12 KEYNOTES FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 WWW.ALOA.ORG “Why Should I Become Certified?” By ALOA SPAI Director of Education William M. Lynk, CML, CPS, ICML, CMIL, CAI, M.Ed. B ecoming certified within the locksmith in- dustry has proven to be of major interest among our members. Let’s look at the benefits of certification and the types of certifications that you can work toward obtaining. Why? Simply stated, to remain as competi- tive as possible today, you must be certi- fied. With the many changes in security awareness, the bar has been raised within the security profession. Employers, con- tractors, government entities and even clients are now taking additional steps to ensure that they are hiring or working with the most skilled and knowledgeable individuals in the security business. Ad- ditionally, many states are including in their licensing regulations the same re- quirements as those for ALOA’s certifi- cations. Professional certifications from ALOA offer another screening tool — one that has the backing and credibility of the preeminent professional association in the world for those who are responsible for locks, safes and physical security. We know that every profession re- quires specialized skills. But not every employer knows if you have those skills. In short, certification is an investment in your career, your livelihood and your future. All in all, taking the initiative to gain certification verifies to your custom- ers or employer that your skills are cur- rent, valuable and validated, while also giving you the personal satisfaction that you are a proven master of your profes- sion. As a result, it will raise your own confidence level by providing you with the knowledge and abilities to take on new challenges. Life is all about changes, and being prepared for them is an asset. In short, earning the appropriate cre- dentials for you means gaining instant professional credibility, advancement in your career, standing head and shoulders above the competition, increasing your earnings potential and being a step ahead with licensing in your state. It’s time you consider becoming credentialed if you have not done it so far. As an international trade association, ALOA recognizes professionalism and proficiency among locksmiths by grant- ing various types of designations: ALOA Fundamental Locksmith (AFL), Certified Automotive Locksmiths (CAL), Certified Registered Locksmith (CRL), Certified Professional Locksmith (CPL) and Cer- tified Master Locksmith (CML). Avail- able to all locksmiths, the Proficiency Registration Program (PRP) evaluates — through participation, tracking and testing — the educational and technical competence of dedicated individuals in a wide range of subjects such as hardware installation, key duplication, automotive, high security cylinders, safe and vault locks, master keying, alarms and access control devices. How the Proficiency Registration Program (PRP) Works Following the Original CRL-CPL-CML pathway for certification, there are 28 cat- egories known as “electives.” They can be taken separately or in groups. The Man- EDUCATION
