RPL exam??

--Shiva--

Nothing about RPL appears in either of those ALOA .pdf/s.

I guess rpl stands for 'registered professional locksmith' as opposed to 'recognition of prior learning' which is useful for certain state certifications.

The only websearch that turns up very much about RPL comes from books for sale:

The Complete Book of Home, Site and Office Security - Packed with useful features such as security surveys and checklists, a registered professional locksmith (RPL) test, a registered security professional (RSP) test, and lists of trade associations and journals,

The Complete Book of Locks and Locksmithing - Featuring an all-new test for the RPL exam!

Are you guys familiar with the tests listed on those PDF documents?

The lowest certification (not RL) says there are 10 mandatory areas of testing and 2 electives.

The 10 mandatory categories are: · Codes and Code Equipment · Cylinder Servicing · Key Blank Identification · Key Duplication · Key Impressioning · Professional Lock Opening Techniques · Lockset Functions · Lockset Servicing · Basic Master Keying · Cabinet, Furniture and Mailbox Locks

What does it really take to pass those 10? Is it all book smarts or only knowledge you'd pick up thru years of hands on work?

well, never heard of the 'registered professional locksmith'..perhaps some locale requires them to be 'registered'?? but, back to the test listed above I KNOW without a LOT of work I could not pass the Key Blank Identification, cause there are questions on there of blanks i have NEVER used.. and probably will never either. and IMO, its a good mechanical ability, some book stuff, and a bunch of OJT as well.

--Shiva--

RPL is the lingo used down under for "Recognition of Prior Learning".

Each candidate is assessed against the learning outcomes of a unit, module or learning competency dependant on the case and justification put forward to the applicable College, Institute or University. The assessor of your RPL case may issue a challenge exam, a test, interview employers or others or even ask for an assignment to be submitted to aid RPL assessment.

Generally RPL doesn't save money but it can take a considerable amount of time of a course. RPL is available to those undertaking Locksmithing in the state institutes that offer it down under.

More info is available online.

Never heard of it until now. It seems to be only mentioned in instructional texts and may be some sort of exam certification given by said book publishers. I wouldn't expect anyone to be all that impressed by it.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Or "registered professional locksmith"

Seems a little misleading. It was a Bill Phillips book where I read about the RPL (haven't received the book yet but I got that from an online review of the book).

I thought Bill Phillips was basically the man when it came to locksmithing? Seems like he'd wanna prepare you for a more recognizable credintial.

Well, Houston, we got a problem.. the book, and OTHERS in question, are printed 'public', meaning anyone can get them.. He might be as it said on 5 other book reviews I came across, a 'rated security professional...but..

IF one wants the ranking then one looks at the ALOA tests.. IMO.

--Shiva--

I was basically pulling your chain. "registered professional locksmith" (RPL), in your case would be the correct term. Shiva is also correct, as much as I dislike (for personal reasons) ALOA

here is something that may also help ya..

I well remember, years back, in the early 90's, went to several of the 'Bill and Reed' shows here in the next state.. The association that sponsored them's president at that time was discussing ALOA.. He did keep it polite, but it was truthful.. Its like a 'required insurance' that you must pay, but get no use or benefits from. You guys on the east coast might derive from it, but us poor folks out here in the 'hicks' never do. All they want is the money, with no return for the money...sorta like some politicians..LOL

We ALMOST had a state law passed that required ANYONE working on a lock to be a member of the state Alarm Association.. NO ONE was exempt.. not the hardware store that rekeyed, not the auto mechanic that installed.. EVERYONE would have to be a dues paying member of the association to do any work on a lock.. Did ALOA care? nope..it seemed not.

--Shiva--

The days of industry only restrictions on publications are pretty much dead. For example I have seen the Ed Willis Safe and vault manual for sale on ebay for several months steady now to anyone who will pay for it. The seller has multiple hard copies and in response to an email I was told they are original legal 'copies' in original packing. In fact they have evidently sold so many that the last time it was listed it didn't even sell for well under the usual retail price. If I didn't already have one I would have had to buy the damn thing. If they are getting them straight from the publisher or another distributor I don't know but they have a ready source of them. It's not just some guy selling one book. If you can buy that on ebay you can buy just about anything else you want.

ALOA had the RL or registered locksmith grandfather program but they are no longer doing that. I'm not exactly clear on whether that's the same thing as RPL or not.

Never heard of an RPL. ALOA had something called an RL or "Registered locksmith" which was a grandfather program back when they first started doing certifications but it has been phased out.

I must have missed that in my searches, do you have the eBay storename or search link?