Carpentry and Renovation Technician (Co-op option available)

Program Overview

A career in the carpentry and renovation field blends physical hands-on work, skillful precision and creativity. Successful candidates enter a world of opportunities leading to a variety of rewarding career paths in custom home building, renovation, construction, and general contracting, including self-employment. With the construction and renovation industry steadily growing across Canada, job prospects are expected to remain strong for decades. Market researcher BuildForce Canada projects a need for 44,600 new carpenters in Canada, 12,000 in Ontario alone, over the next 10 years. Graduates of this program will enter the work force with a competitive edge thanks to a strong knowledge and understanding of structural renovations, sustainable construction theory and energy-wise construction techniques, as well as foundational business theories and strategies to complement their technical training. Students also have the opportunity to complete a co-operative education (co-op) or field placement, which provides invaluable real-life, hands-on work and industry experience that prepare graduates for successful careers.

Hands-on

Co-op

Sustainability

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)
Grade 12 mathematics (C, M or U)

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Intakes and Availability

Date	Domestic Availability	International Availability
September 2020	Closed	Open

Tuition

Year one domestic: $2,804 (CDN)
Year one international: $13,404 (CDN)

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Co-operative Education (co-op)

The best way to succeed in your field is to immerse yourself in it! Co-op is an excellent way to build your professional network, explore career paths and apply in-class teachings to real work situations. Co-op is a model of education that integrates academic learning with workplace learning in fields relevant to our students’ academic and personal goals. Similar to an academic course, work terms are a mandatory component to this form of experiential learning.

Semester 1 Courses

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Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE

Renovation technician
Assistant to lead carpenter
Exterior finisher
Finishing carpenter
Framing carpenter

View all Career Options

Program Details

Carpenters represent one of the largest trade groups in the construction industry, using their skills to construct, erect, install, maintain and repair structures and/or their components made of wood, wood substitutes, lightweight steel and other materials.

Since they focus on the construction of a building, it is vital for carpenters to understand all of the other aspects of a project, including electricity and plumbing. The Carpentry and Renovation Technician program offers a comprehensive program of study that includes courses such as Building Science, Kitchen and Bath Renovation, HVAC Building Science, Demolition and Deconstruction, to give graduates a well-rounded foundation in all aspects of their craft and the principles of construction, with a particular emphasis on sustainable design, theory and energy conservation renovation principles in keeping with today’s industry trends and best practices.

As a Carpentry and Renovations Technician graduate, you will be able to:

Develop and use strategies for ongoing professional development to remain current with industry changes, enhance work performance and explore career opportunities.
Comply with health and safety practices and procedures in accordance with current legislation and regulations.
Assist in the preparation of material estimations and quotes and complete all work in compliance with the rights and conditions of contractual obligation, the Ontario and/or National Building Codes, applicable laws, bylaws, standards and ethical practices in the construction, renovation and conservation building fields.
Incorporate sustainability practices in the implementation of building construction, renovation and conservation projects in accordance with sustainable building guidelines.
Communicate and collaborate with diverse clients, supervisors, co-workers and tradespersons to complete projects on time and to maintain effective working relationships.
Interpret project plans and produce technical sketches and documents to support building construction and renovation projects.
Select and use technologies to obtain, organize and communicate building construction and renovation information.
Solve problems related to the implementation of building construction and renovation projects by applying the principles of basic technical mathematics, building design and building science.
Select, maintain and safely use hand tools and portable and stationary power tools when performing layout, cutting, fitting and assembly operations.
Complete building and renovation stages, from site layout and footings to the application of interior and exterior finishes, in accordance with blueprint specifications and conservation principles.
Select a range of materials and equipment for the appropriate application to building construction and renovation projects.
Schedule and assist in monitoring the progression of building construction and renovation projects by applying basic principles and strategies of project management.
Apply basic business principles and strategies to the operation of a building construction and/or renovation enterprise.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)
Grade 12 mathematics (C, M or U)

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change.

Costs

YEAR ONE FEES	Domestic	International
Tuition	$2,803	$13,404
Compulsory Ancillary	$1,337	$1,812
Program Incidental	$175	$175
Total Fees:	$4,315	$15,390

Please note: fees are based on the 2019-2020 academic year and do not include textbooks. For more information please see Other fees to consider.

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE

Renovation technician
Assistant to lead carpenter
Exterior finisher
Finishing carpenter
Framing carpenter

WHERE YOU COULD WORK

Self-employment
New home builder
Renovation firm
Construction firm
Construction or renovation sites

Field Placement

Students completing a field placement will participate in a 70-hour, unpaid work placement completed in semester 4, giving them practical experience and the opportunity to apply the theories and concepts they have learned.

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:

Co-operative education (co-op)

Students in the Carpentry and Renovation Technician Diploma program will be invited to apply to the co-op option during their first academic semester. Entrance to the co-op option is limited and the processes for securing a work term are competitive. Students who qualify for co-op will be eligible to complete a four-month, paid work term between the second and third semesters of their program.

Supports are available through the Co-op office to assist students with securing their work terms. In addition, the Co-op office is in contact with co-op students and their employers during the work terms to help with any questions. Upon completing the work term, co-op students return to campus to complete their final two academic semesters of the program before graduating.

Program sequence

	Fall (September to December)	Winter (January to April)	Summer (May to August)
Year 1	Academic semester 1	Academic semester 2	Co-op work term
Year 2	Academic semester 3	Academic semester 4

Courses

CO-OP Option

SEMESTER 1

SEMESTER 2

CO-OP WORK TERM

Co-op Work Term 1 (RENC 1000)
The co-op work term will provide students with work experience in the carpentry and renovation industry. The co-op work term expands students’ learning environment to real work settings where they will be challenged to apply their academic knowledge and then return to campus with a deepened understanding of industry demands and required skills.

SEMESTER 3

SEMESTER 4

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change.

Co-op administrative fee

Once transferred to the co-op option of a program, students will have a co-op administrative fee of $475 assessed to their accounts. The administrative fee goes to support the broad array of support services provided to co-op students. These services are dedicated to support student success.

Learn more

Find more information about the benefits of becoming a co-op student.

Find more information about the benefits of becoming a co-op employer.

Weston Family Scholarship

Durham College, in partnership with The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, is pleased to be helping build skilled trades careers with a scholarship worth up to $10,000.

Please visit the Weston Family Scholarship in the Skilled Trades page to learn how you can apply.

COVID-19 Information

Carpentry and Renovation Technician (Co-op option available)

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Intakes and Availability

Tuition

Co-operative Education (co-op)

Semester 1 Courses

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE

Program Details

Admission Requirements

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE

WHERE YOU COULD WORK

Field Placement

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Co-operative education (co-op)

Courses

CO-OP Option

SEMESTER 1

SEMESTER 2

CO-OP WORK TERM

SEMESTER 3

SEMESTER 4

Co-op administrative fee

Learn more

Weston Family Scholarship

Carpentry and Renovation Technician (Co-op option available) in the news

Helpful Resources

College guide September 2020 [PDF]

College guide September 2020 [Interactive]

Graduate Employment Report [PDF]