United Brotherhood of Carpenters

Why Apprenticeship?

There are many ways to learn something. You can learn by going to school, or you can learn by experience. Apprenticeship is a combination of both in-school and on-the-job training. You learn a skilled trade by working in the trade and by taking short technical training courses.

During an apprenticeship, you have the opportunity to "earn while you learn"; that is, you earn a wage while learning your trade.

After an apprenticeship, you will have the knowledge and skills that meet trade standards and be eligible for certification as a journeyperson. A journeyperson has a considerable advantage in securing lasting employment in the trade.

Apprentice to be a Carpenter
Apprentice to be a Dry Wall and Acoustic Mechanic

Carpenter - Trade Information

The Trade

The carpenter trade plays an important role in the commercial and residential construction industry. Carpenters are involved in all stages of building construction from the initial forms and framework to the interior and exterior finishing.

In residential construction projects, the tasks of a carpenter would include the following:

a) building foundations;

b) installing floor beams;

c) erecting exterior and interior walls;

d) building the roof system;

e) installing doors and windows;

f) installing interior cabinets and trim.

For commercial buildings, a carpenters duties would include building and installing the following:

a) footing, wall and beam forms;

b) structural timber frames;

c) platforms and forms for concrete structures;

d) interior finish.

Although a carpenter works mainly with wood, she/he also uses metal, plastic and other building materials.

Entrance Requirements

To be an apprenticeship carpenter, you must be at least sixteen years of age, have grade ten or equivalent standing and be working in the trade. Persons not meeting educational requirements may apply to the Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission, Saskatchewan Advanced Education and Manpower, to write an entrance examination.

How Do You Enter the Apprenticeship Program?

To enter an apprenticeship program, you must find an employer who will hire you and is able to participate in the program. The employer must be a journeyperson in the trade (or employ a journeyperson to supervise), and be able to provide training in all aspects of the trade. Or, as a member of the union you would be able to become an indentured apprentice through our Joint Training Committee.

Next, you must complete an application and an apprenticeship contract, and submit these with an application fee to the branch for approval and registration.

Term of Apprenticeship

The term of apprenticeship for the carpenter trade consists of four, twelve-month periods of not less than eighteen-hundred hours combined in-school training and on-the-job training. Advanced standing may be granted if the apprentice has previous training or work experience.

Technical Training

During an apprenticeship, you will attend periods of in-school training for instruction in subjects related to your trade. Because of joint funding from the provincial and federal governments you will not pay tuition fees, and all books and texts will be supplied.

The branch will notify you as to when and where the training will be held. The technical training will include theoretical and practical instruction and you must attend and successfully complete all of the courses.

Technical Training Allowances

While training, you may qualify for unemployment insurance benefits or a training allowance paid by the Canada Employment and Immigration Commission. The amount will depend on several factors, such as whether or not you are married or have dependants and whether you must live away from home to attend training. More detailed information is available from your local Canada Employment Centre.

On-the-Job Training

An important part of apprenticeship involves putting to use what you learn in school. In signing the apprenticeship contract, your employer agrees to give you the opportunity to work and gain experience in the trade. As an apprentice, you work under a qualified
journeyman to complete a certain number of hours of on-the-job training each apprenticeship year. By observation and practice, you become familiar with the principles, skills, tools, and materials of the trade.

Wages

Apprentices, as employees, receive rates of pay and pay increases based on experience in the trade. An hourly wage is paid which increases each half apprenticeship year. You will be paid a percentage of a current journeyperson’s wage ranging from forty percent to ninety percent, and you will never receive less than a minimum wage.

Where wage rates for apprentices are established in a collective bargaining agreement, those rates will apply.

Certification

Upon completion of your final apprenticeship year, you are eligible to write the Interprovincial Standards Examination and become a certified journeyperson.

A pass mark in the Interprovincial Standards Examination is identified by the placement of a red seal on your Journeyperson Certificate of Qualification. This seal signifies that you have acceptable qualifications in provinces where the carpenter trade is designated.

Also, once you complete your apprenticeship and pass the journeyman trade examination, you will be eligible for a Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship. Many employers prefer to hire journeypersons who have completed an apprenticeship program to learn the trade. This is because an apprenticeship program gives you both knowledge and experience in all aspects of the trade. Therefore, this certificate is valuable because it proves you have successfully completed the technical and on-the-job training.

What is the Next Step?

Now that you have been introduced to the idea of apprenticeship training, you might be interested in entering an apprenticeship program in the carpenter trade. A good way to learn about a trade may be to visit a job site to observe a tradesman actually at work.

For more information about apprenticeship training in the carpenter trade, contact:

Saskatchewan Advanced Education and Manpower

Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission

2140 Hamilton Street
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 3V7
Telephone: (306) 787-2444
Email: apprenticeship@sasked.gov.sk.ca

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Dry Wall and Acoustic Mechanic - Trade Information

The Trade

Dry wall and Acoustical Mechanics measure, cut and install drywall sheets. They also install specialized ceilings. During the term of employment an apprentice should be exposed to the following;
· Demonstrate safe work practices and techniques
· Prepares and sets up the worksite
· Lays out walls and ceilings
· Installs exterior/interior steel studs
· Installs vapour barrier and thermal and sound insulation
· Installs drywall
· Finishes tape on drywall
· Encloses ducts, elevator shafts and stairwells
· Installs drywall ceilings
· Installs metal lath ceilings
· Installs mechanical ceilings
· Installs specialty ceilings
· Installs access flooring systems
· Build and install exterior prefabricated wall panels
· Erects demountable partition systems
· Builds fabric walls
· Builds sound baffling
· Installs lead shielding
· Prepares base for exterior acrylic finish systems
· Installs accessories

Entrance Requirements for Apprenticeship Training

Individuals must be working at the trade and at present time acquired a minimum of a Saskatchewan grade 10 or equivalent approved by the Director of Apprenticeship and trade certification. In the near future, a mandatory entrance examination will replace grade requirements.

Training Information

It requires four years, including a total of 1500 hours of technical training and on-the-job training each year, for an apprentice to complete training in this trade.

The three levels of technical training are:
First year 8 weeks
Second year 6 weeks
Third year 8 weeks

Currently training is delivered by NAIT in Edmonton, Alberta and SAIT in Calgary, Alberta. To graduate from each level of the apprenticeship program, an apprentice must successfully complete the required technical training and compile enough on-the-job experience to total at least 1500 hours each year (total 6000).

Prior to contacting the training institution, all applicants must register with the nearest Apprenticeship office. The Apprenticeship consultants will arrange for space in an available training program for you.

Interprovincial “Red Seal” certification is available in this trade.

Interprovincial Journeyperson Examination Information:

Apprentice requirements: 4 years/6000 hours
Tradesperson Requirements: 6 years/9000 hours
Practical Examination: No

The interprovincial journeyperson examination for this trade is developed by a national committee of worker and employer representatives. The content of the exam is based in industry standards and expectations.

To write the interprovincial journeyperson exam, you must either successfully complete an apprenticeship program or meet tradesperson eligibility requirements. The pass mark is 70%.

The exam content is:

Subject / Percent
Safety, Accident prevention and First Aid / 5%
Work Site preparation / 5%
Work practices and procedures / 57%
Ceiling Installations / 14%
Access flooring Systems / 2%
Specialized wall and partition Systems / 8%
Shielding and sound proofing / 6%
Decorative finishes and accessories / 3%

= 100%

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