Who can install access control in New Jersey

Door access work is tied to locksmiths in only a handful of states, and New Jersey is one of them. You need a license for locksmithing or installing burglar alarms, fire alarms and electronic security systems, according to the Advisory Committee FAQ. Public Law 1997, c.305 set that requirement.

The committee's consumer brief includes, under locksmithing, the work of putting in an electronic lock that controls entry to or exit from premises. Card readers, keypads and powered strikes all match that description. Both alarm and locksmith license holders may install CCTV and intercoms, since those are electronic security systems.

All applicants must be at least 18, have a high school diploma or equivalent, clear a background check and pass an exam. Each license has its own experience rule.

• A burglar or fire alarm license calls for 4 years in the alarm business, which includes 6,720 hours of hands-on wiring and 80 hours in technical courses.
• To become a locksmith, you need 3 years of full-time locksmithing with at least 5,040 hours, or you can finish a 2-year approved apprenticeship.
• Every company needs a separate business license, with one licensed business qualifier assigned to each license category it holds.

There is no low voltage electrical license in New Jersey. The only electrical category is the electrical contractor license, as the electrical board's FAQ states. The same FAQ exempts work under 10 volts, and it says that generally, work at 10 volts or above is not exempt.

That means a single door system could pull in two different trades. You should ask who handles wiring the power supply for the lock into the building's circuit. Alarm systems are the subject of one of the 3 parts that make up the electrical contractor exam. Only voice and data wiring fall under a limited telecommunications wiring exemption; locks do not qualify.

The public search is linked from the committee's license verification page. A license gets suspended automatically if it isn't renewed within 30 days of its expiration, so look at the status rather than just the name. The committee also recommends you ask the installer to show their state photo license card.

The state's current codes list for exit doors includes the 2024 International Building Code, New Jersey edition, along with the 2023 National Electrical Code. The adoption date on both is August 17, 2026.