School of Trades and Technology Menu
Carpenter
As a carpenter you’ll build and repair residential, commercial and industrial buildings in accordance with local building codes. You’ll work with a variety of construction materials including wood, concrete, fasteners and engineered products, and use a wide array of hand and power tools.
Residential Construction — Carpenter Enhanced Program (Carpenter Level 1 and 2)
Learn the carpentry skills you need to start working in the field and prepare for apprenticeship in our Foundation program, where you’ll spend about 70 percent of your time doing hands-on practical work.
What you'll learn
- Learn to use hand tools, power tools and other specialty equipment used by carpenters.
- Gain familiarity working with carpentry building materials like lumber, panel products, concrete, roofing, fasteners and hardware.
- Learn to build numerous projects including stairs, concrete forms, and framing for floors, walls and roofs.
What makes TRU's program unique
- Hands-on training experience building the award-winning YMCA Dream Home Training House project in Kamloops, in partnership with the Canadian Home Builders Association Central Interior.
- Students have unique opportunities for experiential, on-site learning through hands-on training with local partners in Williams Lake, including the City of Williams Lake and the Williams Lake Fire Department.
- Learn from experienced Red Seal instructors in the classroom and on the job site.
- Benefit from industry connections and networking.
What you'll graduate with
- TRU Carpentry Foundation Certificate
- The in-school technical training required for Level 1 and 2 Apprenticeships
- 450 work-based hours towards Red Seal Certification
Program requirements
- High school graduation (or equivalent) or mature student status
- English 11 with a minimum grade of C (or equivalent)
- Math 11 with a minimum grade of C (any Math 11 or equivalent)
Carpenter
Apprenticeship is your path to Red Seal Certification. It provides carpentry certification through work-based on-the-job training and in-school technical training. Employers sponsor students for the work-based training and TRU offers the in-school technical training for levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 of your apprenticeship. Each level consists of seven weeks of on-campus training, and the Foundation program provides both the on-the-job and in-school training for levels 1 and 2. Once you’ve completed all four levels and the required work-based hours, you’ll receive a certification of qualification in carpentry and qualify to write the inter-provincial Red Seal Certification exam.
Program requirements
- Sponsored by an employer registered by SkilledTradesBC
- Must be in good physical health
Apprenticeship training dates
| From | To | Location | Availability (updated weekly) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 1 | September 15, 2025 | October 31, 2025 | Kamloops | Available |
| Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 2 | November 3, 2025 | December 19, 2025 | Kamloops | Available |
| Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 4 | November 3, 2025 | December 19, 2025 | Kamloops | Available |
| Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 1 | January 5, 2026 | February 20, 2026 | Kamloops | Available |
| Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 3 | January 19, 2026 | March 6, 2026 | Kamloops | Available |
| Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 2 | March 9, 2026 | April 24, 2026 | Kamloops | Available |
| Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 4 | March 9, 2026 | April 24, 2026 | Kamloops | Available |
to the interest list for an apprenticeship course
Contact
apprenticeship@tru.caCosts for Carpenter programs
Fees are are subject to change.
Costs include items such as student/ancillary fees, books, personal tools and safety gear, which are kept by students when they graduate from the program.
| Application fee | {{ formatPrice(all.applicationFee) }} |
| Accuplacer exam fee | {{ formatPrice(all.accuplacerFee) }} plus GST |
| Accuplacer rewrites | {{ formatPrice(all.accuplacerRewrite) }} plus GST |
| Parking (parking website) | {{ formatPrice(all.motorcycle) }} (pass) Motorcycle ${{ all.parking }} per day |
| Tuition | {{ formatPrice(rcon.tuition) }} |
| Student and lab fees | {{ formatPrice(rcon.fees) }} |
| Learning guides and/or textbooks | {{ formatPrice(rcon.books) }} |
| Health and Dental Plan | {{ formatPrice(rcon.healthDental) }} |
| Tools | {{ formatPrice(rcon.tools) }} |
| CSA work boots and clear safety glasses | {{ formatPrice(rcon.equipment) }} |
| Calculator, 3-ring binder, paper, pens, etc. | {{ formatPrice(all.supplies) }} |
| Total | {{ formatPrice(rconTotal) }} |
| The in-school technical training costs are based on the number of weeks you need, with each apprenticeship level requiring seven weeks. | |
| Carpentry apprentices must purchase the required textbooks and provincial competency manuals. Students must have a current copy of the BC Building Code. | |
| Seven weeks tuition and fees | {{ formatPrice(appr.seven) }} |
Kamloops
The Y Dream Home is a partnership between TRU and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Central Interior (CHBA CI). First year residential construction, electrical, and plumbing program students from the School of Trades and Technology get hands-on building experience on the training house, and sale of the house by the CHBA CI supports community initiatives.
Williams Lake
In addition to building the Carpentry Workshop at the Williams Lake campus, students have been involved in local home construction and have worked with the Williams Lake Fire Department to build a display building for the fully restored 1930s fire truck. In the near future, TRU looks forward to working with the Williams Lake Stampede Association to build a similar structure for one of the few original BX Stagecoaches in existence.
