Curriculum Overview

Overview of Alberta's Locksmith Apprenticeship Program Curriculum Alberta's Locksmith Apprenticeship Program consists of four periods of formal training at RDC, each period 8 weeks in duration, intermixed with on-the-job training under the guidance of a Certified Journeyman Locksmith. Following is a brief summary of the subjects which students study in each period of training.

The first period of training begins with the basics. It is designed for the apprentice with less than one year experience in the trade. The subjects studied are:

Orientation Safety Administration Hand Tools Power Tools Keys and Locks

Orientation covers an introduction to the CBAT (Competency-Based Apprenticeship Training) system of delivery, use of the computer system which delivers exams and tracks students' grades and progress, and also contains modules on: The History of Locksmithing, and; A Glossary of Terms for the Locksmith Industry

Safety is a subject comprised of modules on such topics as Occupational Health & Safety regulations, Workplace Hazards, Emergency First Aid Procedures, Types of Fires and Controls, and Commercial Vehicle Safety.

The subject Administration in first period, briefly covers warehouse shipping procedures and invoicing procedures.

Hand Tools includes both theory and practical modules on the use of measuring and layout tools, care and use of hand-operated cutting tools, and the use of specialty Locksmith tools. It also includes modules in which the students fabricate small springs, and fabricate an adjustable plug holder which students take with them at the conclusion of the course.Power Tools covers the care and use of such tools as: power drills; jig saws; bench grinders; die grinders, and; key machines (from hand-operated code clippers to sophisticated duplicating machines and code machines). In the practical modules, students perform small projects with all of these tools, as well as clean and adjust several key machines.

Keys and Locks is the real "meat" of the first period, and occupies more than half of the 8 week period. This subject contains theory and practical modules on: Keys; Locks, Duplicating keys; Lock Cylinders and Lock Assemblies; Padlocks; Methods of Originating a Key; Rekeying Locks; Basic Door Lock Hardware; Door Repair Hardware, and; Opening Secured Entry. It also contains the first of three sets of modules on the topic of Master Keying. Master Keying is studied in the first, second, and third periods of training overall.

 

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Orientation Administration Power Tools Keys and Locks Domestic Automotive Locks Import Automotive Locks

Orientation is identical to that same subject in the first period of training. It is included in subsequent periods in order to accommodate students who may enter into the program in a period of training other than the first.

Administration covers sales techniques, and written communication techniques.

Power Tools In the second period of training, we complement our power tool skills with a theory and a practical module on the use of routers. Students fabricate a router template and use it to prepare an aluminum door stile for a narrow stile lock.

Keys and Locks is a comprehensive subject, including theory and practical modules on:

Review of First period keys and locks

Commercial Lock Hardware: an overview of cylindrical locksets, rim locks, mortise locks, narrow stile locks; Lock manufacturers; architectural specifications; ratings and applications.

Office Furniture Hardware: desk locks, file cabinet locks, vending machine locks, and miscellaneous after-market devices.

Door Hardware: Hinges, astragals, pivots, door holders, door stops, door sweeps, etc.

Door Closers: Surface-mounted, concealed, floor closers, etc.

High Security Locks: Medeco, Miwa, Abloy, Dom, Assa, Schlage Primus, Emhart, Mul- T-Lock, Wink Haus. Exercises include originating keys and rekeying cylinders.

Master Keying: Charting a master key system; organizing a master keying task; the Standard Key Coding System; Multiplex key systems; The standard progression format.

Mechanical Keyless Locks: Simple/Unican; Lockey DDL; Pres-o-matic; briefcase locks. Exercises include installation and opening.

Domestic Automotive Locks consists of opening vehicles, removing and repairing locks, and methods of originating keys for such vehicle makes as GM, Ford, Chrysler, Saturn and AMC. Electronic anti-theft systems such as VATS, MRD, and transponders are also discussed. Locks for recreational vehicles, transport trucks, motorcycles are also included, as well as after-market automotive security devices.

Import Automotive Locks mirrors the domestic, but focuses on Japanese, European and British vehicle makes. High security lock systems for vehicles are also discussed.

 

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Third Period

The third period of training focuses heavily on electrical theory and electrical hardware. It also includes builders' hardware, and contains the final component of the master keying trilogy. Subjects studied are:

History Electrical Theory Electrical Hardware Builder's Hardware Master Keying

History is the history portion of the Orientation subject in first period.

Electrical Theory is where students learn the basics of electricity; behavior of magnetic fields, Ohm's Law, Kirchoff's Laws, induction, fundamentals of AC, Power, batteries, conductors, and the use of electrical measurement devices.

Electrical Hardware is a subject comprised of mag locks, electric strikes, input devices such as card readers and keypads, and controllers. Students get to install a complete single door IEI card reader/keypad entry system.

Builders' Hardware is a subject which goes into greater detail on the topics of door closers, panic exit devices, and mortise locks.

Master Keying: This final component of the master keying subject contains details of the Standard Progression Format and the Rotating Constant System of progression. It also discusses applying master key systems and the use of intermediate master keys, alternate TMK's, etc.

 

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Fourth Period

The fourth period of training focuses almost entirely on safes and vaults, and related topics. The subjects studied are:
 

Security Management Welding Safe Deposit and Correctional Institution locks Safe and Vault Locks Safes and Vaults Safe and Vault Entry Night Depositories

In Security Management, students learn the basics of crime prevention theories and how to perform a security survey. The practical component consists of making security recommendations from architectural plans for a commercial building project.

Welding teaches Apprentices the basics of oxy-acetylene cutting and brazing, including silver- soldering.

Safe Deposit and Correctional Institution locks takes Apprentices through a number of exercises in servicing correctional institutional locks, servicing safe deposit locks, opening safe deposit boxes, and repairing SD doors.

In Safe and Vault Locks, Apprentices learn in detail about mechanical combination locks, key- operated locks, manipulation-resistant locks, and electronic safe locks. Exercises include servicing, trouble-shooting problem lock-outs, changing combinations, and installation.

Safes and Vaults is a subject in which Apprentices learn about the construction of safes, built-in- place vaults, and modular vaults.

In Safe and Vault Entry, Apprentices learn about various safe and vault penetration methods, as well as the tools used.

Night Depositories is a subject which has Apprentices pulling, disassembling, servicing, re- assembling, and re-installing a number of night depository heads.

 

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 After each period of training, Apprentices complete an examination which is administered by Alberta Advanced Education and Career Development. Completion of this exam, along with accumulation of work experience hours, qualifies them to attend the next period of training at RDC.

After completing the fourth period of training and the subsequent 4th period exam, Apprentices become fully-accredited Journeyman Locksmiths.