Carpentry apprentices are people who are hired by carpenters or construction companies, sometimes for pay and sometimes not, to learn the skills and techniques necessary to become a full-time carpenter. These carpentry apprentices are hired to be students, essentially, and to help out with other tasks that will help the job get completed more smoothly and quickly. The specific duties of the apprentices can vary drastically depending on who has hired them and for what jobs, though it is likely that the apprentice will do several of the jobs the carpenter would otherwise do.
While under the supervision of an experienced carpenter, carpentry apprentices may end up using any number of the common woodworking tools used on job sites or they may end up simply watching the carpenter do some of these jobs as well until they are experienced enough to tackle the jobs on their own. When the carpentry apprentices first begin their apprenticeships, it is likely that they will be tasked with simpler jobs that require little or no skill, such as bracing boards to be cut, setting up equipment, loading and unloading tools from a truck or trailer, and so on. As the apprentices learn more skills, they will often be given more complex tasks.
Some countries or regions have outlined specific requirements and guidelines for apprenticeships, and carpentry apprentices must meet these guidelines in order to be considered a professional carpenter. The timeline is usually dictated for the apprenticeship process, and the candidate may have to spend several months or years under the tutelage of a full-time carpenter. The requirements may also vary according to what type of carpentry the candidate is pursuing; cabinet makers, for example, may need to spend a significant amount of time learning skills specific to this trade, while general carpenters will need to learn about many types of woodworking skills and will probably take a longer apprenticeship period.
No formal education is necessary to take part in such a process, though a high school education is usually preferred. Candidates can begin preparations for an apprenticeship while they are in high school by taking shop classes and possibly even securing employment with a carpenter or construction company. Once the candidate is of legal age, he or she can be hired and can participate in the training program set forth by the company or regional authority governing the requirements for such a position.
