St. Louis Carpenters Training Center

From sturdy framework to ornate woodwork, carpenters work in many areas of construction. They work with wood as well as concrete, drywall, plastic, metal, fiber, cork and composition materials. Carpenters use these materials to mill, fashion, join, assemble, erect, fasten and dismantle various parts of buildings. Carpenters build homes, commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and roads and bridges. They also remodel buildings, install drywall and cabinets, and complete exterior and interior finishes. Some carpenters specialize in on aspect of the trade, such as erecting concrete forms, installing acoustical materials or driving pile. Millwright carpenters handle, clean, erect, install, weld and dismantle machinery, equipment and other heavy materials. Carpenters should be competent in math and enjoy working outdoors. Carpenter apprentices are scheduled for about 160 hours out in-school training each year, with a mix of day and evening sessions. Day sessions are quarterly one week at a time, scheduled every three months apart. Classes are held for eight hours a day, five days a week, excluding holidays. Apprentices are paid a small educational grant to offset travel expenses during the daytime training period. Apprentices who are unemployed may attend extra classes to work on training units, if space permits. Each apprenticeship term requires completion of 750 hours of on-the-job learning and mastery of a specified number of “units” of material taught at the St. Louis Carpenters Training Center. Apprentices advance to the next term of apprenticeship when both unit and on-the-job hour requirements are completed. Apprentices do not have to complete requirements within a specific time period. Training and advancement are based entirely on competency.