ALOA certification is taken by locksmiths who want a recognised credential from the Associated Locksmiths of America. This page gives you free practice sets on locksmith topics, worked explanations for sample questions, a map of the official content areas, a study plan, and plain notes on certification levels, delivery and fees taken from ALOA's own pages.
According to ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc., “Each elective contains between 25 and 40 questions, depending on the subject covered.”[1]
ALOA certifications are built in levels, and each level adds elective exams. The entry level, CRL, requires the mandatory exam plus 2 electives of your choosing. CPL comes after CRL and requires 12 more electives. CML comes after CPL and requires 9 more electives. AFDI is a separate credential and requires recertification every 3 years.
Each elective exam contains between 25 and 40 questions, depending on the subject. Tests are given on paper at ALOA events. Some are available at proctored test sites, and some can be taken online from home or office by remote webcam proctoring.
Fees vary by test and by membership. CPL and CML testing is listed at $150 for members and $195 for non-members, plus $70 for first-time test takers. CLL testing is listed at $75 for members and $125 for non-members, and registration must be made at least 14 days before the test. For the CLL exam given at the end of the Fundamentals class, results arrive by email within 3 to 4 weeks. The AFDI webinar course is listed at $650 for members and $730 for non-members.
We could not verify a passing score, a retake policy or a full test schedule. These can differ by event and location, so check the official ALOA certifications page and the event listing for your test before you register.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 25–40 questions per elective exam[1] | ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc. · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Exam fee (AFDI) | $650 members / $730 non-members (webinar course)[2] | ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc. · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Exam fee (CLL) | $75 members / $125 non-members[3] | ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc. · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Exam fee (CPL/CML) | $150 members / $195 non-members, plus $70 for first-time test takers[5] | cdn.prod.website-files.com · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Validity (AFDI) | Recertify every 3 years[1] | ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc. · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Delivery | Paper at ALOA events; some tests at proctored test sites or online by webcam[1] | ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc. · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Eligibility (CML) | CPL + 9 more electives[1] | ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc. · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Eligibility (CPL) | CRL + 12 more electives[1] | ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc. · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Eligibility (CRL) | Pass the mandatory exam + 2 electives[1] | ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc. · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Score release (CLL (Fundamentals class)) | Results by email within 3–4 weeks[4] | ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc. · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Registration deadline (CLL) | At least 14 days before the test[3] | ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc. · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Testing window (CLL (Fundamentals class)) | November 30 – December 4, 2026, Dallas (exam on the final Friday)[4] | ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc. · Oct 27, 2026 |
The content areas below are copied from the official ALOA content outline published by ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc.. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| Basic Master Keying[1] | ALOA Master Key Systems and Keying Practise how a keying system is laid out, how levels of access relate to each other, and why pinning decisions affect security. |
| Cabinet Furniture and Mailbox Locks[1] | ALOA Lock Types and Security Systems Practise telling the common small lock types apart and knowing how each is opened, serviced and keyed. |
| Codes and Code Equipment[1] | ALOA Key Identification and Machines Practise how a code relates to key cuts, and which machines produce a key from a code. |
| Cylinder Servicing[1] | ALOA Lock Types and Security Systems Practise cylinder parts, how they wear, and the order of steps for rekeying and repair. |
| Key Blank Identification[1] | ALOA Key Identification and Machines Practise matching a key to its blank by keyway, shape and manufacturer markings. |
| Key Duplication Techniques and Equipment[1] | ALOA Key Identification and Machines Practise how duplicating machines work, how keys are aligned, and what causes a poor copy. |
| Key Impressioning[1] | ALOA Key Identification and Machines Practise the reasoning behind reading marks on a blank and deciding where to cut next. |
| Lockset Field Servicing[1] | ALOA Door Hardware and Exit Devices Practise diagnosing door hardware faults on site and choosing the least damaging repair. |
| Professional Lock Bypass Techniques[1] | ALOA Lock Picking and Bypass Techniques Practise matching each non-destructive bypass method to the lock type it suits. |
Prepare for the ALOA - Associated Locksmiths of America exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What is a 'laser cut' (sidewinder) automotive key?
Answer: A. A key with the bitting cut into the center of the blade in a winding pattern, requiring a specialized laser cutter
Explanation:
The correct answer is the key with bitting cut into the centre of the blade in a winding pattern. A laser-cut, or sidewinder, key is thicker than a standard key and is cut along its face, so it needs specialised cutting equipment. That is also why it offers higher security than an ordinary edge-cut key.
The laser engraver option confuses the name with marking, which has nothing to do with how the key operates. The RFID option describes a transponder chip, which is a separate feature that can appear in any key head. The maximum-depth option describes a bump key, which is a different tool for a different purpose.
Rule to remember: the name describes the cut and the machine that makes it, not an electronic feature.
Question: Which drilling technique for opening a safe targets the drill point directly above or through the combination dial to access the wheel pack?
Answer: A. Nose drilling (direct drive drilling through the dial spindle area)
Explanation:
The correct answer is nose drilling. It goes in at the spindle area behind the combination dial, which gives access to the wheel pack. From there a technician can read the wheel positions with a borescope or defeat the mechanism that blocks the bolt.
Screw drilling, side drilling and bottom drilling are wrong here because none of them describes entering through the dial spindle area. Each names a different entry point on the safe, so they would not reach the wheel pack by the route the question describes.
Rule to remember: drilling methods are named for where the hole is made, so match the entry point in the question to the name before you think about the tool.
Question: Which access control credential technology uses radio frequency to read a card or fob without physical contact?
Answer: A. RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)
Explanation:
The correct answer is RFID. The card or fob exchanges data with the reader using radio frequency signals, so it does not need to touch the reader.
Magnetic stripe is wrong because the card has to be swiped through the reader, which is physical contact. Wiegand wire is wrong because it describes a wire-based card technology and a common reader output format, not a contactless radio read. Smart chip contact is wrong because the name itself says contact: the chip must touch the reader to be read.
Rule to remember: when a question stresses reading without touch, look for the radio-based technology and rule out anything that is swiped, inserted or wired.
Start with the official ALOA certifications page and work out which level you are aiming for and which electives it needs. Then check the event or test-site listing for your test, including fees, registration deadline and whether it is on paper or online by webcam.
Next, use the content-area table above as a checklist. Take a practice set for each area, and for every miss read the explanation, then write one line in your own words about the rule behind it. Questions you miss because you confused two similar terms need a different fix from those you missed because you did not know the topic, so sort your misses into those two groups.
Spend more of your time on the areas where you made the most errors, and return to the strong areas only briefly to keep them fresh. Repeat each set after a gap and compare your answers with your notes rather than with memory of the options.
Our questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions, so treat them as practice for the reasoning, and rely on the official material and your hands-on work for exact procedures. In the last days before the test, reread your notes, confirm the test location or webcam setup, and rest.
ALOA states that a candidate must pass the mandatory exam and any 2 electives of their choosing. CRL is the base level. CPL builds on it with 12 more electives, and CML builds on CPL with 9 more. Check the ALOA certifications page for the current requirements.
ALOA says each elective contains between 25 and 40 questions, depending on the subject covered. We could not verify a passing score or a time limit, so look at the official listing for your specific test before you register.
Some tests can be taken online from your home or office computer through remote webcam proctoring. Tests are also given on paper at ALOA events, and some are offered at proctored test sites. Availability depends on the specific test, so confirm it on the official event or certifications page.
Fees depend on the test and on membership. CPL and CML testing is listed at $150 for members and $195 for non-members, plus $70 for first-time test takers. CLL testing is listed at $75 for members and $125 for non-members. Confirm the current amount on the official listing.
For the CLL exam given at the end of the Fundamentals class, ALOA says to expect results by email within 3 to 4 weeks. Timing for other tests is not stated in the sources we checked, so ask the organiser of your event.
For the CLL testing event listed in Louisiana, ALOA says you must register no fewer than 14 days before the test. Other events may set different deadlines, so check the listing for your own test before you plan your dates.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.