4. Carpentry Artisan
Carpenters provide a valuable trade service by building and repairing numerous structures made of wood, wood-substitutes, concrete and other materials. Carpenters are employed by construction companies, contractors and maintenance departments.
Carpenters also assemble and erect forms for concrete, assemble wood and metal frame construction and use plans and instruments to prepare for excavating and shoring.
They direct concrete placement and install exterior and interior finish materials including siding, doors, windows and cabinets. Carpenters also install floor beams, lay sub-flooring, erect walls and roof systems and fit and install trim. You’ll need to be highly precise person to ensure your business avoids losses from poor management of raw material.
What qualifications you need
There are various options for you to achieve the qualifications that you need to be a professional carpenter, such as:
Path 1
- Apprenticeship (training at a TVET college with practical training under a qualified artisan)
- Trade Test.
Path 2
- Learnership – Construction Carpenter (Manufacturing Products from Wood) Level 2, 3 and 4
- Trade Test.
Path 3
- National Certificate (Engineering Studies) N1, N2 and N3
- Trade Test.
Path 4
- Artisan Internship
- Trade Test.
Path 5
- RPL (Recognised Prior Learning) for Artisans.
- If you have already been working as a Bricklayer without qualifications, they can consider you for the recognised prior learning programme, which may enable you to get your qualification.
- Trade Test.
Training institutions
Artisan development academy and the Denel Technical Academy also offer a carpentry apprenticeship. You will learn many physically-orientated skills, like joining, framing and refinishing. You will also learn to be adept at measuring and planning to correctly layout your projects. Carpenters also need to know mathematical skills and blueprint reading and sketching, which you’ll learn during on-the-job training.
Trade Associations you should belong to
The leading national representative body within South Africa’s building and construction industry is the Master Builders South Africa (MBSA). This organisation is a voluntary membership and focuses primarily on giving the industry a platform to voice its viewpoint. The MBSA also promotes high quality through its members as well as engages with government and legislative bodies on national policies that will impact the carpentry industry. Its primary aim is to create a sustainable building industry within South Africa.
Experience needed
A 3- to 4-year apprenticeship is standard to enable you to pass the trade test.