Carpentry

A carpenter performs all work in connection with the assembly and erection of falsework and forms for concrete, wood and metal frame construction and installs interior and exterior finishing metals for residential, commercial, and industrial projects while conforming to plans and specifications and local building codes. Other trade skills include layout, rigging/signaling, cutting/welding and the erection and dismantling of scaffolding. The apprenticeship process requires time spent on the job supplemented by in school training. A carpentry apprentice must complete a four-year program including 6360 workplace hours and 840 in-school hours of training completed in four levels of training, each for seven weeks. After completion and achievement of a passing grade, the apprentice will hold the B.C. Certificate of Apprenticeship, B.C. Certificate of Qualification, and the Interprovincial Standard Endorsement also known as Red Seal. View a career video. Check the Apprenticeship Training Schedules to see available training dates.

Harmonized Carpentry Apprenticeship

New Carpenter Apprentices starting the program after April 2017 will be required to complete their levels in the harmonized program. Harmonized apprentice levels will be regularly scheduled as follows:

• Level 1 intakes offered after April 1, 2017
• Level 2 intakes offered after April 1, 2018
• Level 3 intakes offered after April 1, 2019
• Level 4 intakes offered after April 1, 2020

Current Carpentry Apprentices will have the following options to complete their training: Option 1: Complete the current program Apprentices that began their training prior to April 2017 are encouraged to complete each level of training in their current stream as follows:

• Level 2 – no longer offered
• Level 3 – by March 2021
• Level 4 – no longer offered

If you try to register for and the level is unavailable please ask the Apprentice Services Customer Service Representative to add your contact information to the interests list to be notified when additional intakes become available. Option 2: Transition from the current stream to the harmonized stream Current apprentices that need to transition to the new program will need to complete GAP training in order to enter the new stream. Additional training is required to address the gaps in program content as follows:

• Transition from current Level 1 to harmonized Level 2 Gap training consisting of 30 hours of missing content is required
• Transition from current Level 2 to harmonized Level 3 No transition is allowed.
• Transition from current Level 3 to harmonized Level 4 Gap training consisting of 30 hours of missing content is required

Option 3: Challenge the level exam and transition into the new harmonized program There is an option to challenge the level exam and transition into the new program. The individuals that wish to challenge the exam must complete the Carpenter Challenge Application and submit it to the ITA. Prior to approval, proof of workplace hours and scope of experience will assessed.