“Master carpenter” is a popular description of someone who has substantial experience, training, and skill in the carpentry profession. Let’s break down what those terms mean.
On-the-Job Experience
A master carpenter comes up through the ranks,starting as a carpenter’s helper or an apprentice. After three to four years of supervised apprenticeship, he is called a “journeyman carpenter.
” From there, he continues to gain experience – usually 10 yearsminimum -- at a variety of tasks and specialties until he has earned the title of master carpenter.
Carpentry Training
A high school diploma is a basic prerequisite to carpentry apprenticeship. In addition, some would-be master carpenters study professional carpentry at vocational school or community college.
The apprenticeship program itself typically has an annual requirement of 2000 hours of on-the-job learning, plus at least 144 hours of classroom instruction on topics like building code and work safety.
Many carpenters continue to upgrade their skills with professional courses throughout their career.
Master Carpenter Skills
A master carpenter worthy of the name is usually adept at most or all of these professional skills:
Certification
There is currently no formal master carpenter certification as such in Midland, similar to the rest of the United States. However, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry offers online preparation and an exam for carpenters; successful candidates earn a Certified Lead Carpenter designation.
We know how time consuming it can be to find a qualified contractor. That is why we’ve created 3 simple steps to finding an experienced project specialist.