What Can You Do With A Carpentry Certificate?
More and more people are coming out of school and looking to learn some kind of trade. Carpentry is a popular choice but understanding what you will be able to do with your qualifications once you have finished training is essential. So, what can you do with a carpentry certificate?
By obtaining a carpentry certificate, you will be able to enter into commercial or residential carpentry, completing projects such as hotels, houses, retail developments and much more. It might also be possible to work in industrial carpentry for big companies in things like the energy sector.
Of course, there are many paths you might choose to take and where you end up will largely depend on what qualifications you have achieved. In this guide, we will be looking at the various levels of carpentry qualification and how these might help to advance your career.
What Can You Do With A Carpentry Degree?
In the UK, and in many other countries around the world, you don’t necessarily need a degree to become a carpenter. In fact, many people follow a much simpler route to the job and still manage to work their way to a high level.
We will look at the qualifications you need to be a carpenter a little later on. But once you have these qualifications, your options are very diverse.
It is possible to set up your own business offering carpentry services or you might even begin a training program for budding apprentices, if you are keen to share your newfound knowledge with others.
A lot of people want to aim high and becoming a site supervisor or project manager is something that a lot of carpenters look to do.
What Can You Do With A Carpentry License?
Unlike some other types of tradespeople, like electricians or gas experts, you do not need a license to practice in the United Kingdom. Generally speaking, you don’t need any qualifications and it would be possible to simply demonstrate that you have the appropriate skills in order to be hired.
That said, it is always preferable to have qualifications and most people will opt for an NVQ Level 2 in carpentry.
What Qualifications Does A Carpenter Need?
As we have mentioned, there are no legal requirements for carpenters to have set qualifications. Of course, most employers will be looking to hire people who have completed training so we would alway advise going down this route.
In the UK, there are several ways that you can forge a path to becoming a carpenter and one of the most common is to complete an NVQ in the field. This can be done through a college but in order to achieve a Level 2 NVQ, you’ll normally need some hands-on experience first.
This is why a lot of people get into carpentry via an apprenticeship. The great thing about this is that you will be paid and you’ll have on the job experience which is invaluable. Your employer will typically fund your learning and at the end, you will receive your qualification.
There are other choices when it comes to carpentry qualifications and it is important to think about what you want to specialise in. You could go for a bench joinery NVQ Level 2 or opt to do a diploma at level 2 or 3 in carpentry or joinery. There are newer qualifications called T levels that offer opportunities such as on-site construction, which would also be beneficial to anyone looking to get into this field.
What Is The Best Carpentry Qualification?
To obtain the best and most in depth carpentry knowledge, you would be looking to complete a diploma in a specific area of the field. There are many City and Guilds diplomas at Level 3 which can be very important to budding carpenters, specifically the following:
- Level 3 diploma in bench joinery
- Level 3 diploma in site carpentry
What Is The Highest Level In Carpentry?
Carpentry is a diverse job that has a variety of different levels. The more training and experience you get, the further up the ladder you will be able to progress. Below is some information on the different levels of carpentry.
- Carpenters helpers don’t have any qualifications and this job allows you a basic insight into what the career entails.
- An apprentice is beginning to learn the trade on-site as well as classroom based learning.
- A journeyperson is a carpenter who has completed an apprenticeship and is able to work on residential and commercial projects.
- A master carpenter possesses all the relevant skills to complete any carpentry task.
- A subcontractor is an advanced carpenter who is able to work independently.
- A general contractor, and the highest level in carpentry, is fully skilled and can manage entire projects.
What Jobs Can You Get From Carpentry?
Once you have your carpentry qualifications, there are a lot of jobs you can do. As we have discussed, you might work in commercial or residential carpentry. However, if you prefer something a little more unique and challenging, then industrial carpentry may be right for you.
For those with a keen eye for detail and organisation, project management is an excellent option. Construction estimating is also a possibility.
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Conclusion
While a lot of people think that carpentry is just about making cabinets, doors and other wooden structures, there is so much more to this job than many would assume. It requires dedication and a lot of training in order to become the best and there are many qualifications you might take to further your career.