Apprenticeship

Cabinetmaker

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You want to be a cabinetmaker. You want to use woodworking equipment to build and repair fixtures and furniture made of wood or wood substitutes, sometimes with specialized layouts and patterns.

But you need to learn more, like how to cut, shape, mould and assemble wooden components, or how to apply veneer, stain, polish or plastic laminates to finished surfaces. Maybe you want to know more about custom-made products, how to estimate material quantities and costs or how to assemble the product by gluing, clamping, dowelling, nailing and screwing pieces together.

Here are some of the other subjects covered in the Cabinetmaker apprenticeship program at NAIT:

-creating detailed drawings and producing shop drawings

-sanding wooden surfaces

-operating and programming Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) equipment

Quick Facts

Credential: Journeyman Certificate

Hands-on and expert-led apprenticeship and industry training for skilled trades and technology professionals.

Campus: Main

Any in-person components of your courses will be delivered at NAIT's Main Campus in Edmonton. View map

Delivery Options:

  • Both On-Campus and Virtual - Some of your coursework will be in-person, on campus and some will be done online.

Periods: 4

Apprenticeship is a method of gaining the expertise needed to become a skilled tradesperson. This is done through a combination of on-the-job experience and classroom training.

Most apprenticeship programs are 3-4 periods in length, with an average of 8 weeks for each training period. In addition, there are specific allotments of on-the-job training hours associated with each period, so most apprentices complete 1 period per calendar year.

Hands-on, industry-relevant skills

If you like creating things with your hands, developing specialized skills and working with a high degree of accuracy, then you’ll enjoy working as a cabinetmaker.

Cabinetmakers work indoors, often in a shop environment, and can be exposed to noise, airborne sawdust and chemicals from painting and stripping. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is often required, and there can be some risk of injury from working with woodworking machinery.

Training at NAIT

The Cabinetmaker apprenticeship term is:

  • 4 years (four 12-month periods)
  • minimum of 1360 hours on-the-job training each year
  • 8 weeks of technical training each year
Cabinetmaker
Cabinetmaker student

Enter the workforce with confidence

As a cabinetmaker, you’ll be employed in custom shops or be self-employed. Some common employers include custom kitchen shops, architectural millwork shops, office and home furniture manufacturers and staircase manufacturers.

As a NAIT cabinetmaker graduate, you may find yourself in high demand due to your hands-on experience and commitment to safety training. Many cabinetmakers stay in the trade until they retire.

Resources

Want to learn more about this program?

Thank you for your interest! We want to get you in contact with the right person to answer your questions.

Request more information or get answers to a specific question. Send us an email, and we'll put you in touch with the program advisors directly.

Please contact the Student Service Centre for general inquiries such as:

  • Student application support
  • Program entrance requirements, tuition & fees, and how to apply
  • Program admissions process
  • Enrolment support
  • Student funding options
  • Fee and refund inquiries
  • General program and course withdrawal procedures
  • Navigating nait.ca and MyNAITPortal

Contact Student Service Centre

Please fill out the form below if you have any program-specific questions relating to:

  • Program details
  • Work-integrated learning and cooperative education
  • Advance credit and Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
  • Program and course withdrawal

Contact this program




The personal information on this form is being collected under the authority of the Post-secondary Learning Act and section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP). The information will be protected by the provisions of FOIP, and will be used for the purpose of registration and administration of the event. If you have any questions or concerns about the collection, use, security or disclosure of the personal information, please contact General Council at 780.471.7664 or legal@nait.ca.

Periods

Tuition & Fees

The tuition and fee amounts below are estimates based on current academic year’s rates. For financial planning purposes, please use these totals as an approximate estimate of your costs. Actual fees may vary by term and enrolment activities. Students who take all of their courses online are exempt from U-Pass, Health & Dental, and Recreation & Athletics fees. All fees are subject to change. Please refer to the tuition and fees page for more detailed information.

View the technical equipment requirements (PDF)

Scholarships & Awards

How to Apply

Complete an apprenticeship application & contract form

Effective November 1, 2014, you must fillout the application located on the MyTradesecrets website for Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board staff to determine if you are eligible for status as an indentured apprentice.

Dates & Deadlines

Once you are an indentured apprentice, you can review the availability and start and end dates of the program you are interested in. Log into your MyTradesecrets profile and do a search under the Class Registration section. Then you can determine the schedule that best fits your needs.

We recommend submitting your program application at least 90 days before the application deadline.

Apply to Program

Apply to the program with step-by-step instructions on how to complete the application process. Please note, processing time may vary for applicants, so we recommend starting early.

Apply nowHow to apply checklist

Want to learn more about this program?

Thank you for your interest! We want to get you in contact with the right person to answer your questions.

Please contact the Student Service Centre for general inquiries such as:

  • Student application support
  • Program entrance requirements, tuition & fees, and how to apply
  • Program admissions process
  • Enrolment support
  • Student funding options
  • Fee and refund inquiries
  • General program and course withdrawal procedures
  • Navigating nait.ca and MyNAITPortal

Contact Student Service Centre

Please fill out the form below if you have any program-specific questions relating to:

  • Program details
  • Work-integrated learning and cooperative education
  • Advance credit and Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
  • Program and course withdrawal



The personal information on this form is being collected under the authority of the Post-secondary Learning Act and section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP). The information will be protected by the provisions of FOIP, and will be used for the purpose of registration and administration of the event. If you have any questions or concerns about the collection, use, security or disclosure of the personal information, please contact General Council at 780.471.7664 or legal@nait.ca.

Apply for Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Begin the application process through MyTradesecrets.

Apply Now How to Apply

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