Available Intakes
Overview
Learn to construct, renovate, erect and repair buildings and other structures made of wood, wood substitutes, steel and other materials.
If you enjoy working with your hands, have a desire to hone your expertise in woodcraft and watching a concept come into reality, you'll enjoy working as a carpenter.
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, panelling, moulding and ceiling tiles. You may work with renovations where you will repair and remodel existing structures.
In commercial or industrial work, you will build concrete forms, scaffolding, bridges, trestles, tunnels, shelters, towers and other types of structures.
This is a non-compulsory trade – individuals can work in the trade without certification if the employer deems the individual to have the skills of a journeyperson. However, individuals who are working in the trade and learning the trade must become a registered apprentice.
Is this the right fit for me?
Students who have the following characteristics see greater success in the carpentry trade:
- good verbal and written communication skills
- good computer literacy
- ability to solve arithmetic problems quickly and accurately
- collaborative and adaptable to a team environment
- ability to stand, crouch and kneel for long periods of time
- manual dexterity
- balance for working on scaffolding and proper lifting techniques
- a 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
Start your career by finding an employer who is willing to indenture you as an apprentice or gain experience with our Pre-Employment Carpenter program. 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 per year*
- Period 1: $1,263
- Period 2: $1,263
- Period 3: $1,263
- Period 4: $1,263
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change
Requirements
Entrance requirements for all apprenticeship programs are set by Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
When can you apply?
Registration for the 2022/23 academic year opens May 10, 2022.
| Period | Start date | End date |
|---|---|---|
| 1, 2, 3 or 4 | Aug. 29, 2022 | Oct. 21, 2022 |
| 1, 2, 3, or 4 | Oct. 24, 2022 | Dec. 16, 2022 |
| 1, 2, 3 or 4 | Jan. 3, 2023 | Feb. 24, 2023 |
| 1, 2, 3 or 4 | Feb. 27, 2023 | April 21, 2023 |
| 1, 2, 3 or 4 | May 1, 2023 | June 23, 2023 |
EmPOWER program trials tech for training women in the trades
Unique women in the trades training program showcases emerging technologies to latest cohort.
Admission and completion
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
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 4 years (four 12-month periods), including a minimum of 1560 hours of on-the-job training and 8 weeks of apprenticeship education each year.
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 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.
