Locksmith
Locksmith licensing is disappearing. Thirteen states require it today; Nebraska and Tennessee repealed theirs in 2021, Florida wiped out local licensing statewide in 2025, and Illinois has scheduled its own program to end in 2029. Where licensing does exist, the point of it isn't skill — it's the criminal background check and fingerprinting, because locksmiths get access to homes, cars, and businesses. That's also why this trade barely reciprocates at all: a background check run by one state isn't something another state accepts on faith.
Where can I take my locksmith license?
Pick the state you're licensed in. You'll get the states that will consider that license — which is not the same as a free transfer.
FAQ
Do I need a license to work as a locksmith?
In thirteen states, yes: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Virginia. In the other thirty-seven, no — anyone can hang out a shingle. Costs swing wildly in the licensed states, from about $37 in Texas to $438 in North Carolina. Two things worth separating in your head: a license is legal permission, and ALOA certification is a skill credential. ALOA's coursework is genuinely good and Illinois will accept its exam in place of the state's own — but completing it does not authorize you to work in a regulated state. In an unregulated state it's the opposite: ALOA is the only external signal you've been vetted at all, which is why insurers often discount for it.
Locksmith rules in every state
Researched 2026-07-21 to 2026-07-24One entry per state, in alphabetical order. Each one covers who licenses the trade there, what it takes to qualify, and whether that state accepts a license earned somewhere else.
- Reciprocity — accepts some out-of-state licenses
- No reciprocity — licensed here, but no out-of-state license is accepted
- Nothing to reciprocate — no state license exists here
- Not established — we could not verify this state's position — treat it as an open question, not a no
- secondarydrawn from consistent secondary sources, not confirmed on the agency's own page
Alabama
State licenseHow Alabama treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Alabama Admin. Code 304-X-1-.12 (Licensing Reciprocity), new rule effective 01-10-2026.
Alabama does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Why, and what applies instead: AESBL does have a reciprocity rule, but it is deliberately narrow and does not include locksmiths: 304-X-1-.12(2) Lists the licensing classifications recognized for reciprocity as (a) Burglar Alarm, Electronic Access Control, and/or CCTV, and (b) Burglar Alarm only (with South Carolina). Locksmith licensure is issued by the same Board but is not among the enumerated reciprocity classifications, so an out-of-state locksmith license provides no exam, background-check, or training waiver in Alabama. Every locksmith applicant — regardless of out-of-state credentials — must complete AESBL's full process: approved course certification, proctored exam, and a state/federal background check via ALEA.
- https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/administrative-code/304-X-1-.12 (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://aesbl.alabama.gov/about/statutory-authority/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Alaska
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Alaska treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Alaska.
There is no Alaska state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Locksmithing is not a regulated occupation in Alaska. No trade license, exam, or registration specific to locksmiths exists at the state level; a locksmith needs only a standard state business license (and any applicable borough/city license). Since there is no license, there is nothing to reciprocate.
- https://locksmithingschool.com/how-to-become-locksmith-in-alaska/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Arizona
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Arizona treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Arizona.
There is no Arizona state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Arizona does not regulate the locksmith trade at the state level. Standard business registration with the Arizona Corporation Commission and a local Transaction Privilege Tax license are the only requirements; if locksmith work extends into alarm/access-control systems, a separate Registrar of Contractors license may apply to that portion of the work, but bare locksmithing is unlicensed.
- https://locksmithinsights.com/how-to-become-a-locksmith-in-arizona/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Arkansas
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Arkansas treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Arkansas.
There is no Arkansas state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Arkansas has no state-level locksmith licensing. A locksmith needs only standard business registration with the Arkansas Secretary of State and any required city/county business permits; a sales/use tax permit is required for retail sales. There is no license for an out-of-state credential to reciprocate into.
- https://www.lowratelocksmith.com/how-to/how-to-become-a-locksmith-in-arkansas/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
California
State licenseHow California treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Business & Professions Code §§6980.42-6980.44; BSIS Locksmith Company (LCO) and Locksmith Employee Registration application.
California does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Why, and what applies instead: No reciprocity exists, and no waiver of either the exam or the background check was found for an out-of-state locksmith licence. Every individual must register as a Locksmith Employee, which means Live Scan fingerprinting and a state and FBI background check, and every business must hold a Locksmith Company licence — regardless of what you hold elsewhere. One thing that looks like reciprocity and is not: the application's fingerprint-reciprocity language refers only to fingerprint records being shared between agencies, not to any recognition of your licence. Note also that if a single job exceeds $500, a separate contractor licence is required on top. Fee: $500 for the initial Locksmith Company licence and $300 to renew every two years; $55 for initial Locksmith Employee registration and $40 biennially.
- https://www.bsis.ca.gov/consumers/faqs/locksmith_company.shtml (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.bsis.ca.gov/forms_pubs/loc_initial.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Colorado
No state license — local/city licensing onlyThere is no state license for this trade — licensing, where it exists, happens at the city or county level.
How Colorado treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Colo. Rev. Stat. Title 12 (Professions and Occupations) contains no locksmith licensing board.
There is no Colorado state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Colorado has no statewide locksmith license, exam, or continuing-education requirement. Regulation, where it exists, is purely municipal (e.g., Denver, Aurora, and Colorado Springs each run separate local ordinances with their own application and exam requirements that do not recognize each other or any out-of-state credential). Statewide, only business registration with the Secretary of State and local sales-tax licensing apply.
- https://locksmithtraining.tech/blog/locksmith-licensing-in-colorado/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://coloradodependablelocksmith.com/blog/colorado-locksmith-license-truth/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Connecticut
State licenseHow Connecticut treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-691 (Chapter 400p — Locksmiths).
Connecticut does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Why, and what applies instead: The controlling statute, §20-691, is silent on reciprocity or any out-of-state waiver — it specifies only the registration requirement, a list of exemptions (none related to out-of-state locksmiths), the $200 application/biennial-renewal fee, and a mandatory state/national criminal history records check for every applicant. DCP's own application materials likewise contain no reciprocity provision. Every applicant, regardless of credentials held elsewhere, must register directly with DCP and pass the same criminal-history check. Fee: $200 application fee; $200 biennial renewal (both set by statute).
- https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DCP/pdf/Applications_Added_2017/LCK-Application_18July.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-20/chapter-400p/section-20-691/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Delaware
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Delaware treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Delaware.
There is no Delaware state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Delaware does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only a standard Delaware business license from the Division of Revenue is required.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Florida
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Florida treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Fla. Stat. §163.211 (2021, HB 735) — preemption of local occupational licensing.
There is no Florida state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Florida has no state-level locksmith license. Formerly, Miami-Dade County and Hillsborough County ran their own local locksmith licensing programs; §163.211 preempted all local occupational licensing to the state effective July 1, 2025, and both counties confirmed they stopped issuing/renewing locksmith licenses as of that date. A 2025 bill (HB 1311/SB 1142, the 'Florida Locksmith Services Act') would have created a NEW statewide license administered by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), including reciprocity/endorsement provisions — but as of mid-2026 that bill has not been enacted into law. Neither DBPR nor FDACS currently issues, renews, or disciplines locksmith licenses. This is a fast-moving area worth re-checking, since the legislature could revive the bill.
- https://www.miamidade.gov/global/news-item.page?Mduid_news=news1751994849027515 (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://hcfl.gov/businesses/small-business-support/business-licensing-and-regulation/locksmith-services-businesses (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=82021 (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Georgia
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Georgia treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Georgia.
There is no Georgia state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Georgia does not license or certify locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration (and, in some cities such as Atlanta, an occupational tax certificate) applies. If locksmith work extends into alarm or low-voltage systems, the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board may separately apply to that portion of the work.
- https://www.lowratelocksmith.com/how-to/how-to-become-a-locksmith-in-georgia/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Hawaii
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Hawaii treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: A 2008 bill (HB188) proposed a chapter requiring locksmith licensure; it does not appear to have been enacted, and no current DCCA program exists.
There is no Hawaii state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Hawaii does not currently license or register locksmiths at the state level. Only general business registration and a general excise tax license apply. A state procurement notice was found rescinding a locksmith-license requirement from a state contract ('Locksmith license is no longer required'), consistent with no current statewide program.
- https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2008/bills/HB188_.htm (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Idaho
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Idaho treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Idaho.
There is no Idaho state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Idaho does not license locksmiths at the state level; only general business registration applies. Locksmiths performing significant residential/commercial work (over roughly $5,000/year) may separately need a Home Improvement Contractors registration through the Idaho Attorney General's office, but this is a general home-improvement consumer-protection registration, not a locksmith-specific credential.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Illinois
State licenseHow Illinois treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: 225 ILCS 447 (Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004); Ill. Admin. Code Title 68, Part 1240.
Illinois does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Why, and what applies instead: Illinois has no blanket reciprocity agreement for locksmiths. The locksmith-specific application/instruction materials describe only exam-based licensure (via Continental Testing Service or accepted ALOA scores) with no endorsement route mentioned. An out-of-state locksmith license does not waive Illinois's exam, fingerprinting or background-check requirements; every applicant must apply from scratch. Note: IDFPR does offer a generic 'Endorsement' application category for some professions it regulates, but this is a general licensure-methods description across many IDFPR professions and is not documented as applying to the locksmith license specifically. Note also: the Illinois General Assembly voted in 2024 to sunset locksmith licensing altogether in 2029; current rules remain in force until then. Fee: $174 application fee; $50 examination fee; $32 fingerprint submission fee.
- https://idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/renewals/apply/forms/loc-ex.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/lock.html (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://idfpr.illinois.gov/dpr/professional-licensing-illinois.html (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Indiana
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Indiana treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Indiana.
There is no Indiana state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Indiana does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration through the Secretary of State (and any applicable local business licenses/permits) applies.
- https://locksmithingschool.com/how-to-become-locksmith-in-indiana/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Iowa
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Iowa treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Iowa.
There is no Iowa state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Iowa does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration through the Iowa Secretary of State applies.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Kansas
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Kansas treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Kansas.
There is no Kansas state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Kansas does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration through the Kansas Secretary of State applies.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Kentucky
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Kentucky treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Kentucky.
There is no Kentucky state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Kentucky does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration applies.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Louisiana
State licenseHow Louisiana treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: La. R.S. Title 40 (Life Safety and Property Protection); HB 607 (2024), effective Jan. 1, 2025.
Louisiana's position could not be established from an official source. This is not a "no" — it is an open question, and it should not be read as a refusal.
What was checked: Louisiana requires both firm and individual locksmith licenses through the State Fire Marshal, including a qualifier holding ALOA specialty certification, fingerprinting/background check, and $500,000 liability insurance. HB 607 (effective Jan. 1, 2025) streamlined the licensing bureaucracy but the underlying insurance/background-check/certification requirements were retained. Whether - and on what terms - an out-of-state locksmith license or exam is accepted toward these requirements could not be established from SFM's public-facing materials; secondary sources advise contacting SFM directly, describing reciprocity as possible but not guaranteed. Fee: $250 firm application fee; additional individual/employee fees and $42.50 background-check fee.
- https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=409639 (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.lowratelocksmith.com/how-to/become-a-licensed-locksmith-in-louisiana/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.workiz.com/blog/locksmith-tips/locksmith-license-louisiana/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Maine
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Maine treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Maine.
There is no Maine state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Maine does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration through the Secretary of State applies.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Maryland
State licenseHow Maryland treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Md. Business Regulation Article, Title 12.5 (Maryland Locksmiths Act); MSP Licensing Division application materials.
Maryland's position could not be established from an official source. This is not a "no" — it is an open question, and it should not be read as a refusal.
What was checked: Maryland runs a distinct track for out-of-state locksmith companies, and it is a real mechanism rather than mere exam eligibility — but whether it reaches your licence cannot be worked out from public materials. The State Police application has a separate route for out-of-state companies, requiring that the licence be 'reciprocal with Maryland', a background check repeated every two years, submission of the out-of-state licence or registration, fingerprint cards, photographs, and proof of a $50,000 fidelity bond or general liability policy. The difficulty is that Maryland does not publish which states it treats as reciprocal. That determination appears to be made case by case, so you cannot confirm your eligibility before applying. Title 12.5 separately provides that an out-of-state licensee with a fixed business address has its 'local law enforcement unit' contact designated by the Secretary rather than by a county or municipal body, which underlines that out-of-state applicants are handled on their own administrative track. Fee: $137.25 to $197.25 depending on commission type, background check included.
- https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc5300/sc5339/000113/011000/011676/unrestricted/20090561e.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2018/business-regulation/title-12.5.-locksmiths/subtitle-1/section-12.5-101/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Massachusetts
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Massachusetts treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: A proposed bill (H.3742) would create locksmith licensure; not enacted as of mid-2026.
There is no Massachusetts state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Massachusetts does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only general business registration through the Secretary of the Commonwealth applies. A licensing proposal (H.3742) has been referred to committee but has not become law.
- https://www.lowratelocksmith.com/locksmith-wiki/laws/massachusetts-locksmith-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Michigan
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Michigan treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Michigan.
There is no Michigan state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Michigan does not license locksmiths at the state level. Per the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, a locksmith needs only a sales-tax license if selling merchandise, plus standard business registration through LARA.
- https://careertrend.com/about-5428172-michigan-locksmith-requirements.html (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Minnesota
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Minnesota treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Minnesota Attorney General consumer guidance; proposed bills HF2298/SF2192 to license locksmiths were not enacted.
There is no Minnesota state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: The Minnesota Attorney General's Office states plainly: 'Minnesota law does not require locksmiths to be licensed or bonded.' Bills to create a chapter 330A locksmith licensure scheme were introduced in the 2017 and 2019 sessions but were not enacted. Only a state or city business license applies.
- https://www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/publications/hiringalocksmith.asp (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF2298&version=latest&session=91&session_number=0&session_year=2019 (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Mississippi
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Mississippi treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Mississippi.
There is no Mississippi state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Mississippi does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration applies.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Missouri
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Missouri treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Missouri.
There is no Missouri state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Missouri has never enacted a locksmith licensing statute. Only standard business registration applies; locksmiths who also install or service alarm or access-control systems may separately need to comply with security-contractor or low-voltage electrical rules.
- https://www.lowratelocksmith.com/locksmith-wiki/laws/missouri-locksmith-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Montana
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Montana treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Montana.
There is no Montana state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Montana does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration applies.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Nebraska
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Nebraska treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: LB169 (2021).
There is no Nebraska state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Nebraska formerly required locksmiths to be certified through county clerk's offices; LB169 repealed this requirement effective August 28, 2021. County Clerk'S Offices no longer issue locksmith certificates, and only standard business registration now applies. Many older sources still incorrectly list Nebraska as a licensed state.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Nevada
No state license — local/city licensing onlyThere is no state license for this trade — licensing, where it exists, happens at the city or county level.
How Nevada treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: NRS Chapter 655.
Nevada's position could not be established from an official source. This is not a "no" — it is an open question, and it should not be read as a refusal.
What was checked: Nevada is unusual: the state itself does not issue locksmith licenses, but NRS 655 requires locksmiths to obtain a permit from the county sheriff where their principal place of business is located. The sheriff investigates and may grant or deny the permit at their own discretion, with fees varying by county and permits valid for 5 years. Because this is a county-by-county discretionary permit system rather than a single state licensing board, whether and how an out-of-state locksmith credential might be treated favourably by a given sheriff's office could not be established and likely varies by county.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
New Hampshire
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How New Hampshire treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in New Hampshire.
There is no New Hampshire state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: New Hampshire does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration applies.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
New Jersey
State licenseHow New Jersey treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: N.J.S.A. 45:5A (Electrical Contractors Licensing Act of 1962, as amended by P.L. 2021, c. 479).
New Jersey's position could not be established from an official source. This is not a "no" — it is an open question, and it should not be read as a refusal.
What was checked: New Jersey licenses locksmiths jointly with burglar/fire alarm businesses through the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, not a separate locksmith board. P.L. 2021, c. 479 contains reciprocity language ('provided that equal reciprocity is provided to electrical contractors, Class A journeyman electricians...') but this provision, on its face, appears to govern the Board's separate electrical-contractor/journeyman reciprocity with the District of Columbia, not the locksmith business license specifically. Whether any reciprocity or exam waiver applies to the locksmith license itself could not be confirmed from the statute text or Board materials reviewed, and one industry source states New Jersey 'Does not maintain formal reciprocity for electrical contractor or alarm license' generally. Every applicant, at minimum, undergoes fingerprint-based State Police and FBI background checks regardless of out-of-state credentials.
- https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2020/PL21/479_.PDF (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/new-jersey/low-voltage-license-requirements/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
New Mexico
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How New Mexico treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in New Mexico.
There is no New Mexico state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: New Mexico does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration applies.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
New York
No state license — local/city licensing onlyThere is no state license for this trade — licensing, where it exists, happens at the city or county level.
How New York treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: NYC Admin. Code (locksmith licensing); Local Law 183 of 2025.
New York's position could not be established from an official source. This is not a "no" — it is an open question, and it should not be read as a refusal.
What was checked: New York has no statewide locksmith licence. NYC's DCWP licenses individual locksmiths, and its own application checklist lists 'Proof of licensure as a locksmith from another jurisdiction within the United States' as one of several acceptable ways to demonstrate qualification, alongside letters of recommendation or a training-course certificate - a real, if partial, local recognition of out-of-state credentials, though fingerprinting and the NYC application and fee are still required. This is a municipal accommodation, not state reciprocity, and Local Law 183 of 2025 will restructure NYC'S individual locksmith licence into a business-only licence by 31 May 2027, eliminating the fingerprinting requirement, so the mechanism is set to change. Nassau County separately licenses locksmiths under rules not reviewed here. Fee: $75 NYC processing fee for the current individual licence, pre-2027 restructuring.
- https://home.nyc.gov/site/dca/businesses/license-checklist-locksmith.page (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
North Carolina
State licenseHow North Carolina treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 74F (Locksmith Licensing Act).
North Carolina does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Why, and what applies instead: North Carolina requires a state locksmith licence administered by its own dedicated Locksmith Licensing Board under Chapter 74F, with a criminal-background disqualification list, a Board-administered exam, and 3 years/5,472 hours of verified experience. No formal reciprocity or exam-waiver provision was found in Chapter 74F itself; secondary sources confirm 'North Carolina does not have reciprocity agreements. Out-of-state locksmiths must pass the NC exam and meet all requirements.' At least one source describes an informal 'endorsement' review for applicants from states with equivalent standards, with South Carolina applicants reportedly faring best, but this is not established in the statute and should be confirmed directly with the Board before being repeated. Fee: $100 application fee plus $150 licence fee (approximate, per secondary sources); $75 exam fee.
- https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByChapter/Chapter_74F.pdf (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://masterfinder.com/licensing/locksmith/north-carolina/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
North Dakota
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How North Dakota treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in North Dakota.
There is no North Dakota state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: North Dakota does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration applies.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Ohio
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Ohio treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Ohio.
There is no Ohio state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Ohio does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration through the Secretary of State applies.
- https://www.tradeprepped.com/locksmith/ohio/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://www.howtogetlicensed.com/locksmith/ohio/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Oklahoma
State licenseHow Oklahoma treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: 59 O.S. 1800.1 et seq. (Alarm and Locksmith Industry Act).
Oklahoma's position could not be established from an official source. This is not a "no" — it is an open question, and it should not be read as a refusal.
What was checked: First, the thing most sources get wrong: Oklahoma locksmiths are licensed by the Construction Industries Board's Alarm Industry Committee under the Alarm and Locksmith Industry Act — not by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training, which many sites name. Going to CLEET sends you to the wrong agency entirely. On reciprocity, the Board'S general policy applies only 'when your state has a written agreement with Oklahoma' for a given licence category. Whether such an agreement exists for the Alarm and Locksmith Industry licence could not be confirmed from public materials and should be verified with the Committee directly. One indication of which way it may fall: Oklahoma's alarm licences were independently found not to reciprocate. If that holds across the same licence'S locksmith side, the answer here is probably no. Fee: $200 to renew, on a three-year cycle.
- https://oklahoma.gov/cib/frequently-asked-questions.html (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/oklahoma/low-voltage-license-requirements/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Oregon
State licenseHow Oregon treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: ORS 701 (Construction Contractors); oar CCB rules (locksmith endorsement).
Oregon does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Why, and what applies instead: Oregon requires a CCB business licence with the specific Residential Locksmith Services endorsement, plus an individual Oregon Certified Locksmith credential held by at least one owner or employee. Oregon's published reciprocal-licensing arrangements cover only specific plumbing and electrical classifications, with Idaho, Montana and others - the locksmith endorsement is not among them, and Oregon does not offer general contractor licence reciprocity at all. Every applicant must complete the CCB process for that endorsement regardless of out-of-state locksmith credentials.
- https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/viewSingleRule.action?ruleVrsnRsn=249659 (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://contractorlicensinginc.com/national-contractor-licensing/oregon-contractor-license/ (official, accessed 2026-07-29)
Pennsylvania
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Pennsylvania treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Pennsylvania.
There is no Pennsylvania state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Pennsylvania does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration through the Department of State applies; some municipalities separately require local business licensing.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Rhode Island
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Rhode Island treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Rhode Island.
There is no Rhode Island state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Rhode Island does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration applies.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
South Carolina
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How South Carolina treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in South Carolina.
There is no South Carolina state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: South Carolina does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration applies.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
South Dakota
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How South Dakota treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in South Dakota.
There is no South Dakota state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: South Dakota does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration applies.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Tennessee
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Tennessee treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Tennessee repeal legislation (2021).
There is no Tennessee state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Tennessee formerly regulated locksmiths but repealed its licensing requirement effective 27 May 2021; the state no longer regulates the trade. Only standard business registration applies. Many older sources still incorrectly list Tennessee as a licensed state.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Texas
State licenseHow Texas treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Tex. Occ. Code Ch. 1702 (Private Security Act).
Texas does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Why, and what applies instead: Locksmiths in Texas are licensed as part of the state's private security industry regulation: individuals must work as employees of a licensed locksmith company (Class B Security Contractor Company Licence) unless they hold their own company licence, and the Qualified Manager must pass a written exam covering the Private Security Act. 'Texas dps psb has no reciprocity for the Class B Security Company License.' Every applicant, regardless of out-of-state credentials, undergoes the same background check, training and exam requirements. Fee: ~$400 company fee.
- https://contractorlicenserequirements.com/texas/low-voltage-license-requirements/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Utah
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Utah treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Utah.
There is no Utah state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Utah does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration applies; the city of Provo separately imposes its own local locksmith licensing requirement.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Vermont
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Vermont treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Vermont.
There is no Vermont state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Vermont does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration applies.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Virginia
State licenseHow Virginia treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: Code of Virginia 9.1-139 et seq. (Private Security Services Businesses and Locksmiths).
Virginia does not offer reciprocity for this trade. An out-of-state credential will not carry across on its own here.
Why, and what applies instead: Virginia licenses locksmiths through DCJS under its private-security-services framework, requiring 18 hours of DCJS-approved entry-level training, fingerprinting and registration; unlicensed work is permitted for up to 90 days while employed by a licensed company. A detailed secondary source states: 'Virginia does not seem [to] have any license reciprocity... Even though there'S a provision allowing such arrangement' - the Code contains a mechanism potentially permitting an examination waiver for locksmiths continuously practising since before 1 July 2008, but no current functioning reciprocity pathway for a typical out-of-state applicant was confirmed. Every new applicant must complete DCJS'S own training and registration regardless of out-of-state licensure, though prior out-of-state locksmith employment may support a waiver of the entry-level training requirement - which is training credit, not reciprocity. Same pattern as Connecticut across four trades: the statutory authority exists and has not been exercised.
- https://locksmithingschool.com/how-to-become-locksmith-in-virginia/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://bestlocksmith.org/the-15-states-that-require-locksmith-licensing/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Washington
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Washington treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Washington.
There is no Washington state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Washington does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration applies.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
West Virginia
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How West Virginia treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in West Virginia.
There is no West Virginia state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: West Virginia does not license locksmiths at the state level. Anyone may offer locksmith services with only a general business licence; voluntary ALOA certification is common but not required.
- https://getlicensemap.com/states/locksmith/west-virginia (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Wisconsin
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Wisconsin treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Wisconsin.
There is no Wisconsin state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Wisconsin does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration applies.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)
Wyoming
No license — state or localNo license exists for this trade at any level — state or local — in this state.
How Wyoming treats this trade and an out-of-state credential. Governing authority: No statute found regulating locksmiths in Wyoming.
There is no Wyoming state licence for this trade to reciprocate. Local rules may still apply.
What applies instead: Wyoming does not license locksmiths at the state level. Only standard business registration applies.
- https://vortechpro.com/blog/locksmith-license-by-state-2026/ (secondary, accessed 2026-07-29)