Carpentry Degrees

Carpentry programs are designed to teach students the skills they’ll need to become adept at working with wood in a variety of settings from construction
to furniture-making. Generally, carpentry programs require both in class work and hands-on training in
an apprenticeship with an experienced carpenter. These programs generally take 3-4 years to complete but can open up a wealth of career and job advancement opportunities. The combination of
these two types of training can help future carpenters learn how to do everything from assist in building a highway to putting in custom kitchen cabinets in a home. Carpentry degree programs will help students gain a broad education or specialize in one particular type of work they find themselves most interested in, whether it is on a large or small scale. Because the vast majority of training is done in an apprenticeship, students have a lot of room to customize their degree and make it fit their own personal interests and career goals.

Most carpentry programs culminate in an Associate’s Degree, though this degree is usually combined with some kind of apprenticeship training in order to prepare the student to work on his or her own in the field. In addition to the basic degree, students can gain special certification in things like building scaffolds and pump work that will enable them to more easily find work and advance in their field. During their in class training, students will often take courses like Safety and First Aid, Blueprint Reading, Freehand Sketching, Mathematics and Carpentry Techniques. These courses will be coupled with on-site teaching that will enable the student to use the skills used in them to apply to real-life situations and problems. On-site training can include instruction in tool use, basic framing, finishing work and the basic business skills of the job. Students who have completed both the in-class and on-site training in carpentry should be prepared to take on most jobs found within the field.

Those working as carpenters can find work with construction companies, specialty contractors, manufacturing, government agencies, and many own their own businesses working in construction or retail. Job prospects in these fields should be steady, though those with additional training and who have garnered some good experience in the field should have the easiest time finding a job even in a tough economy. While there are often slow seasons for those in the field, in general carpentry should be a relatively stable job opportunity, especially for those with a broad skill base. As businesses, roads, schools and homes need building and remodeling, carpenters will be needed in the coming years. Students looking for the greatest numbers of job opportunities should consider areas of the country experiencing the biggest growth surges.