ILLINOIS (IL) LOCKSMITH LICENSE PRACTICE EXAM LATEST QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADE A
**Total Questions: 100**
**Format: Multiple Choice (4 options each)**
1. **In Illinois, who is responsible for issuing a Locksmith License?**
A) Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
B) Local Police Department
C) Illinois Secretary of State
D) County Sheriff's Office
**ANSWER: A**
**EXPLANATION:** The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
(IDFPR) is the state agency that administers and issues the Locksmith License under the
Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act.
2. **What is the minimum age requirement to apply for an Illinois Locksmith License?**
A) 18 years
B) 21 years
C) 25 years
D) No age requirement
**ANSWER: B**
**EXPLANATION:** Per Illinois law (225 ILCS 447/), an applicant for a Locksmith License
must be at least 21 years of age.
,3. **A registered Illinois locksmith is required to carry their license:**
A) Only when working on commercial jobs
B) At all times when engaging in locksmith services
C) Only if requested by a customer
D) Locked in their vehicle
**ANSWER: B**
**EXPLANATION:** Licensees must have their license in their immediate possession when
practicing locksmithing and must display it upon request of a client or law enforcement.
4. **Which of the following actions is generally prohibited for an Illinois locksmith without
specific authorization?**
A) Cutting a duplicate key
B) Installing a deadbolt on a residential door
C) Opening a vehicle for a person who cannot prove ownership
D) Re-keying a commercial lock cylinder
**ANSWER: C**
**EXPLANATION:** A locksmith must take reasonable steps to verify that the person
requesting entry to a vehicle or property is the lawful owner/operator or has legal authority.
Opening a lock without verification can lead to liability and license disciplinary action.
5. **"Impressioning" a key refers to:**
A) Making a mental note of the lock type
B) Using a blank key and a file to create a working key by analyzing marks left on the blank
C) Using a key duplicating machine
D) Taking a photograph of the original key
,**ANSWER: B**
**EXPLANATION:** Impressioning is a technique where a key blank is inserted into a lock,
turned slightly to bind pins, removed, and filed where marks are left by the pins, repeating
the process until a working key is created.
6. **The primary purpose of a "shear line" in a pin tumbler lock is:**
A) To provide a mounting point for the knob
B) To allow the plug to rotate when the correct key aligns the pins
C) To strengthen the lock casing
D) To attach the strike plate
**ANSWER: B**
**EXPLANATION:** In a pin tumbler mechanism, the shear line is the gap between the
inner plug and the outer cylinder housing. When the correct key lifts the driver pins above
and the key pins below this line, the plug can rotate freely.
7. **A "restricted keyway" is designed to:**
A) Be easily duplicated at any hardware store
B) Limit who can duplicate keys by controlling the distribution of blanks
C) Make the lock more pick-resistant
D) Reduce the cost of the lock
**ANSWER: B**
**EXPLANATION:** Restricted keyways are patented systems where key blanks are only
available through authorized dealers or the manufacturer, providing an extra layer of key
control and security.
, 8. **What does the term "bitting" refer to on a key?**
A) The color of the key bow
B) The series of cuts or depths along the blade
C) The manufacturer's logo
D) The length of the key
**ANSWER: B**
**EXPLANATION:** Bitting is the pattern of cuts (depths and spacing) on the blade of the
key that corresponds to the pins or wafers inside the lock.
9. **Which tool is specifically designed for decoding the cuts on a pin tumbler lock?**
A) Tension wrench
B) Plug spinner
C) Depth key or scope
D) Broken key extractor
**ANSWER: C**
**EXPLANATION:** A depth key or decoding scope is used to measure the pin positions
and depths inside a lock cylinder to determine the correct bitting.
10. **When re-keying a standard pin tumbler cylinder, you are primarily:**
A) Changing the plug
B) Changing the tailpiece
C) Replacing the pins with new ones of different lengths
D) Lubricating the mechanism
**ANSWER: C**
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADE A
**Total Questions: 100**
**Format: Multiple Choice (4 options each)**
1. **In Illinois, who is responsible for issuing a Locksmith License?**
A) Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
B) Local Police Department
C) Illinois Secretary of State
D) County Sheriff's Office
**ANSWER: A**
**EXPLANATION:** The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
(IDFPR) is the state agency that administers and issues the Locksmith License under the
Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act.
2. **What is the minimum age requirement to apply for an Illinois Locksmith License?**
A) 18 years
B) 21 years
C) 25 years
D) No age requirement
**ANSWER: B**
**EXPLANATION:** Per Illinois law (225 ILCS 447/), an applicant for a Locksmith License
must be at least 21 years of age.
,3. **A registered Illinois locksmith is required to carry their license:**
A) Only when working on commercial jobs
B) At all times when engaging in locksmith services
C) Only if requested by a customer
D) Locked in their vehicle
**ANSWER: B**
**EXPLANATION:** Licensees must have their license in their immediate possession when
practicing locksmithing and must display it upon request of a client or law enforcement.
4. **Which of the following actions is generally prohibited for an Illinois locksmith without
specific authorization?**
A) Cutting a duplicate key
B) Installing a deadbolt on a residential door
C) Opening a vehicle for a person who cannot prove ownership
D) Re-keying a commercial lock cylinder
**ANSWER: C**
**EXPLANATION:** A locksmith must take reasonable steps to verify that the person
requesting entry to a vehicle or property is the lawful owner/operator or has legal authority.
Opening a lock without verification can lead to liability and license disciplinary action.
5. **"Impressioning" a key refers to:**
A) Making a mental note of the lock type
B) Using a blank key and a file to create a working key by analyzing marks left on the blank
C) Using a key duplicating machine
D) Taking a photograph of the original key
,**ANSWER: B**
**EXPLANATION:** Impressioning is a technique where a key blank is inserted into a lock,
turned slightly to bind pins, removed, and filed where marks are left by the pins, repeating
the process until a working key is created.
6. **The primary purpose of a "shear line" in a pin tumbler lock is:**
A) To provide a mounting point for the knob
B) To allow the plug to rotate when the correct key aligns the pins
C) To strengthen the lock casing
D) To attach the strike plate
**ANSWER: B**
**EXPLANATION:** In a pin tumbler mechanism, the shear line is the gap between the
inner plug and the outer cylinder housing. When the correct key lifts the driver pins above
and the key pins below this line, the plug can rotate freely.
7. **A "restricted keyway" is designed to:**
A) Be easily duplicated at any hardware store
B) Limit who can duplicate keys by controlling the distribution of blanks
C) Make the lock more pick-resistant
D) Reduce the cost of the lock
**ANSWER: B**
**EXPLANATION:** Restricted keyways are patented systems where key blanks are only
available through authorized dealers or the manufacturer, providing an extra layer of key
control and security.
, 8. **What does the term "bitting" refer to on a key?**
A) The color of the key bow
B) The series of cuts or depths along the blade
C) The manufacturer's logo
D) The length of the key
**ANSWER: B**
**EXPLANATION:** Bitting is the pattern of cuts (depths and spacing) on the blade of the
key that corresponds to the pins or wafers inside the lock.
9. **Which tool is specifically designed for decoding the cuts on a pin tumbler lock?**
A) Tension wrench
B) Plug spinner
C) Depth key or scope
D) Broken key extractor
**ANSWER: C**
**EXPLANATION:** A depth key or decoding scope is used to measure the pin positions
and depths inside a lock cylinder to determine the correct bitting.
10. **When re-keying a standard pin tumbler cylinder, you are primarily:**
A) Changing the plug
B) Changing the tailpiece
C) Replacing the pins with new ones of different lengths
D) Lubricating the mechanism
**ANSWER: C**
