Carpenter
Carpenter
Contact Us
Dana Gard-Sweeney
Trades Enrolment Specialist
780 853 8445
780 214 1257
Ask me your questions
Build. Renovate. Repair. Those three actions are what being a carpenter is all about.
Your training covers residential, commercial and institutional buildings. More specifically you’ll learn how to:
- read blueprints and/or get instructions from a supervisor/instructor
- select, measure, mark, cut and shape materials
- use nails, screws, bolts and or glue to join materials
- check completed units to be sure they are level, square, plumb, and the right size, shape and location
- follow national and provincial building codes and local bylaws
Your carpentry apprenticeship is 4 periods. Every period consists of 8 weeks of classroom instruction and a minimum of 1,560 hours of on-the-job training.
At Lakeland your main classroom is our carpentry labs.
Your journeyperson career could be as a generalist who works in residential, commercial or maintenance construction. You might choose to specialize in one type of work such as framing, bench work or finishing work.
Requirements
More program details
2026-27 Domestic
| Period | Tuition and program fees | Estimated books and supplies | Mandatory fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,168 | $502.05 | $224.25 |
| 2 | $1,168 | $346.55 | $224.25 |
| 3 | $1,168 | $422.80 | $224.25 |
| 4 | $1,168 | $373.60 | $224.25 |
Our tuition and fees page has details about academic, application and mandatory fees and their cost breakdown per term.
The following tables summarizes the topics/skills for each 240-hour technical training periods.
For complete details, check the carpenter course outline, or check on Tradesecrets, the Alberta government's Apprentice & Industry Training branch website.
| Subject |
Hours |
|---|---|
| Safety | 11 |
| Building materials | 9 |
| Hand and power tools | 83 |
| Site preparation and building layout | 5 |
| Foundation | 48 |
| Floor frame | 20 |
| Estimating and plans | 64 |
| Subject |
Hours |
| Frame structure | 40 |
| Residential roofs | 60 |
| Interior and exterior finishes | 43 |
| Wood stains | 31 |
| Estimating and plans | 64 |
| Subject |
Hours |
|---|---|
| Safety | 6 |
| Concrete | 13 |
| Building layout | 26 |
| Commercial framework | 73 |
| Commercial interiors and timber construction | 58 |
| Estimating and plans | 64 |
| Subject |
Hours |
|---|---|
| Workplace organization and safety | 10 |
| Interior finishes | 75 |
| Exterior finishes | 8 |
| Roof frame and stairs | 55 |
| Building design and renovations | 10 |
| Energy efficiency and building science | 18 |
| Estimating plans | 64 |
To see what day registration opens in May, check the 2026-2027 schedule on MyTradeSecrets.
See intake schedules for all apprenticeship intakes at Lakeland College.
To see other important dates such as when the college is closed, visit the academic year and term date page.
| Training period | Start and end dates |
|---|---|
| 1st period |
|
| 2nd period |
|
| 3rd period |
|
| 4th period |
|
Refund/withdrawal policy
Full refund of fees less $100 if you withdraw up to 5 business days prior to the first day of class. No exceptions.
All required items are available at 1913 at Lakeland (campus store) and your department shop.
Don't purchase tool list items until after meeting your program instructor in the first class. If you already own some of the items, bring them with you.
Classes start immediately after orientation, so be prepared to start your studies on orientation day. Bring binders, pens and pencils with you, or purchase them on registration day.
Required supplies
- two 3-ring binders (3 - 4"; letter size)
- highlighters, pens, pencils, loose leaf paper
- metric hand tape measure
- cabinet scraper
- Casio FX-260 solar calculator
- one padlock (for locker)
- safety footwear (CSA approved; steel toe and shank)
- safety glasses (CSA approved; non-tinted)
Note: all of the above supplies (excluding footwear) are available at the Lakeland College carpentry shop and store.
If you have any questions, please:
- email apprenticeship@lakelandcollege.ca
- call 780 853 8500
Your journeyperson ticket can be a starting point, not an end point of your carpentry skills.
- You may take specific professional development courses offered by the dealership or business where you work.
- Take a second or third trade. For example, you might want to specialize in cabinet maker or roofer. Check the Tradesecret's trades and occupation list.
New credential
Alberta's new Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act is adding another credential for successful journeypersons. Certificates through advanced diplomas will be granted based on the number of credits in the particular trade. One apprenticeship credit is equal to 300 on-the-jobs hours or 15 classroom hours. Your credential helps employers recognize your level of education as well as help you if you pursue further education.
Carpenters receive an advanced diploma.
Red Seal
The Red Seal is a national designation. You earn it by passing an interprovincial exam. That means you can work anywhere in Canada with your Red Seal Endorsement (RSE). Currently not all trades have a red seal standard.
The Red Seal Program was created in 1952. It encourages the standardization of apprenticeship training and certification programs across Canada. A national occupational analysis of each of the 56 Red Seal trade is used as a base document for inter provincial exams and is encouraged for use in curriculum development. The Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) administers the program.
Explore the Red Seal trades in Alberta. For more information, check the Red Seal Website.
Lakeland also offers prep courses for Red Seal exams for anyone who hasn’t achieved their Red Seal seal status. See our trades continuing education.
Blue Seal
The Blue Seal is an Alberta program through the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board. It’s earned by taking approved business studies. Now a separate certificate, the program also has a new name: Achievement in Business Competencies (Blue Seal).
Complete details are available on the Blue Seal website.
If you have a valid Alberta Journeyperson Certificate, you are eligible to receive a Blue Seal after completing 150 hours of study in an approved business program. You can choose courses at Lakeland College.
Lakeland offers you the ability to take both online and face-to-face business courses. Take courses in our 1-year general business certificate. You'll need at least 4 courses to reach the minimum 150 hours to earn a Blue Seal. If you have the academic requirements, you could earn the certificate.
Please contact our business enrolment specialist for information about how to apply for courses.
