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Carpentry Engineering, Construction & Trades Academy

Program Description

The residential Carpentry program provides training to students in all aspects of residential construction. Students acquire a solid foundation of skills and knowledge in the areas of: safe use of hand and power tools, measuring and cutting, accuracy with levels, rulers, and squares, interpreting drawings and blueprints, and door, window, kitchen, and bath installations. Students also erect concrete forms, wood frame structures, floor joists, stud wall partitions, subflooring, sheathing, stairs, rafter installation, roofing, and siding.

Minuteman provides students with instruction in all aspects of mill and residential carpentry, as well as energy-saving and super-insulation techniques. The competency-based curriculum and hands-on approach enables students to be ready for off-campus projects. Abilities and talents which a student needs in order to be successful in residential carpentry include good math ability, mechanical aptitude, physical fitness and ability to work with others.

A person uses a saw to cut a piece of wood in a workshop.

    • Safe use of hand and power tools
    • Scaffold, ladder, personal protective equipment training
    • Measuring and cutting materials
    • Identify house construction materials
    • Demonstrate concrete foundation methods
    • Read and interpret construction blueprints, working drawings and building codes
    • Layout floor joists, stud walls, ceiling joist, rafters, stair stringers
    • Estimate material costs associated with building construction
    • Apply interior/exterior wall finishes
    • Install interior casing and mill work
    • Install door/window units and build basic stair system
    • Sustainability & Green Technologies 
  • A diagram of a tree illustrates career paths in carpentry, with text labels.

    • A Concord Carpenter, LLC
    • Bob Foss Contracting
    • Custom Contracting
    • Feinmann, Inc.
    • Kistler & Knapp Builders
    • Villandry Contracting

Carpentry Instructors

  • A hand touches a digital interface with a quality assurance badge icon.

    • 1 year’s credit towards Construction Supervisor’s License
    • OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety
    • Hot Works Certification
    • Architectural Woodworker
    • Construction Manager
    • Dry Waller
    • Finish Carpenter
    • Framer
    • Roofer
    • Sales & Estimating
    • Self-Employed Contractor & Remodeler
    • Siding Installer
    • Union Carpenter
  • A hand holds a transparent, abstract shape against a light background.

    Massachusetts averages:

    • Carpenter: $40,000-$80,00
    • Estimator: $62,000-$130,000
    • Construction Manager: $66,000-$140,000

    Source: indeed.com
    Updated 12/12/2024

  • People are gathered around a table, possibly studying or working together.

    • All 15 Massachusetts Community Colleges*
    • Keene State College
    • New England Carpenter’s Training Fund

    *DEPENDING ON AVAILABILITY OF CHOSEN MAJOR 

    • A Concord Carpenter, LLC
    • Carroll Sons, Inc
    • Conneely Construction
    • Kistler and Knapp Builders
    • New England Shutter Mills
    • Orr Construction
    • PDIC
    • Silva Brothers Construction
    • Steve and Sons Contracting
    • Vilandry Construction