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Foundation or apprenticeship? How to apply

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.

VIDEO SOURCE: WORKBC’S CAREER TREK

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.
Carpentry student nailing wood
Carpentry student marking wood with ruler and pencil
Carpentry student resting with hammer on shoulder

What makes TRU's program unique

  • Hands-on training experience building the award-winning TMCA 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)
How to apply
for this foundation program
SkilledTradesBC profile
for this trade
Job search
for this trade

Locations

Kamloops
Williams Lake

Next program intakes

Kamloops
Jul 7, 2025 to Feb 13, 2026
Available

Williams Lake
Jul 7, 2025 to Feb 13, 2026
Available

Program length

30 weeks

Contact

Kamloops Campus

tradesadmission@tru.ca

Williams Lake Campus

wladmissions@tru.ca

The Canadian Home Builders Association Central Interior (CHBACI) is proud to have partnered with TRU for the past 30 years on the Training House program. We have seen students come full circle from gaining valuable hands-on training opportunities working on this practical project outside of the classroom, to then joining as members of our association after graduation as licensed builders and looking to give back through sponsorship or the commitment of time towards the program. This dynamic partnership between CHBACI and TRU continues to provide an unparalleled educational experience and further grow and connect members of our association to our surrounding community.

—-Rose Choy
Executive Director, Canadian Home Builders Association Central Interior

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

 FromToLocationAvailability
(updated weekly)
Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 1November 4, 2024December 20, 2024KamloopsLimited Space
Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 3November 4, 2024December 20, 2024KamloopsAvailable
Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 2January 6, 2025February 21, 2025KamloopsWaitlist
Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 4January 6, 2025February 21, 2025KamloopsAvailable
Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 1February 24, 2025April 11, 2025KamloopsAvailable
Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 3February 24, 2025April 11, 2025KamloopsAvailable
Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 2April 14, 2025May 30, 2025KamloopsAvailable
Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 4April 14, 2025May 30, 2025KamloopsAvailable
Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 1September 15, 2025October 31, 2025KamloopsAvailable
Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 3September 15, 2025October 31, 2025KamloopsAvailable
Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 2November 3, 2025December 19, 2025KamloopsAvailable
Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 4November 3, 2025December 19, 2025KamloopsAvailable
Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 1January 5, 2026February 20, 2026KamloopsAvailable
Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 3January 5, 2026February 20, 2026KamloopsAvailable
Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 2February 23, 2026April 10, 2026KamloopsAvailable
Carpenter (Harmonized) - Level 4February 23, 2026April 10, 2026KamloopsAvailable
Submit your name
to the interest list for an apprenticeship course
Contact
apprenticeship@tru.ca

Costs 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.

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Foundation
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Apprenticeship
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.
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Contact us for more rates

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

firehall

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.