How to become a carpenter in BC
Red Seal Journeyperson Carpenter · British Columbia
Build and fix the wooden parts of buildings. You need a four-year apprenticeship: paid work plus school blocks.
THE ROUTE
The route at a glance
High School Preparation (Grades 11–12)
Graduate high school with practical math
Entry Route (Foundation vs Direct Sponsor)
Complete Carpentry Foundation or get hired directly
SkilledTradesBC Apprenticeship Registration
Sign SkilledTradesBC apprenticeship agreement
4 Levels of Technical Training & 6,480 Hours
Log 6,480 work hours and finish 4 college levels
Interprovincial Red Seal Examination
Score 70%+ on Interprovincial Red Seal exam
Red Seal Journeyperson Carpenter
Work as a Certified Red Seal Carpenter
High School Preparation (Grades 11–12)
Graduate high school with practical math
Entry Route (Foundation vs Direct Sponsor)
Complete Carpentry Foundation or get hired directly
SkilledTradesBC Apprenticeship Registration
Sign SkilledTradesBC apprenticeship agreement
4 Levels of Technical Training & 6,480 Hours
Log 6,480 work hours and finish 4 college levels
Interprovincial Red Seal Examination
Score 70%+ on Interprovincial Red Seal exam
Red Seal Journeyperson Carpenter
Work as a Certified Red Seal Carpenter
This is the overview. For the courses to take, the entry rules, the exams and the schools, open the full route.
See the full route, step by step →THE JOB
What the job is like
Pay and outlook from WorkBC.
You construct, install, and repair wood and timber structures on active residential, commercial, and civil building sites.
Always use certified fall protection when working at heights and wear eye and ear protection around power saws.
You can step up to construction site superintendent on commercial and residential projects.
You can also start and run your own licensed general contracting business.
JOBS
Find jobs
Live postings on the big job boards, searched for this job in British Columbia.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Common questions
WHERE TO TAKE THIS