California Locksmith Examination with
Practice Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified An
1. Under California's Lockdown: A locksmith licensed by the Bureau of Security and
Investigative Services (BSIS) is hired to open a residential safe. The homeowner
cannot produce proof of ownership. What is the locksmith's most legally sound course
of action?
A. Proceed with opening the safe after obtaining a signed waiver from the homeowner
assuming all liability.
B. Refuse to open the safe and report the incident to local law enforcement immediately.
C. Request a notarized affidavit of ownership and a government-issued ID before
proceeding, and retain copies for at least two years.
D. Open the safe only if the homeowner provides a verbal statement of ownership
witnessed by a neighbor.
Answer: C. Request a notarized affidavit of ownership and a government-issued ID
before proceeding, and retain copies for at least two years.
Rationale: California Business and Professions Code § 6980.10 et seq. requires locksmiths
to verify ownership before opening a safe or lockbox; a notarized affidavit and ID copies
retained for two years satisfy this. Option A is insufficient because a waiver does not
override statutory verification. Option B is overly restrictive; law enforcement need not be
involved if proper documentation is obtained. Option D lacks the required notarization and
documentation.
Page 1 of 82
,2. A locksmith is designing a master key system for a 12-story office building with 240
offices, 12 floor master keys, and one grand master. Using the standard progression of
cuts (bottom pin increments), what is the minimum number of pin tumblers
(chambers) required to accommodate this hierarchy without key interchange?
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 6
Answer: D. 6
Rationale: The number of key changes (240 change keys + 12 masters + 1 grand master =
253) requires a minimum of 6 pin chambers to provide sufficient theoretical key
combinations (6 chambers with 5 depths = 15,625 combinations) while avoiding
interchange. Three, four, or five chambers yield insufficient combinations for this
hierarchy, leading to unintended master keying or key interchange.
Page 2 of 82
,3. A forensic locksmith examines a pin tumbler lock from a crime scene. The cylinder
shows a single pin chamber with a distinctly shorter bottom pin and a correspondingly
longer top pin, while all other chambers are factory standard. What does this most
likely indicate?
A. The lock was impressioned by a skilled locksmith.
B. The lock was master-keyed with a single master pin.
C. The lock was bypassed using a shim.
D. The lock was subject to a key bumping attack.
Answer: B. The lock was master-keyed with a single master pin.
Rationale: A single chamber with a shortened bottom pin and lengthened top pin is the
hallmark of a one-chamber master keying modification, often done to create a master key.
Impressioning would leave tool marks across multiple pins, shimming bypasses the pin
stack entirely, and bumping typically affects all pins simultaneously.
4. A California locksmith installs an electronic access control system with a fail-safe
electric strike on a fire-rated door. Which configuration is required by the California
Building Code to ensure life safety?
A. The strike must be fail-secure and tied to the fire alarm for remote release.
B. The strike must be fail-safe and tied to the fire alarm for automatic release.
C. The strike must be fail-safe and require manual key override at all times.
D. The strike must be fail-secure and equipped with a mechanical egress lever.
Answer: B. The strike must be fail-safe and tied to the fire alarm for automatic
release.
Rationale: California Building Code (CBC) and NFPA 101 require that electrified
hardware on egress doors be fail-safe (unlock on loss of power) and release upon fire
alarm activation to ensure safe egress. Fail-secure configurations (A, D) are prohibited on
egress doors unless equipped with approved mechanical override, and manual key override
(C) is not sufficient for automatic release.
Page 3 of 82
, 5. A locksmith is asked to open a high-security safe with a Group 2M
manipulation-resistant combination lock. Which manipulation technique is most
effective for determining the combination?
A. Graphing contact points while rotating the dial slowly under tension.
B. Using a stethoscope to amplify the sound of the fence dropping into the drive cam.
C. Measuring the torque required to turn the dial at each number.
D. Applying a strong magnet to the dial to align the wheels.
Answer: A. Graphing contact points while rotating the dial slowly under tension.
Rationale: Group 2M locks are designed to resist manipulation; however, graphing contact
points (recording the dial positions where the fence contacts the wheels) remains the most
effective method for a skilled manipulator. Stethoscope (B) is less effective due to the lock's
anti-manipulation design. Torque measurement (C) is not standard, and magnets (D) do not
affect non-ferrous wheels.
6. A locksmith replaces a standard deadbolt with a high-security ANSI/BHMA Grade
1 deadbolt. Which feature most directly contributes to its resistance against physical
attack?
A. A hardened steel roller bearing inserted in the bolt.
B. A six-pin tumbler cylinder with spool pins.
C. A solid brass faceplate.
D. A free-spinning outer ring on the cylinder.
Answer: A. A hardened steel roller bearing inserted in the bolt.
Rationale: ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 deadbolts require a hardened steel roller bearing or
similar insert to resist sawing and cutting of the bolt. Spool pins (B) improve pick
resistance but do not directly address physical attack. Brass faceplates (C) are not
hardened, and free-spinning rings (D) primarily deter wrenching and drilling, not sawing.
Page 4 of 82
Practice Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified An
1. Under California's Lockdown: A locksmith licensed by the Bureau of Security and
Investigative Services (BSIS) is hired to open a residential safe. The homeowner
cannot produce proof of ownership. What is the locksmith's most legally sound course
of action?
A. Proceed with opening the safe after obtaining a signed waiver from the homeowner
assuming all liability.
B. Refuse to open the safe and report the incident to local law enforcement immediately.
C. Request a notarized affidavit of ownership and a government-issued ID before
proceeding, and retain copies for at least two years.
D. Open the safe only if the homeowner provides a verbal statement of ownership
witnessed by a neighbor.
Answer: C. Request a notarized affidavit of ownership and a government-issued ID
before proceeding, and retain copies for at least two years.
Rationale: California Business and Professions Code § 6980.10 et seq. requires locksmiths
to verify ownership before opening a safe or lockbox; a notarized affidavit and ID copies
retained for two years satisfy this. Option A is insufficient because a waiver does not
override statutory verification. Option B is overly restrictive; law enforcement need not be
involved if proper documentation is obtained. Option D lacks the required notarization and
documentation.
Page 1 of 82
,2. A locksmith is designing a master key system for a 12-story office building with 240
offices, 12 floor master keys, and one grand master. Using the standard progression of
cuts (bottom pin increments), what is the minimum number of pin tumblers
(chambers) required to accommodate this hierarchy without key interchange?
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 6
Answer: D. 6
Rationale: The number of key changes (240 change keys + 12 masters + 1 grand master =
253) requires a minimum of 6 pin chambers to provide sufficient theoretical key
combinations (6 chambers with 5 depths = 15,625 combinations) while avoiding
interchange. Three, four, or five chambers yield insufficient combinations for this
hierarchy, leading to unintended master keying or key interchange.
Page 2 of 82
,3. A forensic locksmith examines a pin tumbler lock from a crime scene. The cylinder
shows a single pin chamber with a distinctly shorter bottom pin and a correspondingly
longer top pin, while all other chambers are factory standard. What does this most
likely indicate?
A. The lock was impressioned by a skilled locksmith.
B. The lock was master-keyed with a single master pin.
C. The lock was bypassed using a shim.
D. The lock was subject to a key bumping attack.
Answer: B. The lock was master-keyed with a single master pin.
Rationale: A single chamber with a shortened bottom pin and lengthened top pin is the
hallmark of a one-chamber master keying modification, often done to create a master key.
Impressioning would leave tool marks across multiple pins, shimming bypasses the pin
stack entirely, and bumping typically affects all pins simultaneously.
4. A California locksmith installs an electronic access control system with a fail-safe
electric strike on a fire-rated door. Which configuration is required by the California
Building Code to ensure life safety?
A. The strike must be fail-secure and tied to the fire alarm for remote release.
B. The strike must be fail-safe and tied to the fire alarm for automatic release.
C. The strike must be fail-safe and require manual key override at all times.
D. The strike must be fail-secure and equipped with a mechanical egress lever.
Answer: B. The strike must be fail-safe and tied to the fire alarm for automatic
release.
Rationale: California Building Code (CBC) and NFPA 101 require that electrified
hardware on egress doors be fail-safe (unlock on loss of power) and release upon fire
alarm activation to ensure safe egress. Fail-secure configurations (A, D) are prohibited on
egress doors unless equipped with approved mechanical override, and manual key override
(C) is not sufficient for automatic release.
Page 3 of 82
, 5. A locksmith is asked to open a high-security safe with a Group 2M
manipulation-resistant combination lock. Which manipulation technique is most
effective for determining the combination?
A. Graphing contact points while rotating the dial slowly under tension.
B. Using a stethoscope to amplify the sound of the fence dropping into the drive cam.
C. Measuring the torque required to turn the dial at each number.
D. Applying a strong magnet to the dial to align the wheels.
Answer: A. Graphing contact points while rotating the dial slowly under tension.
Rationale: Group 2M locks are designed to resist manipulation; however, graphing contact
points (recording the dial positions where the fence contacts the wheels) remains the most
effective method for a skilled manipulator. Stethoscope (B) is less effective due to the lock's
anti-manipulation design. Torque measurement (C) is not standard, and magnets (D) do not
affect non-ferrous wheels.
6. A locksmith replaces a standard deadbolt with a high-security ANSI/BHMA Grade
1 deadbolt. Which feature most directly contributes to its resistance against physical
attack?
A. A hardened steel roller bearing inserted in the bolt.
B. A six-pin tumbler cylinder with spool pins.
C. A solid brass faceplate.
D. A free-spinning outer ring on the cylinder.
Answer: A. A hardened steel roller bearing inserted in the bolt.
Rationale: ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 deadbolts require a hardened steel roller bearing or
similar insert to resist sawing and cutting of the bolt. Spool pins (B) improve pick
resistance but do not directly address physical attack. Brass faceplates (C) are not
hardened, and free-spinning rings (D) primarily deter wrenching and drilling, not sawing.
Page 4 of 82
