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Carpentry Apprenticeship

Did you know?*

• About 32 percent of all carpenters- the largest construction trade- were self-employed.
• Job opportunities should be best for those with the most training and skills.
• Between 3 and 4 years of both on-the-job training and classroom instruction usually is needed to become a skilled carpenter.

*Statistics retrieved from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What Does a Carpenter Do?

Carpenters construct, erect, install or repair structures and fixtures made of wood; concrete forms; building frameworks including partitions, joists, studding and rafters; wood stairways, window and door frames; and hardwood floors using carpentry hand and power tools. They build wood framing for houses, roofs, stairs, decks and sheaths, and forms for concrete and frame buildings, walls, footings, columns and stairs. The trade also involves carpentry work to install cabinets, siding, drywall rails, building cabinets and counter tops and may include work on drywall, wood flooring, metal jambs and ceilings. They are skilled in interior and exterior finish work and are able to read blueprints, measure accurately and calculate dimensions.

There are several different types of carpenters that specialize in one or more of these many tasks, including the following types:

Cabinet Maker
Construction
Floor Coverer
Interior Systems
Millwright
Pile Driver (description available soon)

Sources: Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards Position Descriptions,
Apprenticeship in Wisconsin Handbook

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