointment by going to https://www.idfpr.com/LicenseLookUp/fingerprintlist.asp.
This is an electronic submission and the fee is usually $32.
You may also be required to submit to a criminal background check, which is usually done through the FBI.
Fees are unknown for this, but typically it is around $17.
Step 3
Apply and supporting documents to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
Step 4
Be patient.
It can take up to 6 weeks to obtain exam results.
After the successful completion of the examination, you will be notified of the licensure fee.
Once you pay the final licensure fee and submit your proof of insurance (if you are the owner) then you are all done.
2 Best Locksmith Schools in Illinois
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Acme School Locksmith Division | 11350 South Harlem Worth, IL 60482 |
| AKG Academy | 633 Hickory Hill Drive Vernon Hills, IL, 60061 |
Salary
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Locksmiths in Illinois
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Arlington Heights | $54,711 |
| Cicero | $55,992 |
| Moline | $49,961 |
| Springfield | $51,775 |
| Peoria | $51,348 |
| Naperville | $55,031 |
| Bloomington | $51,135 |
| Rock Island | $50,014 |
| Champaign | $51,669 |
| Joliet | $54,658 |
Regional Salary in Illinois
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 410 | $47,630 | $22.9 | $70,160 | $34,720 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
hi,
in regards to opening for a business, since its primarily a mobile service business can the business operate out of a residence in Illinois?
thanks,
Becoming a locksmith in Illinois is pretty straightforward. Just make sure to complete your training and get licensed. It’s a solid trade with good demand.