North Carolina Locksmith Licensing
Examination Practice Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
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1. What is the primary purpose of a pin tumbler in a standard lock?
A. To provide resistance against drilling
B. To restrict key insertion
C. To prevent the cylinder from turning without the correct key
D. To lubricate the lock mechanism
Rationale: Pin tumblers prevent the cylinder from turning unless the
correct key aligns all pins to the shear line.
2. Which tool is commonly used to remove broken keys from a lock?
A. Tension wrench
B. Pick gun
, C. Key extractor
D. Plug follower
Rationale: A key extractor is designed specifically to remove broken keys
safely from the lock cylinder.
3. What is the purpose of a master key system?
A. To reduce the number of locks needed
B. To restrict access to authorized personnel only
C. To allow one key to open multiple locks while maintaining
individual keys for each lock
D. To make locks more resistant to picking
Rationale: A master key system enables one key to open several locks
without changing individual keys for each lock.
4. Which type of locksmithing tool is used to tension the cylinder while
picking?
A. Decoder
B. Tension wrench
C. Key gauge
D. Pinning kit
Rationale: A tension wrench applies rotational pressure to the cylinder,
allowing pins to be set during lock picking.
5. What is the primary function of a keyway?
A. To hold the key pins in place
, B. To guide the key into the lock correctly
C. To restrict master key access
D. To increase the lock’s security
Rationale: The keyway is the slot in a lock cylinder designed to properly
align the key for operation.
6. Which type of lock is typically used on high-security doors and cannot
be easily picked?
A. Pin tumbler
B. Wafer
C. Disc detainer
D. Mortise
Rationale: Disc detainer locks are designed with rotating discs, making
them highly resistant to traditional lock picking.
7. Which locksmithing practice is considered illegal without proper
authorization?
A. Rekeying a lock
B. Installing a deadbolt
C. Opening a lock for someone without consent
D. Cutting a new key for a client
Rationale: Lock manipulation without authorization is considered a
criminal act in North Carolina.
, 8. What is the main advantage of a tubular lock?
A. Uses flat keys
B. Resists traditional lock picking due to its circular keyway and pins
C. Allows multiple master keys
D. Can be opened with a bump key
Rationale: Tubular locks have a circular arrangement of pins, making
standard picking tools ineffective.
9. Which of the following is a common method for duplicating keys?
A. Impressioning
B. Key cutting machine
C. Pinning kit
D. Plug follower
Rationale: Key cutting machines are used to accurately duplicate keys from
an existing key or code.
10. When rekeying a lock, what is the first step a locksmith should
perform?
A. Pick the lock
B. Remove the cylinder from the lock housing
C. Install new pins
D. Cut a new key
Rationale: Removing the cylinder is necessary to access the pin chambers
for rekeying.
Examination Practice Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. What is the primary purpose of a pin tumbler in a standard lock?
A. To provide resistance against drilling
B. To restrict key insertion
C. To prevent the cylinder from turning without the correct key
D. To lubricate the lock mechanism
Rationale: Pin tumblers prevent the cylinder from turning unless the
correct key aligns all pins to the shear line.
2. Which tool is commonly used to remove broken keys from a lock?
A. Tension wrench
B. Pick gun
, C. Key extractor
D. Plug follower
Rationale: A key extractor is designed specifically to remove broken keys
safely from the lock cylinder.
3. What is the purpose of a master key system?
A. To reduce the number of locks needed
B. To restrict access to authorized personnel only
C. To allow one key to open multiple locks while maintaining
individual keys for each lock
D. To make locks more resistant to picking
Rationale: A master key system enables one key to open several locks
without changing individual keys for each lock.
4. Which type of locksmithing tool is used to tension the cylinder while
picking?
A. Decoder
B. Tension wrench
C. Key gauge
D. Pinning kit
Rationale: A tension wrench applies rotational pressure to the cylinder,
allowing pins to be set during lock picking.
5. What is the primary function of a keyway?
A. To hold the key pins in place
, B. To guide the key into the lock correctly
C. To restrict master key access
D. To increase the lock’s security
Rationale: The keyway is the slot in a lock cylinder designed to properly
align the key for operation.
6. Which type of lock is typically used on high-security doors and cannot
be easily picked?
A. Pin tumbler
B. Wafer
C. Disc detainer
D. Mortise
Rationale: Disc detainer locks are designed with rotating discs, making
them highly resistant to traditional lock picking.
7. Which locksmithing practice is considered illegal without proper
authorization?
A. Rekeying a lock
B. Installing a deadbolt
C. Opening a lock for someone without consent
D. Cutting a new key for a client
Rationale: Lock manipulation without authorization is considered a
criminal act in North Carolina.
, 8. What is the main advantage of a tubular lock?
A. Uses flat keys
B. Resists traditional lock picking due to its circular keyway and pins
C. Allows multiple master keys
D. Can be opened with a bump key
Rationale: Tubular locks have a circular arrangement of pins, making
standard picking tools ineffective.
9. Which of the following is a common method for duplicating keys?
A. Impressioning
B. Key cutting machine
C. Pinning kit
D. Plug follower
Rationale: Key cutting machines are used to accurately duplicate keys from
an existing key or code.
10. When rekeying a lock, what is the first step a locksmith should
perform?
A. Pick the lock
B. Remove the cylinder from the lock housing
C. Install new pins
D. Cut a new key
Rationale: Removing the cylinder is necessary to access the pin chambers
for rekeying.
