Pre-Apprentice Carpentry Trades Training - College of the RockiesJoinery Education in CanadaCarpentry and Woodworking Programs -- Community College Programs
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Pre-Apprentice Carpentry Trades Training - College of the Rockies The College of the Rockies' Pre-Apprentice Carpentry Trades Training is a 24-week program designed for students possessing 'some carpentry experience who wish to acquire a comprehensive set of skills and knowledge to seek entry level employment in the construction industry.' The Program may be of particular interest to those seeking an apprenticeship as it provides students not only with a way 'to market themselves to future employers' but also to obtain the skills required to become immediately productive on the job thus perhaps making it easier to be apprenticed. The Program will mimic the first year of the Carpentry Apprenticeship Program, including 'regular lectures, demonstrations, and practical hands-on training,' and will emphasis the knowledge and practical skills required to successfully pursue a career as a carpenter, especially in the construction industry. Among the major topics to be covered by the Program are building concrete formwork and frames for residential houses, identification and usage of materials, reading and interpreting blueprints, sketches, and specifications, safe work practices, and use and care of manual and power, shop and survey tools and equipment. Students who require assistance in developing their respective communication, computer, mathematics, and/or writing abilities may get help from the College's Learning Support Centre. Students who successfully complete the Program will be provided 9 weeks of 'paid work experience that will be monitored by the College' immediately following graduation. 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. The prospects for jobs in this field are positive as the construction industry is experiencing a boom and 'BC building permits' are increasing 'at double the national rate.' Individuals who aspire to advance their 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. Graduates of the Pre-Apprentice Carpentry Trades program may qualify for advanced credits towards the latter thus reducing the time needed to complete 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. Carpenters who earn journeyperson status may, after obtaining several years of experience beyond an apprenticeship, become educators, supervisors, and/or trainers of their trade. To be eligible for the Pre-Apprentice Carpentry Trades Training program, applicants must either have completed high school with a C grade or higher in English 11 and Principles or Applications of Math 11, or an ABE Advanced Certificate with English 080 and Math 080, or 'a College assessment to an acceptable level.' Interested students who still in high school but are part of the Industry Training Authority of British Columbia's ACE IT industry training program may also apply to the Pre-Apprentice Carpentry Trades Training program. Interested ACE-IT students should, however, contact their School's counseling office before submitted an application. Moreover, applicants with previous learning experience in carpentry or a relevant subject may receive 'prior learning credit;' such applicants should contact the Program's 'instructor for information' regarding this matter. Applicants should be aware that carpentry is a physically and mentally taxing trade and 'should be physically fit (mobility and lifting), have good manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination and balance, and be able to work at heights and in adverse weather' and should be ready to labour in environments that may pose some health risks such as from 'dust, fumes, noise, and vibration.'
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