How to become a carpenter?

As a whole, there is a good demand in the carpentry job market at present. Hence, many students are now interested in getting into the carpentry field. However, having knowledge about the home tools and carpentry tools are not the sole reasons that make you a carpenter. Students who got to select their career path in carpentry require having a high school diploma within the related field. Specifically, it helps to urge into the training programs and enter the work market. Moreover, proficiency in carpentry, mathematics, mechanical drawing, language, education, geometry, and algebra are required to become an honest carpenter.

What qualifications do you need to be a carpenter?

To become a carpenter, you must know that there are a few required qualifications a person should accomplish. In brief, that includes a high school diploma or related diploma to the field. Furthermore, it is important to gain knowledge about math and communication skills. Similarly, it is necessary to learn to use essential hand tools. Another very important qualification is physical fitness as the work environment in carpentry requires heavy lifting and also a good sense of hand-eye balance.

Educational requirements to be a carpenter

Students who need to select their career path in Carpentry require having a high school diploma in the related field. In brief, It helps to get into the training programs and enter the job market. Moreover, proficiency in carpentry, mathematics, mechanical drawing, language, physical education, geometry, and algebra are required to become a good carpenter.

Online carpentry education

Did you know that there are online courses to learn carpentry? Of course, now, with technology development, anyone can learn carpentry from home. If you have a limited time to study carpentry, you can use those online courses and gain knowledge whenever you want. Furthermore, these classes offer practical exercises, all the instructions step by step, making your learning effortless. In addition to that, some of the most popular online carpentry schools are listed below.

1. Ashworth College
2. Penn Foster Career School
3. ed2go 

 However, after gaining knowledge, it is critical to get the physical practice of carpentry. Accordingly, in high school, students get to enter a vocational, apprenticeship, or technical program to gain hands-on experience. In brief, this is where the formal training of carpentry begins. The journey starts as an apprentice, then the journeyman, and with the years of experience, the journeyman becomes the master carpenter. 

According to the law, students need to be at least 18 years old to enter an apprenticeship program. Further, the general duration of these training programs is four years. But if their competencies demonstrated before the course duration, they can finish their training sooner.

What are the competencies covered in these courses?

The exercise is carried out in two ways as classroom instructions and hands-on experience. Moreover, the areas of safety practices to prevent carpentry hazards, design elements, and construction methods are covered in the training program.

However, the students have to get a basic understanding of the subjects covered in the training program. They are mathematics (algebra, geometry), physics, hand tool (selection, care, and use), drawing (architectural, mechanical), blueprint reading, machinery, measurement and identification of suitable materials, and residential construction principles and procedures. And also, project management and estimating, finishing (interior and exterior) and framing, building technology, building code requirements, construction systems (roofing, door, and window layout), and mechanical systems.

When students get proper knowledge in the areas mentioned above, it is easy to get the working experience in carpentry. Generally, after completing the training period, students get a certification as a journeyperson, which is the primary level carpenter. Then they have to practice the craft.

Experience and employment

There are three paths carpenters can select to gain their expertise. Further, they can increase it by working for specialty contractors, general contractors, or for themselves. However, the carpentry job market is in manufacturing firms, government agencies, and retailers. Most of the carpenters first work for contractors and gain a better experience and then work independently, becoming self-employed. Nevertheless, to do good carpentry, a person should be a detail-oriented person. Moreover, carpentry requires measure and cut wood pieces to an exact measurement. When we work in the field, we get more experience. Besides, problem-solving skills and risk assessment abilities improve by involving in the job field and work environment.

In some countries, carpenters have formed associations to help each other. Accordingly, these associations provide training and jobs for fresh carpenters and members. If you get a membership in these associations, it will be a plus point when bidding on jobs. Moreover, some associations organize world carpentry events. They are also important for the carpenters to get enlightened about the top brands and the tools of carpentry, latest trends, and to strengthen their bonds across the carpentry world.

After becoming a journeyman, the next goal is to get a master carpenter experience. Nevertheless, you need to improve your documentation experience and course work experience. That is very beneficial because it enhances the earning rate and also goes into the higher levels of the job as supervisors. Furthermore, high school diploma holders can easily find entry-level carpentry jobs as assistants to experienced carpenters. As they have proven the qualifications, sizeable industrial building construction companies warmly welcome them.

After proven yourself as a dedicated carpenter, the industry will notice you. Then you will get more jobs. While doing the hardworking, you can further study managerial roles to higher levels in the career.

Is carpentry a decent career choice?

Carpentry could be a good job for folks that have an interest in performing from home. Moreover, having the talents to chop, shape, and finish wood can mean having an enormous world of other moneymaking opportunities available to you. Accordingly, with relatively few start-up costs, you would possibly even be ready to begin doing fun woodworking jobs from home.

How to Become a Carpenter without any Experience?

Can you become a carpenter without previous education and experience?

Of course, the answer is yes, you can. But you need to work hard for this. The first thing you have to do is to find a job as a helper or as an assistant to a carpenter. After that, you can slowly build your career by gaining experience and improving skills. Working for a carpenter as an assistant may not be a well-structured education, but it will enable you to absorb the technical skills and hands-on techniques. As being a helper does not pay as much as a qualified carpenter, you can study while on the job by taking online courses. Afterward, you can be a skilled carpenter. For that, you already have your training experience. Hence, this is a handy and quick way to become a carpenter.

Best schools and universities to become a carpenter

In brief, there are thousands of schools, colleges, and universities which, offer great training and education about carpentry, in the world. However, among those schools and universities, there are some schools and universities which are very wee known for the high-quality education and training they provide for their students. A diploma from any of these schools and universities is the best way for you to become a carpenter. Moreover, these four educational institutes have been ranked as the top five schools in carpentry education.

Best Carpentry Colleges in the world

What are the levels of carpentry?

There are three levels in carpentry. Therefore, every person who looks forward to becoming a carpenter has to get through two stages namely “apprentice and journeyman”. Afterward, a person could become a “Master Carpenter”, which is the highest level a carpenter can reach. The following descriptions provide more information about the three levels in carpentry.

1. Apprentice
2. Journeyman
3. Master carpenter

Apprentice to Journeyman

Generally, a carpenter has to start his career when he gets his initial formal training as an apprentice and then with the proper training and skills, they become journeymen. Finally, with a great set of skills and with experience of working for years (must get through special examinations)a person could achieve the status of a master carpenter.

Master Carpenter

The role of a master carpenter is much more responsible and complicated than the job which is being done by a normal carpenter. Master carpenters have to work under the supervision of a technical director and the master carpenter is responsible for all the tasks that have to be completed. The specialty of a master carpenter is that he has the ability to do any task that is related to carpentry with their very well improved skills of cutting, shaping and etc.

Carpenters and their income

The question “how much a carpenter does earn?” is a tough one to be answered. That is due to the different carpentry job types and the demand various carpentry types have in various states, counties, and cities. However, the below section has more information and statistics related to the salaries of various types of carpenters in different states. Carpenter salaries in the USA as of 2019.

Some of the average carpenter salaries in some states are shown in the below table.

How much a master carpenter earns?

The salary of a master carpenter is different from a country to another, from a city to another and the salary also depends on what company a person works for. However, the average annual salary of a master carpenter is around $35.000 – $65.000. It is a very good salary to lead a good life and it is drastically higher than the average annual income of a normal carpenter.

What Types of Rough Carpenter Jobs Get Paid the Most Money?

Rough carpenters know how to precisely measure, cut, and shape wood and other building materials. They build wooden structures that include tunnel, bridge, and sewer supports; temporary frame shelters; scaffolds; concrete forms; and billboard signs. However we can divide rough carpenters in to three main types. Following table shows the types of rough carpenters as well as their hourly and annual income.

How long does it take to become a skilled carpenter?

The question, how long does it take to become a carpenter doesn’t have one answer. The answer is depending on three things. Following things can change the answer for this question.

1. Where are you from?
2. Do you want only to be a journeyman?
3. What kind of a carpenter you want to be?

Being a good carpenter is not a piece of cake. It takes a considerable amount of time and lot of patience as well. The time that a particular individual has to spend in order to become a carpenter depends on the country he lives in, what kind of a carpenter he wants to be and whether he only needs to be a journeyman.

As previously mentioned, there are three levels in carpentry as apprentice, journeyman and master carpenter. Generally, it takes a duration of two years for someone to become an apprentice. They need to train themselves for another four years to become a journeyman. However, the duration of time mentioned here could vary as the required training period to achieve these positions vary from a country to another.

Tradesmen of many countries like Germany and Australia are required to complete a proper apprenticeship (usually three to four years) to become an expert carpenter. Upon graduation from the apprenticeship, he or she becomes a journeyman carpenter.

How to become a master carpenter

Becoming a master carpenter is the dream of every carpenter. Being a master carpenter is not just about earning more money than journeyman carpenters. It also adds pride and confidence to a carpenter. However, becoming a master carpenter is not a piece of cake. It needs great training and experience in the industry of carpentry. Let’s now consider one of the most common methods of becoming a master carpenter.

Steps to become a master carpenter.

1. Starting the career as an assistant (helper)
2. Obtain a PACT certificate (pre – apprenticeship certificate training)
3. Seek for an apprenticeship program

This is one of the easiest methods to start the journey as a newbie to become a master carpenter. Below passages provide more information about these steps.

Start your career as an assistant

Start as a helper. This step isn’t a compulsory requirement. If you’re eager and qualified to start more direct training within the field, you are free to skip it. However, if you’re unable to start an apprenticeship directly and an area carpenter or construction crew is hiring helpers, take the benefit of it. Use this chance to find out what you’ll be by observing journey workers in action while completing other tasks on-site. This can be a perfect learning experience if you are under the age of 18.

Obtain a pact certificate (pre – apprenticeship certificate training)

Earn a PACT certificate. Just like the helper position, obtaining a PACT (Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training) certificate isn’t strictly necessary so as to become an apprentice. However, if you have got little to no experience with any type of construction, consider the advantages of earning one. These include introductions to carpentry also like painting, plumbing, masonry, landscaping, other building trades, lessons on tools, construction materials, math, safety, and care. This is a certification that qualifies you for entry-level employment within the construction trade.

Seek for an apprenticeship program

Find an apprenticeship program. Whether or not you opt to start as a helper or earn a PACT certificate, consider an apprenticeship as an absolute must in becoming a journey worker. Plan to a two to four-year program, during which you’ll receive both technical training in school settings and on-the-job training from a journey worker. Programs are available through various sources.

Role of an assistant carpenter

What does a carpenter assistant do?

As mentioned above, starting as an assistant carpenter is a mandatory requirement to become a good carpenter. However, an assistant carpenter has many duties to do when they work as an assistant for experienced carpenters. Their major task is to assist the carpenters with manual labor that is related to carpentry.

The assistant are responsible for the preparation of sites before building. They also hold the responsibility of carrying the tools and other equipment’s to the sites.

Is there a future in carpentry?

Carpentry has become one of the most successful professions in the world. Many new companies related to carpentry have started providing carpentry services that satisfies the huge demand in the market for various carpentry needs.

The employment of carpenters is projected to grow from 8 percent in the course of 2016 to 2026, It is as fast as the growth average for all occupations. An increase should lead to more new-home construction, the largest segment employing carpenters, which would need many new workers.

So the conclusion that we can step into is that carpentry has a very good future and thousands of new carpenters will be needed to fill the vacancies of many carpentry companies. The huge demand for carpenters, which is mounting up day by day all over the world will make carpenters much richer and reputed in the very near future.