If you are looking for a trade that will allow you to really use your hands in order to create buildings, furniture, or other items that require wood, becoming a carpenter is ideal.  An added bonus is that carpentry is currently highly in demand!  If you are interested in becoming a carpenter, here’s what you need to know.

Carpentry Apprenticeships

The most common method of becoming a carpenter is by completing an apprenticeship.  The entry requirements for an apprenticeship can vary, but most employers will generally require that you have at least a year 10 level of education.   You can find apprenticeships by looking through job advertisements, by contacting Centrelink, by speaking to your career advisor, or by calling established carpenters and asking if they are willing to take on an apprentice.

The apprenticeship will generally run for four years and it is made up of both on the job and off the job training. The off the job, or theoretical component of the training is generally provided through a Registered Training Organisation, most commonly TAFE.  In some cases, you will be able to do some of the off the job training while you are still in school (a school based apprenticeship).

To improve your chances of gaining an apprenticeship, you may wish to do a pre-apprenticeship or pre-vocational course. These courses give you a bit of a leg up and can make it much easier for you gain an apprenticeship in carpentry.

Employment Prospects

Once you are fully trained, you have the option to work as a subcontractor, or to establish your own business.  Carpenters may also be employed by building and construction companies, government departments (federal, state or local), group training companies, or firms that carry out building work.

Your employment prospects as a carpenter will depend on how active the building construction is, but generally, it is an occupation that has continually good employment prospects.

Earning Prospects

Carpenters are very sought after as they are actually on the National Skills Shortage list.  Because of this, during the apprenticeship, the apprentice may be able to get additional payments such as tools for your trade payments, support for adult apprentices payments, and more. This can boost the earnings of an apprentice significantly.  While an apprentice carpenter may not earn that much money in the first year of the apprenticeship, wages increase every year.  A fully qualified carpenter will be capable of earning large amounts of money, depending on the type and volume of work he does.