ALOA CAL study guide
ALOA CAL · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The ALOA Certified Locksmith (CAL) credential is offered within the certification program of ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc., an organization that describes itself as "dedicated to furthering the industry through education, leadership and promoting professionalism and ethics for security professionals worldwide." The CAL is aimed at working locksmiths and security technicians who want independent, third-party validation of their technical and professional competence, and at employers or consumers who use certification as a signal of quality. This study page organizes preparation around four equally weighted content areas: General Locksmithing Knowledge; Mechanical and Electronic Lock Servicing; Keying, Master Keying, and Key Generation; and Professional Practices, Ethics, and Safety. The ALOA CAL study guide has 4 sections and about 1,631 words.
01General Locksmithing Knowledge
General locksmithing knowledge is the vocabulary and theory layer that every other domain rests on. A candidate should be comfortable with the anatomy of a lock (cylinder, plug, shell, shear line, driver pins, key pins, springs, cam, tailpiece), the difference between a mortise, rim, and cylindrical lock, and the standard lock families: pin tumbler, wafer, disc, lever, and high-security designs.
364 words, about 2 min02Mechanical and Electronic Lock Servicing
Servicing spans preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair for both mechanical and electronic locks. For mechanical systems, understand lubrication limits (graphite is for specific environments; light grease or dry film for high-use cylinders), spring replacement, cam and tailpiece alignment, and the causes of binding: misaligned strikes, sagging doors, worn hinges, and incorrect backset.
329 words, about 2 min03Keying
Keying covers how keys are cut, measured, and made to operate a lock. A candidate must understand the parts of a key (bow, shoulder, blade, tip, bitting), the difference between a key cut by code versus one duplicated by tracing, and the concepts of spacing (distance between cuts) and depth (how deep each cut is).
323 words, about 2 min04Master Keying
Master keying lets one key open many locks while change keys open only their own. Understand the master key system hierarchy: grand master, master, sub-master, and change keys.
615 words, about 3 min