Technology

some states require registration to do it professionally

That's totally fair, though I think a bit excessive. I understand requiring registration for dangerous things like working on gas lines or high voltage electricity, because you could cause a ton of damage. But for a locksmith, the risk is really low, _especially if you're picking instead of the more destructive and faster methods most locksmiths use because they don't want to spend the time manipulating pins.

I'm guessing in those states where you need to be registered/licensed, it's more about raising the barrier to entry to protect existing locksmiths than any kind of actual concern for the safety of the public.