Advanced Woodworking and Furniture Design - Northern Alberta Institute of TechnologyWoodworking Education in CanadaCarpentry and Woodworking Programs -- Community College Programs
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Advanced Woodworking and Furniture Design - Northern Alberta Institute of Technology The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology's 1-year Advanced Woodworking and Furniture Design certificate program is primarily designed for 'individuals who are innovative, self-motivated, and have a background in woodworking or design.' The Program combines theoretical and practical training to develop students' woodworking knowledge and skills. Among the major topics to be covered are contemporary machining and drafting methods, design, drafting, and the history of furniture and woodworking techniques. Students will spend at least 15 scheduled hours per week in shops, which are 'are equipped with traditional workbenches as well as state-of-the-art equipment and facilities,' working on various projects such as 'a chest, chair and an independent creative project.' Students will have the opportunity to have their creations 'shown at the Alberta Craft Council' allowing them to gain exposure and marketing experience. Moreover, students will be exposed 'to a diverse range of woodworking environments' and enabled to 'begin to develop a network with other woodworkers' via field trips to such places as furniture manufacturing shops and millwork and production facilities. Woodworkers are most often employed indoors in various aspects of the construction, wood, and wood products manufacturing industries. Employers of woodworkers 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 cabinetmaking 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 graduate of the Advanced Woodworking and Furniture Design certificate may qualify for advanced credits towards 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, 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 Advanced Woodworking and Furniture Design program, applicants must have an 'Alberta High School Diploma including Math 33, or equivalent,' and 'a Millwork & Carpentry certificate, or equivalent (minimum 1 year of woodworking experience).' Applicants who are 21 years of age or over and do not meet the aforementioned pre-requisites may still 'be considered if they can demonstrate comparable work or life experience.' Each applicant must also submit a portfolio that should indicates his/her 'level of design and/or woodworking proficiency' and attend an interview whose purpose is to asses his/her 'suitability for the program and to determine' his/her 'potential for fulfilling the program objectives.' Interviews may be conducted by telephone if the applicant cannot attend in person due to distance. The Institute recommends that applicants posses 'knowledge of, or interest in, furniture history and design.' Applicants who have relevant work experience or education may be eligible for advanced credit/transfer credit.. To determine if they may attain the latter, such applicants should contact the Program Head Coordinator. International applicants who originate from 'a country where English (or French?) is not the official language will be required to complete a TOEFL exam or equivalent prior to their acceptance to the program.' Furthermore, international applicants 'must have their marks converted to an Alberta standard. For more information' and must provide proof that they are able 'to maintain themselves financially for the period of study (fees and living expenses).'
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