Apprenticeship

Carpenter

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You want to be a carpenter. You want to construct, renovate and repair buildings and structures made of wood, wood substitutes, steel and other materials.

But you need to learn more, like how to crib the basement in a residential job, or how to install doors, windows, flooring, cabinets, stairs, handrails, paneling, moulding and ceiling tiles. Maybe you want to learn how to build concrete forms for commercial and industrial jobs, as well as scaffolding, bridges, trestles, tunnels, shelters, towers and other structures.

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 take pride in creating things with your hands and honing your expertise in woodcraft, then you will enjoy working as a carpenter.

Depending on the job, carpenters can work both indoors and outdoors and can be subject to seasonal unemployment. They may be required to work alone or in teams to complete the work.

Carpenter student with a drill

Training at NAIT

The Carpenter apprenticeship term is:

  • 4 years (four 12-month periods)
  • minimum of 1560 hours on-the-job training each year
  • 8 weeks of technical training each year

We have 4 fully equipped shops dedicated to carpenter apprenticeship training. We are able to train up to 900 apprentices per year.

You can expect to spend, on average, 30 hours per week in classes and working in the shop.

At NAIT, we’ve been training Carpenter apprentices

since 1963

We’re here to teach you everything you need to know.

Enter the workforce with confidence

As a carpenter, you’ll be employed by construction contractors, be self-employed or conduct construction or maintenance work for government agencies, utility companies or manufacturing firms. Employment opportunities can vary depending on the sector and your specialization.

Experienced carpenters can advance to become a supervisor, subcontractor, construction superintendent or contractor. Carpenters are involved in every phase of construction and tend to have an overall knowledge of the construction cycle that is advantageous when applying for supervisory positions.

Resources

Carpenter

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

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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