General Carpenter Pre-Apprenticeship Program for Youth
Get the Tools You Need to Enter the Field of Carpentry
The Career Foundation’s General Carpenter Pre-Apprenticeship Program is delivered in partnership with Mohawk College and the Carpenter’s Union Local 18. This program trains youth, between the ages of 18 and 29, for a career in carpentry/construction.
The program’s next cohort will begin in 2025. Apply today to join our cohort!
Program Details
The General Carpenter Pre-Apprenticeship Program runs for approximately 30 weeks (18 weeks in-class and a 12-week paid job placement).
Classes start in May, and work can start as early as September.
Upon completion, you will receive your General Carpentry Level 1 in-class certification from Mohawk College, along with exposure in Drywall from Carpenter’s Union Local 18 and a paid work placement.
Upon completion of the in-class training, we will connect you with local employers to arrange your work placement. This is a paid work placement where you will continue your learning in the field. Your work placement can be anywhere Ontario-wide.
Benefits for Participants
Your General Carpenter Apprenticeship Level 1 Training Certification
Exposure to a wide variety of carpentry/construction techniques
No-cost Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to help you get industry required safety certifications
Pre-employment workshops that teach valuable career search practices
Paid work placement in the carpentry/construction field
After completing the program, students will have both the basic theory and practical knowledge of a Level 1 Carpenter and the skills to pursue a career as a carpenter or a career in other construction trades.
Program Eligibility
- Must be between the ages of 18 and 29
- Have completed Grade 10
- Unemployed or underemployed (working fewer than 20 hours per week) and facing barriers to employment
- Committed to working full-time hours
- Willing to commute to the Mohawk College Stoney Creek Campus and the Carpenter’s Union Local 18 (both are based in Hamilton, Ontario)
Program Application & Selection
Applications for the General Carpenter Pre-Apprenticeship Program for 2025 are currently open.
Additional Resources for Applicants
The math practice quiz is an integral component for students to practise their math skills prior to starting Level 1 General Carpenter training. Below are resources to assist you in preparing for the math component of the training program.
We strongly encourage all candidates to take the time to go through this material prior to the interview date, when you will be asked to complete a math assessment. You can use the practice quiz to practise the types of questions you will find on the assessment.
Questions about the General Carpenter Pre-Apprenticeship
Program for Youth?
Information for Employers
Want to hire a trained graduate from the General Carpenter Pre-Apprenticeship Program? As an employer looking to participate in the program, you must:
- Be licensed to operate in Ontario
- Comply with all applicable legislation including federal/provincial human rights legislation
- Provide employment in Ontario
- Maintain appropriate WSIB or alternative workplace safety insurance coverage and have adequate third-party general liability insurance
- Not use this program to replace existing employees
Benefits to Employers
Employers can:
- Access to a pool of trained job seekers
- Opportunities to create jobs for youth facing very high unemployment rates
- Opportunities to guide and train the next generation of carpenters
- Opportunities to employ individuals with up-to-date techniques and knowledge of health and safety practices
- Access to motivated, committed youth equipped with all necessary skills, knowledge and ready-to-work attitude
For more information, employers can contact The Career Foundation’s General Carpenter Pre-Apprenticeship Program for Youth:
Email: preapprenticeships@careerfoundation.org
Phone: 416-839-3514
This program is provided in partnership with:
This program is funded by:
This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.