Career Overview
Carpenters construct and repair structures made from wood, steel, and other materials while working on highways, bridges, homes, and apartments. Residential tasks include installing cabinets, windows, and doors. The work involves lifting and installing heavy materials, requiring physical fitness and the ability to work in harsh weather conditions. Because carpenters are exposed to the entire construction process, they have more opportunities than most other construction workers to advance into supervisory roles.
Credentials
Earn a Continuing Education Certificate and NCCER carpentry credentials upon successfully completing this curriculum.
NCCER Credential Requirement
To earn an NCCER credential in Carpentry, you must complete Core Construction Skills before or concurrently with Carpentry Level 1.
Students taking carpentry courses for personal use may skip Core Construction Skills but will not earn NCCER credentials. Email trades@pgcc.edu for assistance registering without the prerequisite.
OCU-463 Core Construction Skills
Cost: $1,015 (with $25 registration fee)
This course equips students with the foundational knowledge needed prior to training in a building trade of their choice and working on a construction job site. Students learn about basic safety on construction sites, math for the trades, blueprint reading, the use of hand and power tools, rigging, and material handling. They also learn the steps involved in pursuing a career in the building trades and how to communicate effectively in a construction setting.
Earn the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Core Craft Skills credential and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 certification.
Note: To earn an NCCER credential in Carpentry, you must take this course before or concurrently with Carpentry Level 1.
CRP-330 Carpentry
Level 1, Part 1
Cost: $1,130 (with $25 registration fee)
This course provides the first part of the NCCER Level 1 Carpentry curriculum. Students gain an understanding of the carpentry profession and the role of a carpenter in construction. They learn how to interpret drawings and to use tools, adhesives, and fasteners specific to the trade. They also begin to acquire the skills needed to assemble doors, windows, floor, wall, roof, ceiling, and stair systems.
CRP-331 Carpentry
Level 1, Part 2
Cost: $1,130 (with $25 registration fee)
This course provides the second part of the NCCER Level 1 Carpentry curriculum. Students build on their learning in Part 1 with a continued focus on skills for assembling door, window, floor, wall, roof, ceiling, and stair systems.
CRP-320 Carpentry
Level 2, Part 1
Cost: $1,052 (with $25 registration fee)
This course provides the first part of the NCCER Level 2 Carpentry curriculum. Students gain an understanding of commercial drawings and specifications for use in carpentry. They acquire the skills and knowledge needed to install cold-formed steel framing, exterior finishing, thermal and moisture protection, roofing, doors and door hardware, drywall, suspended ceilings, cabinets, and trim.
Prerequisite: CRP-331
CRP-320 Carpentry
Level 2, Part 2
Cost: $1,052 (with $25 registration fee)
This course provides the second part of the NCCER Level 2 Carpentry curriculum. Students build on their learning in Part 1, with continued focus on installing cold-formed steel framing, exterior finishing, thermal and moisture protection, roofing, doors and door hardware, drywall, suspended ceilings, cabinets, and trim.
Prerequisite: CRP-320
Registration
If you are a new student, see Continuing Education for account setup and enrollment instructions. Current PGCC students can register through Owl Link.
Continuing Education and Credit Options
Continuing Education courses are open to the public, do not require formal admission, and do not earn academic credits. Some Construction and Skilled Trades courses—Core Construction Skills, Electrical, Carpentry, and daytime HVAC/R Levels 1 and 2—are cross-listed as credit courses and can be taken for academic credit toward an associate degree.
To enroll for credit, submit an admission application. Credit enrollment is not required to earn an industry-recognized trade credential. Please note that some federal aid is only available to credit students seeking an associate degree.
For help deciding if taking classes for credit is right for you, contact the Office of Recruitment and Admissions (Bladen Hall, Room 125) by calling 301-546-0864 or emailing apply@pgcc.edu.
Contact Information
Email: trades@pgcc.edu