How to Become a Locksmith in South Carolina

In South Carolina, locksmiths have to follow a few rules, which differ from other states in the US.

There are licensing fees that must be maintained and possible legislation to increase identification requirements for locksmiths.

While that legislation stalled in the South Carolina

Legislature, the role of a locksmith still involves training and licensing.

Find out what it takes to become a locksmith in South Carolina in this handy guide.

This information will help you prepare for your career as a locksmith before you even start training.

Steps to Become a Locksmith in South Carolina

The South Carolina Legislature is responsible for maintaining bills and laws associated with locksmithing in this southern state.

If you are interested in becoming a locksmith in SC, here are the steps you have to take as required by the state laws.

1. Learn the trade of locksmithing, even though SC does not require training.
2. Obtain the tools needed to provide locksmithing, safe, and key services.
3. Find a place to apprentice as a locksmith, which typically involves free labor to practice a craft.
4. Consider finding a school to obtain certification as a locksmith, such as an online training program.
5. Choose a place to work as a locksmith, such as with a company, or as a contractor on your own.
6. Go to the Department of Labor in South Carolina and find out where to apply for a locksmithing license.
7. Apply for a license as a locksmith and meet the requirements, i.e. be at least 18 years old, have no criminal record, and be able to pass a background check.
8. Pay $50 for a license as a locksmith in SC and maintain the license by renewing it every two years.

This is the basic step-by-step outline for the work that goes into becoming an SC locksmith.

Licensing Requirements to Become a Locksmith in South Carolina

Now take a look at the licensing requirements in South Carolina as these differ from other states.

To be licensed as a locksmith in SC, you are not required to do any professional training.

You need to be at least 18 years old, which allows recent high school graduates to become locksmiths.

So what is the trick here, and why is it so easy to become a locksmith in SC?

You do not have to go to school or pay for training to be a locksmith.

This saves locksmiths time and money if they want to start working as soon as they graduate high school.

As a result, working as a locksmith in South Carolina provides a pathway to earning a paycheck for young adults who are not going to attend college.

The ability to be a locksmith falls entirely in the hands of locksmiths in South Carolina.

Therefore, you must find training to learn the skills of this trade.

This is where attending a locksmith program, such as one of the many online programs for locksmithing in the US, would be a good idea.

You gain the knowledge of being a locksmith and the skills you need to conduct your business safely and professionally.

Locksmith Programs

For locksmithing in South Carolina, there are no professional in-person schools that train in this field.

However, there is the opportunity to train online with several different schools offering locksmithing training.

• Penn Foster Career School
• Ashworth College

These training programs are inexpensive and easier to complete thanks to 100 percent online coursework.

You gain the skills and concepts of locksmithing and safe repair without having to work with the actual materials as well.

This can save you time and money on obtaining materials for training.

However, by the end of the course, you will be expected to purchase locksmithing tools, such as safe picks and master key-cutting machines.

Salary

The average salary for a locksmith in South Carolina is $47,395 a year based on a range of $41,386 and $52,510.

This is determined by some factors, such as geographical location and urban versus rural customers.

The salary of an SC locksmith is also set by certification, education, and skills achieved in locksmithing.

This is when it pays to have completed some professional training as a locksmith in South Carolina.

Factors for pay for locksmiths also include how long you have been working as a locksmith.

The more years you have under your belt in this profession, the better your company or services appear to potential customers who like to see a long-standing business.

Annual Salary Range:* Salary information last updated 2025