Available Intakes
Overview
Learn to construct, renovate, erect and repair buildings and other structures made of wood, wood substitutes, steel and other materials.
You'll work in residential, commercial or industrial jobs reading drawings or getting instructions before doing layout, materials selection, planning sequences and methods of work. You'll measure and mark materials before cutting and shaping materials, join your materials with nails, screws, bolts or glue and check to make sure your work is level, square, plumb and the right size, shape and location.
In residential work, you will crib basements, build house frameworks, walls, roofs, exterior and interior finishes as well as install doors, windows, flooring, cabinets, stairs, handrails, paneling and moulding. You may work with renovations where you will repair and remodel existing structures.
In commercial or industrial work, you will assemble concrete forms, erect scaffolding, build bridges, trestles, tunnels, shelters, towers and other types of structures.
Is this the right fit for me?
Carpenters are skilled tradespeople who are self-motivated and enjoy working collaboratively with others. This line of work is most fulfilling for those who enjoy working with their hands and in various environments.
To thrive in this career, it is important to have the following traits:
- be creative and have the ability to come up with unique solutions
- have strong problem-solving skills
- possess good verbal and written communication skills
- be proficient in using computers
- have the ability to quickly and accurately solve arithmetic problems
- be collaborative and adaptable to a team environment
- be physically capable of standing, crouching, and kneeling for extended periods of time
- possess good manual dexterity and balance for working on scaffolding and using proper lifting techniques
- have a strong commitment to safe work habits
Credentials
Upon successfully completing the required working hours and apprenticeship education periods, graduates will be awarded journeyperson status by Alberta's Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Carpentry is a Red Seal Endorsed trade –a recognizable standard that allows tradespeople to work across Canada.
Career opportunities
As a Carpenter, you will work both indoors and outdoors depending on the job or project. You may work alone or as a team and will often work alongside other industries within construction. You will work with power tools, computers and blueprints.
After becoming a journeyperson, you may advance to supervisory positions including foreman, subcontractor, and construction superintendent. Some journeypersons go on to run their own businesses – we can help you build your business with our Blue Seal business certificate.
Tuition and fees 2023/24
- Period 1: $1,375
- Period 2: $1,375
- Period 3: $1,375
- Period 4: $1,375
Requirements
Entrance requirements for all apprenticeship programs are set by Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
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Admission requirements
To enter an apprenticeship, you must have the educational qualifications required or recommended education for the trade to which you apply.
Entrance requirements are monitored and set by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Minimum requirements
Successful completion of the following courses:
- English 10-2
- Math 10-3
OR
A pass mark in all five Canadian General Educational Development (GED) tests
OR
Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Entrance Exam
Recommended path
Apprentices with an Alberta High School Diploma that includes the following courses:
- English 30-2
- Math 30-3
- Physics 20 OR Chemistry 20 OR Science 20
- Related career and technology studies (CTS) courses
When do classes start?
Registration for the 2023/24 academic year opens May 9, 2023.
| Period | Start date | End date |
|---|---|---|
| 1, 2, 3 or 4 | Aug. 29, 2023 | Oct. 20, 2023 |
| 1, 2, 3, or 4 | Oct. 23, 2023 | Dec. 15, 2023 |
| 1, 2, 3 or 4 | Jan. 2, 2024 | Feb. 23, 2024 |
| 1, 2, 3 or 4 | Feb. 26, 2024 | April 19, 2024 |
| 1, 2, 3 or 4 | April 29, 2024 | June 21, 2024 |
How to register
Registration for apprenticeship education is run through Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training. Learn how you can register for your next intake.
Apprenticeship and Industry Training Client Services
1.800.248.4823
tradesecrets.alberta.ca
Suite 200 Willow Park Centre
10325 Bonaventure DR. SE
Calgary, AB
After you register
Email is the primary source of communication after you have registered for your intake. Please ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.
Training
The term for apprenticeship for a carpenter is four years (four 12-month periods), including a minimum of 1560 hours of on-the-job training and eight weeks of apprenticeship education each year.
You will start by learning standard workplace safety and building materials. You will then learn tools, site preparation, building layouts, foundations and floor frame systems as well as residential drawing and interpretation.
You will then learn frame structures, wood frame roofs, interior and exterior finishes, wood stairs as well as light commercial estimating and drawing interpretations.
You will then learn concrete and building layouts, commercial form work, commercial interiors and exteriors as well as commercial estimating and drawing interpretations.
You will learn workplace organization, interior finishes, advanced roof framing and stairs, renovations, building design, energy efficiency, building science as well as industrial estimating and drawing interpretations.
Apprenticeship education performance
To be successful in apprenticeship education, an apprentice must pass each section of the course and pass the AIT exam. The passing grade for each section in the course is a 65%. A passing mark on each provincial exam and the interprovincial qualification (or Red Seal Exam) is 70%.
Costs 2022/23
Tuition and fees*
| Period | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $960 | $231 | $72 | $1,263 |
| 2 | $960 | $231 | $72 | $1,263 |
| 3 | $960 | $231 | $72 | $1,263 |
| 4 | $960 | $231 | $72 | $1,263 |
SAIT fees
Campus recreation fee: $49
Lab and material fee: $82
Student support fee: $50
Student technology fee: $50
Books and supplies*
- Books or modules along with other items for class average out to $600 per period.
- It is recommended that you do not purchase books or modules ahead of time as they might be outdated by the time you attend classes and they cannot be returned to the bookstore.
- Personal Protective Equipment will be required for the program, which may be an additional cost to apprentices.
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
Costs 2023/24
Tuition and fees*
The following costs are effective as of July 1, 2023.
| Period | Number of weeks | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | $1,056 | $247 | $72 | $1,375 |
| 2 | 8 | $1,056 | $247 | $72 | $1,375 |
| 3 | 8 | $1,056 | $247 | $72 | $1,375 |
| 4 | 8 | $1,056 | $247 | $72 | $1,375 |
Fees breakdown
| SAIT fees | Cost per period |
|---|---|
| Lab and materials fee | $90 |
| Student support fee | $52.75 |
| Student technology fee | $52.75 |
| Campus recreation fee | $51.50 |
| Total | $247 |
Saitsa fee per week: $9
Learn more about what your fees are for
Books and supplies*
- Books or modules along with other items for class average out to $600 per period.
- It is recommended that you do not purchase books or modules ahead of time as they might be outdated by the time you attend classes and they cannot be returned to the bookstore.
- Personal protective equipment will be required for the program, which may be an additional cost to apprentices.
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
