For locksmiths
How to Become a Locksmith in the UK
You need no licence to work as a locksmith in the UK. Most people start with a short course, costing about £1,250 to £2,850 for 5 days at the trainers we checked, including the MLA and CBWA. The one Ofqual-regulated locksmith qualification we found is the ABBE Level 4, which is also the MLA's qualification. MLA membership is voluntary.
Do you need a licence or qualification to be a locksmith in the UK?
No. Anyone can trade as a locksmith in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, with no licence, qualification or criminal record check required by law. The Private Security Industry Act 2001 does not cover ordinary lock work, though key holding for alarm response is a licensable activity under it.
That cuts both ways. It is easy to start, and it is hard for customers to tell who knows what they are doing. The trade's answers are voluntary: the ABBE Level 4 qualification, MLA membership, and the checks customers can see for themselves, such as a real local address and a written price. Building those in from the start costs less than earning trust later.
Which locksmith qualification actually counts?
The ABBE Level 4 Certificate in General Locksmithing Skills is the only Ofqual-regulated locksmith qualification we found. It is the MLA Qualification, and passing it makes you a Qualified Master Locksmith. It has four modules: a written paper, fitting a mortice lock, opening a BS 5 lever lock, and cutting a key by hand.
Most short courses give something else:
- A certificate of attendance. The MLA's own beginners courses give this, and say so. - An 'accredited programme'. One Wakefield trainer, MPL, markets its 5-day course as a City & Guilds Accredited Programme with an NCFE Level 3 certificate. We found no City & Guilds locksmith qualification on a regulated register. An accredited programme means a body has approved the course; it is not the same as an Ofqual-regulated qualification.
Ask any provider which register its qualification is on, and check it.
How much does a locksmith course cost?
A 5-day beginners course costs about £1,250 to £2,850 across the providers we checked:
| Provider | Course | Price | |---|---|---| | MLA (Rugby) | Beginners, 5 days | £1,653.15 members, £1,812.80 non-members, inc VAT | | CBWA | NOCN course, 5 days | £1,250 | | South UK Locksmith Training | Beginners, 5 days | £1,550 | | Locksmith Training Scotland | Beginners, 5 days | £1,595 plus VAT | | MPL Locksmith Training | Beginners, 5 days | £2,849 (now 'contact us') |
The MLA's own 3-day auto locksmith course costs £1,188 for members and £1,260 for others. Prices are from each provider's page, some read from search results, checked in 2026.
What will you need to start trading?
Beyond training, the basics are:
- Public liability insurance. Tradesman Saver quotes £1m cover from £55 a year, and Admiral from £72.80 a year (price correct 19 August 2025). Tools cover is extra. - A basic DBS certificate. It costs £21.50 in England and Wales (GOV.UK). MLA membership and the UK SERMI scheme both require one. - Tools, stock and a van, bought from trade wholesalers once you have a trade account. - A way for customers to find you: a Google Business Profile, a website, and directory listings.
Be wary of the earnings claims in course adverts. The MLA has published an article questioning promises of £60,000 to £100,000 a year after a 3-day course.
How do you become MLA approved?
In three steps, from the MLA's membership pages:
1. Join as a registered member, with a standard DBS check and two references. 2. Pass the ABBE Level 4 to become a Qualified Master Locksmith. Registered members are expected to pass within 4 years. 3. Apply as an Approved Company once you have at least 2 years' experience. The application is published in the MLA magazine with a 21-day objection period, goes to the board, and is followed by an inspection. Approved firms are re-inspected.
The MLA says over 340 firms hold Approved status, about 5% of the trade. Its search at locksmiths.co.uk is where customers check.
What are the other routes into the trade?
Many locksmiths start by working alongside an established one, which is often the quickest way to see the range of real jobs. Others join a national network as a subcontractor; several recruit openly, and Keytek runs its own training academy. Networks supply work but take a share of each job, which one locksmith puts at 30% to 40% (Lockerfella, a single practitioner's claim). Franchises sell a brand and a territory for an upfront fee.
Auto locksmith work is a separate specialism with its own equipment and courses, and since April 2026 the UK SERMI scheme governs access to some makers' security data. Each route is covered in its own guide.
Common questions
How long does it take to become a locksmith?
A beginners course is usually 5 days, but that is a start, not a finish. MLA members are expected to pass the ABBE Level 4 within 4 years, and Approved Company status needs at least 2 years' experience.
Is the City & Guilds locksmith course a real qualification?
We found no City & Guilds locksmith qualification on a regulated register. One trainer markets a City & Guilds accredited programme. The only Ofqual-regulated locksmith qualification we found is the ABBE Level 4.
Can I become a locksmith with no experience?
Yes. There is no legal entry requirement in the UK. Most people take a short course and then build experience, often alongside an established locksmith, before trading alone.
Do I need a DBS check to be a locksmith?
Not by law. MLA membership and the UK SERMI scheme both require one, and many customers ask. A basic DBS certificate costs £21.50 in England and Wales, according to GOV.UK.