Woodworking Technology (Co-op) - Conestoga College of Applied Arts and TechnologyWoodworking Education in CanadaCarpentry and Woodworking Programs -- Community College Programs
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Woodworking Technology (Co-op) - Conestoga College of Applied Arts and Technology The Conestoga College of Applied Arts and Technology's unique Woodworking Technology (Co-op) is a 3-year Ontario College Advanced Diploma Program providing students with the 'theoretical and applied knowledge of the technology and skills involved in the efficient and quality-conscious manufacture of furniture, cabinets and architectural millwork.' The first 2 years of the program will emphasize practical shop skills including how to set-up and operate 'wood working machinery and equipment' and how to breakout 'lumber and panel components,' laminate, veneer, machine, sand, assemble, finish, and install. Students will also be exposed to industrial engineering and production management concepts and technology including computer drafting and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining. In the Program's third year students will 'learn to understand and apply' computer integrated manufacturing, computer-aided drafting (CAD), cost estimating, manufacturing management techniques, materials handling, methods analysis, NC program processing , plant layout/support systems, quality control, woodworking industry-related computer applications, and work measurement. The Program also features co-operative learning comprised of 'six academic terms in college and three work terms in the woodworking industry' which may require students 'to relocate or commute.' Students must achieve a minimum academic average of 75 percent in Level One of the Program in order to advance to the next level. Woodworkers are most often employed indoors in various aspects of the construction, wood, and wood products manufacturing industries. Employers of cabinetmakers may include, for example, by companies, contractors, custom or repair shops, hardware stores, interior designers, lumber yards, manufacturers, and/or private individuals. Some woodworkers may pursue self employment options. Among the numerous areas in which woodworkers may work include design operations, designing, installing, and/or manufacturing wooden cabinets, furniture, and various fixtures, interior finishing and design, repair, restoration, renovation, and/or sales. Woodworkers can work up to 40 hours per week or more, depending upon demand for their services and products, and it is not unusual for them to labour in a shop environment in which they are exposed to high levels of noise, various dust particles, and chemicals, especially from paint. Individuals who aspire to advance their careers in woodworking 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.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. Woodworkers 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 Woodworking Technology program, applicants must have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or be 19 years of age or over. Applicants must also have successfully completed 'Grade 12 compulsory English, C or U, or equivalent' or 'Conestoga College Preparatory Communications (COMM1270)' and 'Grade 12 Mathematics, C or U, or equivalent' or 'Conestoga College Preparatory Mathematics for Trades (MATH1420).' Applicants may also be required to undergo English and/or Mathematics testing. The College strongly advises that prospective students attain basic computer literacy and/or technical drafting and/or laboratory/shop experience before entering the Program and 'attend an information session to confirm program choice.' The College's admission procedure determines one's academic strength by calculating 'all submitted senior level secondary school marks or test results (or equivalent) of the required subjects' with an additional 20 marks 'to each advanced level, OAC, U, U/C, or post-secondary course used in the calculation of the academic strength.' Applicants possessing 'significant life and work experience' may be eligible for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (P.L.A.R.) credits; for details. such individuals are advised to contact the Information Centre at 519-748-5220 ext. 3656.
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