
CARPENTRY
CONSTRUCTION
Job Corps offers a basic Carpentry program, a Carpentry Trainee, Apprentice program through Home Builders Institute (HBI), and a Carpentry, Pre-Apprentice program through United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA). All training programs are hands-on and are similar in curriculum and requirements.
Career Details
Skills
Students in Carpentry are trained in the following subject areas:
- Constructing, installing, and repairing structures and fixtures of wood, plywood, and wallboard
- Measuring materials or distances to lay out work
- Properly using hand and power tools to shape or cut materials to specified measurements
- Building rough wooden structures such as concrete forms, scaffolds, and temporary frame shelters according to sketches, blueprints, or oral instructions
- Following established safety rules and regulations and maintaining a safe and clean environment
Requirements
Before entering the program, students must:
- Complete the core curriculum with passing scores on all written and performance tests.
- Have strong math and reading skills.
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Credentials
As a Job Corps student, you will have the opportunity to earn credentials in your training area that may lead to greater employment opportunities, higher wages, and promotions.
Students who complete a center-based program in the Construction training area can earn nationally recognized credentials from organizations such as:
- National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)
Students training in union-affiliated programs can earn a certificate of completion that offers apprenticeship opportunities and on-the-job experience from organizations such as:
- United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC)
- International Masonry Institute (IMI)
- International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)
- The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT)
- National Plastering Industry Joint Apprenticeship Trust Fund (NPIJATF)
Carpentry Numbers to Know
$35K
National average earning potential for this career
18+
Months to complete career training program
Expectations
While on the job, you will be expected to display the following traits at all times:
Attention to detail
Dependability
Integrity
Organizational skills
Physical strength
Problem-solving skills
Training Facilities

