Carpenter - Entry - College of the North AtlanticCarpentry Education in CanadaCarpentry and Woodworking Programs -- Community College Programs
PROGRAM WEBSITE
Carpenter - Entry - College of the North Atlantic The College of the North Atlantic's 1-year Carpenter - Entry program, delivered at the Clarenville and Happy Valley-Goose Bay campuses, is designed to introduce students to carpentry and is targeted at individuals who aspire to a career and/or further training in the trade. Among the major topics covered by the Program are building layout, energy efficient concepts, frame and form construction, interior and exterior finishes, operating and caring for basic tools and machinery, and the National Building Code standards. The primary objectives of the Program are to instill within students the rudimentary knowledge and 'initial practical skills required as a carpenter in apprentice' including the responsible attitude, safety habits, 'problem solving skills and high standards of craftsmanship' required by the trade enabling graduates to further their apprenticeship training. Carpenters are most often employed in the construction industry working on various commercial/industrial, maintenance, and/or residential projects. Common employers include construction companies, furniture and cabinet manufacturers, general contractors, and residential and ICI sectors. Some carpenters may prefer to become self-employed and/or establish their own companies. The precise work a carpenter performs on any given project is determined by the specific requirements of that project. Some carpenters, though, specialize in one or a limited number of tasks demanded of their craft. For example, some carpenters may focus on basement cribbing, exterior and/or interior finishing, flooring, form and/or frame construction, or stair construction, among others. Generally carpenters, to succeed in most jobs, will need to be able to develop and/or read blueprints, envision finished projects, select, measure, cut, and shape materials, install finished units, and check completed forms and structures to ensure that everything is properly installed, shaped, etc. Carpenters will also need to be proficient in mathematics, especially in geometry and trigonometry, and be able to estimate project costs and make calculations, often mentally, quickly and accurately. Moreover, carpenters will generally need knowledge of building regulations, building and framing procedures, and properties of a multitude of materials. Physically, carpenters will usually have to be able to balance on scaffolds, crouch, kneel, and stand for prolonged periods of time, have manual dexterity and mental nimbleness, and lift in excess of 25 kilograms. The working conditions a carpenter faces will vary from job to job, and he/she may work indoors and/or outdoors. Usually, carpenters working mostly indoors are employed year-round, 40 hours per week while those employed primarily outdoors often work overtime during peak construction times and face periods of unemployment, especially during certain seasons like Winter. Some carpentry jobs will present risks for personal injuries, particularly from things like falling or flying objects, power equipment, sharp tools and materials, and slippery surfaces, among others. Individuals who aspire to advance their respective careers in carpentry may be interested in pursuing further educational opportunities to refine and enhance their abilities, particularly via an apprenticeship. The latter is a method of learning a trade through a combination of periods of in-class, technical/theoretical education and periods of paid, on-the-job training. During the latter portions of an apprenticeship, the student (apprentice) will work under the direction of a certified, journeyperson member of the trade one is learning for a specified amount of time. A journeyperson is an individual who has earned the standards of practice of his/her trade, typically via the completion of an apprenticeship. The advantage of completing an apprenticeship is not only that one acquires in-depth knowledge and skills in a trade but also that, within the latter, one's career opportunities and salary potential are normally increased. Furthermore, once an individual has obtained journeyperson status, he/she may be eligible to have his/her certification as such endorsed by the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program (Red Seal). The latter enables the journeyperson to practice his/her trade throughout Canada, provided the trade is designated in that locale, without undergoing further examinations. Moreover, persons who obtain journeyperson status may, after accruing several years of work experience, become supervisors, trainers, and/or educators of their respective trades. To be eligible for the College's Carpenter - Entry program will need either a secondary school diploma, or equivalent, Grade XI Certificate (Public Examinations or equivalent), Adult Basic Education graduation certificate, or Comprehensive Arts and Science Certificate (College Transition program). Applicants who do not meet any of the aforementioned pre-requisites but who are at least 19 years of age may apply under mature student status. Those applying under the latter will be considered on a case by case basis.
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