How to become a locksmith in Virginia

The path in Virginia, step by step

Virginia licenses locksmith work at the state level through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, Private Security Services. These are the steps it lays out, in order.

1. Work for, or set up, a private security services business licensed by DCJS for locksmith services.
2. Submit fingerprints by your hire date.
3. Complete the 18 hour entry level locksmith training.
4. Keep up the 4 hour in-service training.

The full license guide, with every fee and form: locksmith license in Virginia.

Finding an apprenticeship in Virginia

Virginia runs Registered Apprenticeship through its own State Apprenticeship Agency, recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor to register and oversee programs there. Its staff are state employees, and it may use the federal paperwork or forms of its own. Apprenticeship.gov lists the Virginia State Apprenticeship Agency as the contact.

Either way, a registered program means paid work with a mentor, raises as you progress, classroom instruction and a credential recognized in every state. Search open spots in the Apprenticeship Job Finder.

Across the country. O*NET lists locksmith apprenticeship titles that are vetted by industry and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor for Registered Apprenticeship programs.

License levels and exams in Virginia

The license to aim for: Locksmith registration, with a DCJS licensed private security services business.

What locksmiths earn in Virginia

The median locksmith in Virginia earned $25.76 an hour in May 2025, 21st of 48 states, with 430 on payrolls. The national median was $24.68.

At the bottom of the range, a quarter of locksmiths in Virginia earned under $22.27 an hour and a tenth under $16.76. At the top, a quarter earned over $31.58 and a tenth over $36.63.

Every state, the neighbors and what a business should charge: locksmith salary in Virginia.

Jobs ahead in Virginia

Virginia's labor market office projects jobs for locksmiths shrinking from 580 in 2022 to 540 in 2032, a change of -6.9%. Counting people who retire or change careers, that is about 60 openings a year.

Jobs are projected to shrink 6.9% from 2022 to 2032, against -11.5% growth nationally, ranking 30th of the 49 states in the file.

These are the state's own long-term projections, published together on Projections Central for the occupation group locksmiths and safe repairers.

Starting your own locksmith business in Virginia

To contract on your own in Virginia, the license is the Locksmith registration, with a DCJS licensed private security services business.

Pricing comes next. Paying yourself the Virginia median of $25.76 an hour, the labor rate calculator's starting numbers (one person, 2 unbilled hours a day, $90,000 of overhead, 15% profit) come to $115.83 per billable hour. Try your own in the labor rate calculator.

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