Carpentry is a skilled trade that demands precision and accuracy. Carpenters are involved in constructing everything from houses to furniture and even ships.
If you’re looking for a career with plenty of opportunities, carpentry may be the right choice for you, and in this article, we have explored the best trade schools for carpentry in 2024.
Carpenters must have an eye for detail and be able to measure accurately. They also need to be able to work with their hands and use tools to perform their job duties.
If you’re interested in carpentry, you may look for a trade school to help you get started. Here are 15 of the best carpentry schools in 2024:
Table of Contents
- What Do Carpenters Do?
- How Long Does it Take to Become a Carpenter?
- Does Carpentry Pay Well?
- How Do I Start a Career in Carpentry?
- Best Trade Schools for Carpentry
- 1. Minnesota West Community & Technical College
- 2. Northern Wyoming Community College District
- 3. Western Technical College
- 4. Rochester Community and Technical College
- 5. Ivy Tech Community College
- 6. Bismarck State College
- 7. Fayetteville Technical Community College
- 8. Albany Technical College
- 9. Western Iowa Tech Community College
- 10. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
- 11. Ridgewater College
- 12. Northland Community and Technical College
- 13. Des Moines Area Community College
- 14. St. Cloud Technical and Community College
- 15. Rochester Community and Technical College
- FAQs – Trade Schools for Carpentry
- Conclusion
- References
- We Also Recommend
What Do Carpenters Do?
One of the earliest and most in-demand building crafts is carpentry. Carpenters build wooden fixtures and fittings using natural resources (wood/timber).
You may work as a carpenter constructing doors, flooring, and furniture in new construction, remodeling or refitting existing buildings, creating sets for theater and film production businesses, and much more.
You will be engaged in the planning, chopping, and constructing furniture as a carpenter utilizing various types of wood. Working environments include a workshop, a construction site, or a client’s house.
A carpenter’s job entails the following responsibilities:
- determining dimensions, marking, cutting, shaping, fitting, and finishing wood
- using various hand and power instruments
- installing wall dividers, roof trusses, floor joists, and floorboards
- working with and creating technical drawings
- learning about many types of wood and their purposes
- used in either commercial or residential structures
- renovating historical structures
- working on a building site, in a client’s office or home, or a workshop
- working outside in all weather and at heights, or performing tasks in dusty environments.
- interior fittings for things like stairways, doors, skirting boards, cabinets, and kitchens
- erecting the frameworks for the roads, buildings, bridges, and dams
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How Long Does it Take to Become a Carpenter?
Since a high school certificate or its equivalent, which for most people is at the age of 18, is all that is necessary to become a carpenter, you may begin your profession right away.
After checking this item off your list, you will need to enroll in an apprenticeship program that will equip you with the necessary skills.
The only method to gain experience and skill is through on-the-job training from other seasoned carpenters, which is one of the most crucial components of becoming a Finish Carpenter.
Learning on the job will offer you a huge advantage since you will master all finish carpentry skills and understand how to quickly and efficiently mend and remedy mistakes.
Taking into account everything mentioned above, it would be prudent to suggest that you will require another 2-3 years once you can stand on your own two feet as a Carpenter in addition to the 3-4 years it will take you to complete formal education, the technical school route, and training.
You might create your own business or work as a subcontractor as a carpenter. Additionally, you may get employment with organizations that provide group training, government agencies, or construction firms.
Does Carpentry Pay Well?
The average annual wage for carpenters is $73,153. According to Indeed, Carpenters can be paid up to $81,825 per year by some businesses, and those who work in British Columbia and Ontario make more money than the national average.
The quantity of experience and credentials affect a carpenter’s pay as well. Carpenters who are qualified and hold Red Seal and Journeyperson certifications make more money than uncertified carpenters.
Additionally, Red Seal carpenters benefit from working anywhere in the nation, increasing their marketability.
How Do I Start a Career in Carpentry?
Here is how to become a carpenter:
Complete your secondary education.
While just a primary education is required to become a carpenter, completing secondary school and pursuing specialized courses enables you to develop the fundamental abilities necessary for the job.
Gaining the necessary abilities for carpentry is made more accessible by selecting courses in arithmetic, drawing, design, and drafting.
You can study various instruments of the profession, workshop procedures, and carpentry terms in secondary school.
Enroll in a trade school and learn carpentry skills
You can enroll in a carpentry course at a technical college or high school once you finish your secondary education. The average length of the course is several weeks or months.
Alternatively, you may forgo formal education and pursue hands-on training as a laborer or carpenter helper. By taking this method, you may learn the fundamentals of carpentry while being supervised by skilled carpenters.
Working alongside skilled carpenters shortens the route and allows you to make some money while you’re doing the work.
Enroll to serve as an apprentice.
Attending classes in an apprenticeship program is the step to becoming a carpenter. Some secondary schools have apprenticeship programs that let prospective carpenters study under seasoned experts and obtain practical experience.
Typically, apprenticeships are overseen by a journeyperson, a supervisor who is also a licensed carpenter. The curriculum spans four 12-month periods and includes eight weeks of technical instruction and at least 5,440 hours of on-the-job training.
Gain some experience
You may apply for carpenter employment after completing an apprenticeship program, which will provide you with the necessary experience and abilities. Your career prospects may increase as you accumulate knowledge and skills from various jobs.
Carpenters who work for themselves can perform projects for one-off customers, residences, and businesses.
As your company grows, you might hire carpentry apprentices and assistants to help you fulfill customer demands.
Get Certified
Except for Quebec, all provinces and territories have an optional need for carpentry certification. However, obtaining a certificate is advised because of the perks, including a better salary and increased employability.
Additionally, having a certificate shows prospective employers that you have knowledge and abilities in a particular branch of carpentry, such as joinery, remodeling, or maintenance carpentry.
You must finish a four-year apprenticeship program to get qualified. You are also eligible for certification if you have more than four years of experience in carpentry outside of an apprenticeship.
Continue to advance your career.
By pursuing extra courses like construction management, carpenters may improve their employability. Higher-level coursework prepares you for jobs with greater responsibility, such as supervisor positions in sizable furniture, construction, or maintenance businesses.
You may also improve your marketability by picking up a new language or working as a construction consultant.
Best Trade Schools for Carpentry
Here are our top picks on the best trade schools for carpentry:
- Minnesota West Community & Technical College
- Northern Wyoming Community College District
- Western Technical College
- Rochester Community and Technical College
- Ivy Tech Community College
- Bismarck State College
- Fayetteville Technical Community College
- Albany Technical College
- Western Iowa Tech Community College
- Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
- Ridgewater College
- Northland Community and Technical College
- Des Moines Area Community College
- St. Cloud Technical and Community College
- Rochester Community and Technical College
1. Minnesota West Community & Technical College
This certificate program allows students to enter the workforce faster while providing insight into basic carpentry skills. The certificate program will enable high school students to complete the certificate before graduating.
Finances should never impede a prosperous future. To help you pay for your education, Minnesota West offers affordable tuition, scholarships, financial aid guidance, and payment plans.
Minnesota West has made its mission to assist students in developing the skills and education required as their futures take shape.
2. Northern Wyoming Community College District
Northern Wyoming Community College District is one of the most widely known schools in the United States for carpentry students pursuing an online degree. It is a modest public school in the town of Sheridan. Sheridan is an excellent choice for students who love small-city life.
Part-time Northern Wyoming Community College District students who lived in-state paid $105 per credit hour for the 2019-2020 academic year. Out-of-state students paid $315 per credit hour.
Northern Wyoming Community College District has 3,741 undergraduate students, 1,245 of whom are full-time and 2,496 of whom are part-time.
3. Western Technical College
This is also one of the best trade schools for carpentry students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Western Technical College is a public school with few students located in La Crosse.
Out-of-state undergraduate tuition and fees at Western Technical College average $6,687 per year.
Part-time Western Technical College students in the 2019-2020 academic year paid $141 per credit hour if they lived in-state. Students from other states paid $212 per credit hour.
4. Rochester Community and Technical College
If you choose to study carpentry at Rochester Community and Technical College, you’ll be in excellent hands.
Undergraduate students at Rochester Community and Technical College pay an average of $5,372 in tuition and fees per year.
When it comes to quality, Rochester Community and Technical College are unrivaled.
Part-time students at Rochester Community and Technical College paid $199 per credit hour in the 2019-2020 academic year, whether out-of-state or in-state.
5. Ivy Tech Community College
If you decide to attend this prestigious school, you’ll be in a friendly environment. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public university in Indianapolis.
Undergraduate students at Ivy Tech Community College pay an average of $8,927 in tuition and fees per year.
This program is designed for students looking for hands-on carpentry training.
The school’s carpentry program teaches students the technical skills necessary to become a carpenter, including reading blueprints and using tools such as saws, hammers, and chisels. Students also learn about the materials used in construction projects and how they affect the final product.
6. Bismarck State College
Bismarck State College is a medium-sized public university in Bismarck, North Dakota.
An out-of-state undergraduate student at BSC pays an average of $6,930 in tuition and fees per year.
Undergraduate Certificate in Carpentry (1 – 4 Years) and Associate Degree in Carpentry are two BSC carpentry degrees that are available.
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7. Fayetteville Technical Community College
FTCC is situated in Fayetteville, North Carolina, serving approximately 10,932 students each year. FTCC provides online carpentry courses for those wishing to participate in distance learning.
Two FTCC carpentry degrees are available: A basic Certificate in Carpentry (Less Than 1 Year) and Undergrad Certificate in Carpentry (1 – 4 Years).
Online courses could be ideal if you need more time and flexibility to attend traditional classes. FTCC enable self-directed learners to study when and where they want while maintaining the rigor of in-person classes.
8. Albany Technical College
Carpentry students pursuing an online degree should consider Albany Technical College. Albany Technical College, located in the small city of Albany, is a public school with very few students.
Every year, approximately 3,022 students attend the school.
For those interested in distance learning, Albany Technical College offers online education options in carpentry for the following degree levels:
- Carpentry Fundamentals Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)
- Carpentry Undergraduate Certificate (1 – 4 Years).
9. Western Iowa Tech Community College
Western Iowa Tech Community College is a standard-size public college in Sioux City, Iowa.
Out-of-state undergraduate tuition and fees at Western Iowa Tech Community College average $4,826 per year.
For students who want to learn carpentry, they offer an Undergraduate Certificate in Carpentry (1 – 4 Years).
10. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a public college in Fennimore’s rural area.
Each year, undergraduate students at Southwest Tech pay an average of $6,683 in tuition and fees.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is an excellent choice for students who want to study carpentry. It offers a wide selection of carpentry courses, including pre-apprenticeship and certificate and associate degree programs.
11. Ridgewater College
Ridgewater College is in the small city of Willmar. Each year, their undergraduate students pay an average of $5,914 in tuition and fees.
This school has a total enrollment of 3,176 students. Their Undergraduate Certificate in Carpentry program is four years long.
They have flexible class schedules, great teachers, a positive learning environment, excellent career preparation, and hands-on training.
12. Northland Community and Technical College
Northland Community and Technical College is a good-sized public school in Thief River Falls. The Technical College’s undergraduate students pay a minimum of $6,052. Each year, approximately 2,962 students attend the school.
The school offers both traditional classroom instruction as well as online courses. Students can access state-of-the-art equipment and tools professional carpenters use during training sessions. Students who attend this school also have access to job placement assistance after graduation.
This school also has an excellent reputation for preparing students for careers in the carpentry industry.
13. Des Moines Area Community College
DMACC is a public school with a large student body. Undergraduate students at DMACC pay an average of $10,440 in tuition and fees per year.
DMACC is located in Ankeny, Iowa, with a total student population of 23,051.
The carpentry program at Des Moines Area Community College is designed to give students the skills they need to enter into a career as a carpenter.
14. St. Cloud Technical and Community College
This school is in the city of Saint Cloud. Out-of-state undergraduate tuition at St Cloud Technical and Community College is $5,874 per year.
The whole student population at St Cloud Technical and Community College is 3,931.
This school offers a carpentry program that trains students in residential construction techniques. The curriculum focuses on safely using tools and equipment and working with materials such as wood, metal, and concrete.
Students learn basic carpentry skills, such as framing and remodeling, and advanced skills,, like woodworking or remodeling electrical systems.
Completing this program can lead to jobs in various industries: construction companies, building contractors, home improvement stores, etc.
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15. Rochester Community and Technical College
This is another trade school that’s among the best on our list.
Rochester Community and Technical College undergraduate students usually pay about $5,372 as tuition annually.
Students learn about the history of carpentry as well as basic math, building materials and tools, job site safety, and more. Graduates of this institution can find employment with construction companies, remodeling firms, or home improvement stores.
FAQs – Trade Schools for Carpentry
Minnesota West Community & Technical College
Northern Wyoming Community College District
Western Technical College
Rochester Community and Technical College
Ivy Tech Community College
Bismarck State College
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Albany Technical College
Western Iowa Tech Community College
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Ridgewater College
Northland Community and Technical College
Des Moines Area Community College
St. Cloud Technical and Community College
Rochester Community and Technical College
According to bls.gov, Carpenter job growth is predicted to be 2 percent between 2024 and 2031, which is slower than the national average for all professions.
The most challenging trade to become proficient in is, by far, carpentry. As you stated, be able to think quickly and strategically even when each task differs somewhat. This may sound easy, but it’s not.
Conclusion
Carpentry is one of the most sought-after trades in the construction industry. Becoming a carpenter has many benefits, including job security, good pay, and long-term career opportunities. It is also one of the most rewarding careers for those who love working with their hands and building things.
If you are planning on pursuing a career as a carpenter, choosing a school that offers quality training programs is essential. The trade schools we listed above provide some of the best carpentry programs in the world.
So, if you are interested in becoming a carpenter, you can choose from any of the schools in this article to get started.
References
- tradecollege.org – Carpentry Best Value
- premiumschools.org – Best Schools For Becoming a Carpenter
- tradecollege.org – Best Carpentry Trade Schools
- ca.indeed.com – How To Become a Carpenter in 6 Steps
- faberconnect.com – How Long Will it Take to Become a Finish Carpenter?
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