From concept to completion – watch your project come to life with a career as a carpenter.
Are you creative? Do you enjoy working hands-on both indoors and outdoors? If so, a career in Carpenter might be the right fit for you!
To work as a carpenter, you should:
- Have a passion for making and building things
- Be precise, accurate efficient and be able to solve mathematical problems with ease
- Be able to work independently or with a team.
Carpenters construct, erect, install, maintain, and repair structures made of wood, wood substitutes, lightweight steel, concrete and other materials. You’ll be able to build from architectural designs, apply modern building codes, and keep pace with advances in sustainable building technologies.
To become a Carpenter there are two ways to start.
Carpenter Pathways
Foundation Program
- 24-week full time program
- February intake
- You do not need an employer to take the Carpenter Foundation program! In fact, the main reason to take the Carpenter Foundation program is to gain experience and knowledge about the carpenter trade to make it easier for you to find an employer to sponsor you for the remaining three levels of your apprenticeship.
If you are a high school student, contact the counseling office at your high school for information on how to become a Youth Train in Trades student and get a jump-start on your trades training while you complete your high school diploma. Learn more about the Youth Train in Trades program.
Apprenticeship Program
To begin an apprenticeship to become a carpenter, you must:
- Have an employer sponsor
- Register with the Industry Training Authority (ITA)
- Complete your apprenticeship training
College of the Rockies offers all four levels of Carpenter Apprenticeship technical training.
Carpenter Trades Training Schedule
| Program | Level | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Carpenter (Harmonized) | FDTN | September 3, 2019 | March 5, 2020 | 24 Weeks |
| *Carpenter (Harmonized) | FDTN | September 8, 2020 | March 4, 2021 | 24 Weeks |
| *Carpenter (Harmonized) | 1 | March 16, 2020 | May 1, 2020 | 7 Weeks |
| *Carpenter (Harmonized) | 1 | April 27, 2020 | June 12, 2020 | 7 Weeks |
| *Carpenter (GAP) | 2 | February 24, 2020 | February 28, 2020 | 5 Days |
| *Carpenter (Harmonized) | 2 | March 2, 2020 | April 17, 2020 | 7 Weeks |
| *Carpenter (Harmonized) | 2 | March 1, 2021 | April 16, 2021 | 7 Weeks |
| *Carpenter (Harmonized) | 3 | October 28, 2019 | December 13, 2019 | 7 Weeks |
| *Carpenter (Harmonized) | 3 | September 8, 2020 | October 23, 2020 | 7 Weeks |
| *Carpenter (Harmonized) | 3 | January 4, 2021 | February 19, 2021 | 7 Weeks |
| *Carpenter | 4 | January 6, 2020 | February 21, 2020 | 7 Weeks |
| *Carpenter (GAP) | 4 | October 26, 2020 | October 28, 2020 | 3 Days |
| *Carpenter (Harmonized) | 4 | November 2, 2020 | December 18, 2020 | 7 Weeks |
*Projected | All dates subject to change |
Industry Training Authority Harmonization Initiative
Harmonization is an ITA initiative to substantively align the curriculum taught in each apprenticeship level for consistency across Canada in 30 Red Seal trade apprenticeship programs by 2020. The ITA is committed to minimizing challenges to apprentices to complete their training and are supporting training providers through the Harmonization Initiative. The ITA has considered the input of industry partners as well as training providers across the province to develop transition plans to ensure that there are options for all current apprentices to complete their apprenticeship with minimal disruption. Transition plans for each trade vary and may involve Gap Training (which refers to missing or resequencing content).
For further details on transition plans, gap training or questions related to harmonization, please visit the ITA website www.itabc.ca