To the CARPENTRY
erect and repair buildings and other structures made of wood, wood
substitutes, steel and other materials.
duties vary according to the type of job: residential
construction, other construction (commercial, industrial), or maintenance.
In residential jobs, carpenters crib the basement, build the house
framework, walls, roof and exterior finish, and install doors, windows,
flooring, cabinets, stairs, handrails, panelling, moulding and ceiling
tiles. In other construction jobs, they build concrete forms, scaffolding,
bridges, trestles, tunnels, shelters, towers and other structures.
In maintenance jobs, they repair and remodel existing structures
of all kinds.
tasks involve: reading blueprints and/or getting instructions from
a supervisor, doing the layout (selecting the materials, planning
sequences and methods of work, measuring and marking materials to
avoid costly mistakes or omissions), cutting and shaping materials
and joining them with nails, screws, bolts or glue, and checking
completed units to be sure they are level, square, plumb and the
right size, shape and location.
work accurately and economically, and follow national and local
building codes. Some carpenters specialize in one type of work such
as framing, bench work or finishing work. Carpenters may work alone,
in teams or with helpers. There is some risk of injury from slips
and falls, falling objects, and sharp hand and power tools. Other
working conditions vary from one job to another. For example, on
some jobs carpenters work primarily indoors, are permanently employed
and work a regular 40-hour week. On other jobs, carpenters work
primarily outdoors, are subject to seasonal unemployment, and routinely
work overtime in peak periods. Lifting may be required between 11
and 25 kilograms.
To be successful in the trade, carpenters need: the ability to stand,
crouch and kneel for long periods of time, manual dexterity, balance
for working on scaffolding, the ability to solve arithmetic problems
quickly and accurately, and the ability to get along well with others
on a work team.
The work is
most rewarding for those who take pride in creating a variety of
things with their hands and honing their expertise in woodcraft.
Carpenters generally acquire their skills through apprenticeship
training or by learning informally on-the-job. To enter the Carpenter
apprenticeship program administered by Alberta Apprenticeship and
Industry Training, applicants must have at least Grade 9 education
or equivalent (or pass an entrance exam), and find a suitable employer
who is willing to hire and train an apprentice. Most employers prefer
to hire high school graduates and select apprentices from among
their current employees. Apprentices usually begin acquiring their
own tools as soon as they start work.
The term of
apprenticeship is four years (four 12-month periods with a minimum
of 1360 hours of employment each year). In addition to the on the-job
training, the term also requires eight weeks of classroom training
for each year. An applicant who has successfully completed related
courses of study or work experience, and has the employer's recommendation,
can apply for credit toward the apprenticeship.
attend training, they are required to pay the applicable tuition
fee and purchase course supplies. Human Resources Development Canada
may provide income support for apprentices attending classroom training.
For more detailed information, contact your local Canada Employment
Centre. After successfully completing the required examinations
and hours of employment, an apprentice is awarded a Journeyman Certificate.
Apprentice carpenters earn at least 60 percent of the journeyman
wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 70 percent
in the second, 80 percent in the third, and 90 percent in the fourth
year. Journeyman wage rates vary, but generally range from $17 to
$25 an hour plus benefits.
The weekly Apprenticeship Training Program was developed to aid
the apprentice and the employer by allowing the apprentice to remain
at work while attending the courses required for apprenticeship.
The employer looses the apprentice for only one day a week and the
apprentice looses only one day in the workweek, thus maintaining
a major portion of the earnable wages.
The course generally starts on the first Monday in September. In
some cases (like 1999) it can come earlier (August 30). Two days
are required the first week because registration and orientation
do take a lot of time. After the first week the student is required
to attend one day a week. The full duration of the course is 32
weeks. The course is considered a fixed entry, open exit type of
course meaning that everyone starts at the same time but a student
can finish as early as the requirements are completed. Students
are given a student card that allows them entry to the College facilities
from 07:00 to 22:00 hours each day of the week. Access to the College
computers (remote access) is also available. This allows students
to do module testing at a computer such as one they might have at
home. If a student can not attend on the regular class day, arrangements
must be made with the instructor or an absence will be noted. Eighteen
hours of absence means that the student is subject to dismissal.
Each day is eight hours long. Two days absent means that the instructor
will attempt to contact the student.
Each student must purchase the main text, modules; some supplies
and pay a tuition fee. Upon arrival on the first day, registrations
are completed, first period students will take an assessment exam,
and regular class operations will start. The second day is a regular
students set of modules will direct them through the course. For
Carpentry, all tests are in the computer. The student pulls off
module tests on their own while supervised exams must be released
by the instructor. Class time will consist of 4 hours of shop time
and 4 hours of theoretical time. In the Theoretical section, there
will be lectures as necessary, and time for individual work by the
student. The instructor is there to aid the student at any stage
that help is needed.
of the course will be accomplished as soon as all of the requirements
have been met by way of tests and project completion. With the weekly
aspect, there are other days in the week that the student may do
work and therefore speed up the completion of the requirements.
There could also be days when the student may not be able to be
at work because of weather or holidays, and if arrangements are
made, the student could then come into the college to do some work.
In the past there has been some concern that the student may not
be able to retain the material taken the first week on the week
of the final exam. This is taken care of by the supervised testing
system, which always refers back to the beginning of the course.
Feed back from the apprentice and/or the employer is encouraged.
This type of course has been developed for the apprentice and the
employer, and any improvements necessary should come from one of,
or both of these bodies.