HELP ME SIGN UP FOR THE PRP
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CERTIFICATION OFFERINGS
GENERAL & COMMERCIAL
NON-EXAM-BASED
Safe & Vault Technician
Automotive Locksmith
Institutional Locksmith
Investigative/Forensic
Fire Door Inspection
State licensing
PRP
TAKE THE PRACTICE TEST
RESOURCES
CLL REGISTRATION
To remain as competitive as possible in the security industry, locksmiths and security technicians must seriously consider obtaining industry-related certifications.
Security issues are a priority for many individuals and businesses, and they want to ensure they hire the most skilled and knowledgeable people. But how do they know who is qualified? Your ALOA certifications offer assurance about your level of experience and knowledge — assurance that has the backing and credibility of one of the preeminent professional security associations in the world.
Certification is an investment in your career, livelihood and future. However you want to say it, your certifications verify to customers and employers that your skills are current, valuable and validated — plus, it gives you the satisfaction of knowing you’re a legitimate master of your profession. Additionally, many states with licensing regulations now have similar professional standards as those found in ALOA’s certifications.
Consider obtaining an ALOA certification if you want to:
Demonstrate your advanced knowledge as a locksmith/security professional
Gain instant professional credibility
Advance your career
Stand out from the competition
Increase your earnings potential
Be a step ahead with licensing in your state
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As an international membership association, ALOA recognizes professionalism and proficiency among security professionals through the Proficiency Registration Program (PRP). The PRP grants designations in over 20 specialized locksmith, security technician, vehicle servicing, safe technician, forensic investigation and fire door inspection disciplines.
This certification category consists of a mandatory exam and approximately 35 elective exam categories.
The mandatory exam topics below represent the most basic skills necessary to become an efficient and professional locksmith.
Codes and Code Equipment
Cylinder Servicing
Key Blank Identification
Key Duplication Techniques and Equipment
Key Impressioning
Professional Lock Bypass Techniques
Lockset Field Servicing
Basic Master Keying
Cabinet Furniture and Mailbox Locks
Once you have passed the Mandatory Exam, you need to pass two additional electives of your choice to earn a Certified Registered Locksmith designation.
The remaining categories are electives, which may be selected according to each locksmith’s field of specialization or expanding knowledge. Each elective contains between 25 and 40 questions, depending on the subject covered. The number of electives will expand as new technology, techniques and market specializations develop. The current elective pool has over 35 individual exams available.
This is the entry-level certification for locksmith professionals. To achieve this certification, the candidate must pass the mandatory exam and any two electives of the candidate’s choosing.
After achieving the CRL level, candidates can earn this certification by passing an additional 12 electives.
This is the top level of the general locksmithing category. After achieving the CPL certification, achieving a Certified Master Locksmith requires passing an additional nine electives.
The ALOA Fundamental Locksmith (AFL) designation is for participants who have completed ALOA’s Fundamentals of Locksmithing course and then passed the after-class examination. An AFL has enough general locksmithing knowledge to function as an apprentice locksmith. An AFL is recognized for training but is not PRP tested or certified. This credential is not a path toward any of the basic or advanced certification levels.
This is the entry-level test for the safe and vault technician.
Once achieving the CPS level, this is the top level of certification for the safe and vault category.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SAVTA AND SAFE WORKThe entry-level certification for the automotive specialist.
After attaining the CAL level, this is the top level certification for the vehicle locksmith professional.
GET AUTOMOTIVE EDUCATIONThis is the entry-level certification for the in-house locksmith. This requires passing the mandatory exam as well as two additional elective exams: L-07 Life Safety Codes and L-31 Advanced Master Keying.
Once achieving the ICRL level, this second step in institutional locksmith certification requires passing an additional 12 electives.
This is the top level of the institutional locksmithing category. After achieving the ICPL certification, this requires passing an additional nine electives.
This is a credential specifically for institutional lock shop managers. The candidate must achieve the ICPL level before sitting for this exam.
Those participating in this certification program need to pass both the ALOA Fire Door Inspector (AFDI) exam and the L-07 Life Safety Code elective. Membership in the ALOA Institutional Locksmiths division is also required.
LEARN ABOUT INSTITUTIONAL LOCKSMITHINGThis is the entry-level certification for the security professional who provides electronic security services.
This is the highest level certification for the electronic locksmith and requires first becoming a CEL.
Testing to be a Certified Forensic Locksmith (CFL) or any of the other forensic certifications listed below has to be approved by the CFL Committee of the International Association of Investigative Locksmiths (IAIL) since there are specific criteria that need to be met by exam candidates before sitting for an exam.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT IAILIAIL offers numerous certifications in highly specialized fields of forensic investigation. All IAIL certifications require recertification every three years.
The most basic exam covers a broad array of topics in investigative locksmithing.
Candidates must possess either the CAL or CMAL certification to take either of these exams.
Candidates must possess the CPS or CMST credentials to sit for these exams.
To attain this certification, the student must take the AFDI mandatory class, pass the fire door inspector exam and be a CFL.
The candidate must attend the AFDI mandatory class, pass the fire door inspector exam, pass the PRP L-07 Life Safety elective and be CFL. Participation in the CFLSFDI program also requires participants to be a member of AIL.
This certification focuses on the forensic examination of commercial doors, frames, and the complete door hardware assembly. Candidates must possess a CFDI or LSFDI certificate to sit for this exam to obtain the CFFDI or CFLSFDI credential.
GET MORE INFORMATION ON CFL CERTIFICATIONSThis inspector certification credential is essential for ensuring that professionals have the expertise to conduct thorough fire door inspections and that the doors you work on meet NFPA 80 and local fire code requirements. It requires recertification every three years. See the calendar page for the next available class and exam date.
This exam is required for licensing in Louisiana and Alabama. See the calendar page for the next available exam date.
Locksmiths must take the L-00 Mandatory exam, L-07 Life Safety Codes and L-13 Basic Electricity as a part of the state locksmith licensing process.
There are several ways to take the PRP. You can take a pen-and-paper exam at any ALOA-sponsored event such as the annual convention, local association meetings and classes, at ALOA headquarters in Dallas, or anywhere a test sitting is requested and the standards for a sitting meet the minimum requirements.
Certain tests are also available online at third-party proctored test sites, usually a community college or test center. Some tests are also available to take online from your home or office computer via remote webcam proctoring. For questions and more information, contact certification@aloa.org.
ALOA has many resources available to help you with your certification journey. The ALOA Store has many publications that will help you gain the knowledge needed for testing. Contact certification@aloa.org for recommendations on titles specific to the test you will be taking. There are discounted bundles specifically for those taking the Louisiana or Illinois licensing exams.
A practice exam is also available for a small fee to help you identify knowledge gaps and allow you to get used to the testing format before you take the PRP exams. Visit the registration website and then log in with your existing credentials, or click “Create New Account” in the upper right corner.
CONTACT ALOA EDUCATION FOR ASSISTANCE
ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc.
Mailing Address:
1408 N. Riverfront Blvd.
Suite 303
Dallas, TX 75207
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