- You must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent, or ask for a waiver based on experience in the business.
Do you need a state license in New Jersey?
New Jersey licenses locksmith work at the state level through the New Jersey Fire Alarm, Burglar Alarm and Locksmith Advisory Committee. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Steps to get licensed in New Jersey
- Meet the age, character and education requirements.
- Get fingerprinted for a criminal history background check.
- Apply to the Advisory Committee for your locksmith license, and a business license for your company.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. You must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent, or ask for a waiver based on experience in the business.
The license to apply for. Locksmith license, plus a business license with a licensed business qualifier.
New Jersey locksmith exams
Trade exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in New Jersey
We could not confirm the current fee schedule on an official page. Check with the board before you budget: New Jersey Fire Alarm, Burglar Alarm and Locksmith Advisory Committee.
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in New Jersey
- Unlicensed locksmith work can bring a penalty of $10,000 for a first violation and up to $20,000 after that.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a locksmith near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the New Jersey Fire Alarm, Burglar Alarm and Locksmith Advisory Committee and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.