You Can’t Cheat the Graft: Real Locksmith CPD vs the ‘Quick Fix’ Dream

Published: May 31, 2025

In the world of skilled trades especially locksmithing and car key programming, there’s a harsh truth that rarely gets said out loud: you can’t shortcut experience.

I’ve seen a shift over the past few years. More training courses. More flashy ads. More so-called “CPD-approved” workshops promise to turn you into a mortice-picking master or IMMO wizard in a single weekend. The problem isn’t the learning. The problem is the way it's sold.

From Graft to Guru Overnight?

There’s a lad I know solid lock picker now. Got into a few rows early on, took it to heart, and buried himself in practice. I’ve got full respect for that. He earned his skills the hard way.

But now, he’s flipped it into courses—fine on the surface, except now it’s dressed up with buzzwords like “CPD,” marketing it to working locksmiths as if a one-day course is a missing piece of their puzzle.

Let me be clear: that’s not CPD. That’s sales.

CPD Isn’t a Course It’s a Commitment

When I worked as a bailiff, I spent months learning legislation, courtroom procedure, and the practical application of the law. That’s what real CPD looks like:

- Deep foundation.

- Ongoing practice.

- Judged competency.

- Years of refinement.

It wasn’t about a weekend feel-good workshop. It was about turning knowledge into reliable, repeatable skills under pressure

If you’ve been in locksmithing a year or more and still don’t have the basics down, then maybe it’s time to ask if this is your trade. That’s not me gatekeeping—it’s me being honest. There’s no shame in avoiding a lock you’re not confident with. But there’s a massive difference between avoiding one tricky lock… and avoiding foundational skills entirely.

50 hours to Stand on Your Own

I believe this: 50 hours of real work on a specific task—like mortice picking or decoding—is enough to build a solid foundation.

That’s about 50 proper jobs. After that, you should no longer be learning what to do—you should be refining how you do it. Courses might help you start, but they won’t finish it for you.

That’s when you stop needing full guidance, and start working on finesse, technique, and style.

Car Keys and “Arse-Twitching” Moments

When I first got into car key work, a mate of mine was buzzing: “This lad’s doing only keys now raking it in.”

I just said: “Yeah, but my arse is twitching in case I brick a car.”

That fear? That’s part of the journey. And the only way out of it is through it. Reps. Pressure. Real jobs.

Just like when I finished my locksmith course I recognised I was weak on mortice work, so I went out of my way to hit every job I could. Bought up old locks. Practised. Failed. Got better. Now? I don’t think twice. I just get on with it.

Can’t do that with cars. You can’t fill your garage with 10 Vauxhalls and start testing. So it takes longer. But it’s the same path—just slower. One ECU at a time.

The get-rich-quick pitch has evolved. It’s not eBooks anymore it’s “CPD-backed masterclasses,” branded tools, and one-day fixes being sold to locksmiths already in the trade.

But here’s the truth:

> Courses don’t make you skilled—reps do.

> Confidence isn’t bought—it’s earned.

> And real CPD? It’s forged in failures, not certificates.

If you want to be sharp, don’t chase feelings. Chase faults.

Don’t collect certificates. Collect real wins.

Learning is a journey, not a transaction. There’s nothing wrong with paying for guidance, but know this:

If you’re still avoiding hard skills after a year on the tools, a course won’t fix it.

Only, time, effort, and honest reps will.

Keep showing up. Keep grafting. The rest will follow.