18 Keynotes January/February 2025 aloa.org EDUCATION Starting at the Beginning: The Institutional Path management. As you can see, the need for qualified institutional locksmiths is huge. Q: Who can answer my individual questions about institutional locksmithing? A: Adrian Holley, CPL, LSFDI, CAI, and ALOA Board member, was an institutional locksmith with a large university for many years. He presented a fantastic seminar at the 2024 ALOA Convention explaining how to go from “in-house” locksmithing to general locksmithing, and vice versa. There is also John Truempy, CRL, ICRL, CMIL, IFDI, CFL, CAI, and ALOA Institutional Locksmiths (AIL) division president, who has been an institutional locksmith with a prestigious university for over 35 years. His experience and insight are invaluable. These are the people who can guide you best. Q: If I just started in the business, how do I get that training? A: Take the five-day ALOA Fundamen- tals of Locksmithing course in Dallas. It is offered four times a year and at the annual ALOA Convention. Q: What will I learn there? A: The ALOA Continuing Education (ACE) 5-day Fundamentals of Lock- smithing course will provide you with basic hands-on knowledge of locks and security-related hardware. Students will work with basic locksmithing tools such as dial calipers, impressioning equipment, pliers and a lock pick set, along with other locksmith specialty tools. Upon completion of this course, you will have the knowledge required to function as an apprentice locksmith who can perform the following tasks: identify and duplicate keys, service and adjust key machines, rekey a variety of lock cylinders, make original keys for a variety of locks, code disassem- bly and impressioning, bypass and/or pick common locks, troubleshoot and service common cylinder and lock- set malfunctions, identify common lock hardware finishes and functions, become aware of life safety codes and the ADA, design and key a simple mas- ter key system and know combination lock operation and changing methods. Wow! Since it is 50% lecture and 50% hands-on, your in-person education becomes your experience — and you will go home with real tools and locks as well. Q: Who teaches this course? A: We have the top instructors in the industry with some very impressive credentials and experience. The course is designed with the student in mind. Q: Where is the course taught? A: Your class takes place at the Embassy Suites Market Center in Dallas, where you can stay, enjoy breakfast, attend your class, have lunch provided, attend an evening reception and everything in between — all under one roof! Q: Will I be able to have a designation to use after my name when the course is completed? A: You can earn one of these two designations by taking and successfully passing the examination offered at the end of class: ALOA Fundamental Lock- smithing (AFL) designation or Certified Licensed Locksmith (CLL) certification exam) if you are from Louisiana or Ala- bama (this exam is required to apply for a locksmith license in those states). Additionally, if you become a member of the AIL division, you can potentially earn the designations of ICRL (Institu- tional Certified Registered Locksmith), ICPL (Institutional Certified Profes- sional Locksmith), ICML (Institutional Certified Master Locksmith) and LSFDI (Life Safety Fire Door Inspector)! So, why wait? The bottom line: If you are just begin- ning, ALOA makes it easy for you to start your career path with the basics you need. If you are an experienced lock- smith and know of someone just starting or thinking about starting, this is the perfect opportunity for them. Spread the word. There is an institutional lock- smithing job waiting for them down the road. ALOA SPAI Director of Education William M. Lynk, CML, CPS, ICML, CMIL, CAI, M.Ed., has been a locksmith since 1975 and is the owner of www.ICLSglobal.com. Bill is an IC specialist, an industry author, the subject matter expert on IC for ALOA, and an ALOA ACE instructor, teaching classes on interchange- able cores and master keying across the country. He has originated SFIC Technical Manuals for both national and international lock manufacturers, and maintains a working relationship with the major lock and security manufacturers throughout the world. In 2013, he was named Keynotes Author of the Year. Whether you want to become an institutional locksmith or wish to specialize in a particular area of locksmithing, basic skills are always the first step.
