The Carpentry program is part of the Building Construction cluster of programs. This program is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions as a carpenter building residential homes and commercial/industrial buildings.

Much of your time in the first year of the program is spent on theory as it relates to safety, tools and equipment that are used by a carpenter, related mathematics, rule reading, and hand tool/portable power tool projects.

The second year of the program, much of your time will be spent learning about footings and foundations, floor systems, and wall framing. You will learn to read blueprints, study specifications, and learn about the building code.

In the third year of the program, you will learn to layout buildings and determine grade using different layout devices (builders level, transit, etc.), rafter layout/roof framing, stair layout, and interior and exterior finishing. Estimating, purchasing, and time management procedures are also included.

Since mathematics plays such an important role in all phases of the construction industry, this program will include an extensive study of mathematics as it relates to this program.

The building of residential homes and industrial plants throughout the immediate area and the nation has expanded to opportunities for young people

to enter a field requiring high skills.  In this program, training covers the use of both hand and power tools.  Some of the elements of the course are as follows: joinery, bench and cabinet work, trade math, blueprint reading and sketching, layout foundations, rough framing, finishing (interior and exterior), and roof framing.  Estimating, purchasing and cost procedures are also included.

Occupational Profile: For information on this occupation’s description, required knowledge, job tasks and related job titles, state and national wages, and employment trends, visit the U.S. Dept. of Labor’s site for this career field at:      http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/47-2031.00