Texas has a lot to offer for you. It’s the biggest state in the country. It has good weather, it has an expanding market for many trades and occupations and it has the fastest-growing cities. As a matter of fact, Texas is one of the states ideal to move to.
If you are interested in becoming a carpenter in this state, this article is for you.
Many carpenters started their careers by helping professionals on the job. However, there is another route you can take in becoming a carpenter. You can either enroll in a course or apply for an apprenticeship offered by a carpentry trade school in Texas.
By joining their programs, you will be able to gain the confidence and skill needed to start your career. The course curriculum will include intensive practical training and classroom lectures to develop the knowledge and abilities necessary for the trade.
If you are looking for a school in Texas that can give you relevant qualifications, here they are:
- Texas Carpenters and Millwrights Training Trust Fund
1825 S IH 35, Austin, TX 78741
Phone: 512-236-9165; Fax: 512-236-9166; Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Houston School of Carpentry
3522 Polk St. Houston, TX 77003
Phone: (713) 322-7492; email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Amarillo Carpenters Training Center – Local 665
702 South Madison Avenue, Amarillo, TX 79101 US
Phone: (806) 373-4574; Fax: (806) 374-4437 - Construction Trade School (CTS)
2101 Midway Rd Suite 200, Carrollton TX 75006
Phone: (469) 389-0663 - Houston Carpenters and Millwrights Joint Apprenticeship Training Center
8505 Glenvista Street, Houston, TX 77061 US
Phone: (713) 641-0275; Fax: (713) 641-0610 - Local 1266 Apprenticeship & Journeyman Training Center
1825 S. Interstate 35, Austin, TX 78741 US
Phone: (512) 236-9165; Fax: (512) 236-9166 - North Texas Carpenters and Millwrights Training Center
1901 Susan Drive, Arlington, TX 76010 US
Phone: (817) 640-8825; Fax: (817) 640-9217 - San Antonio Training Center
5747 Grey Rock Dr., San Antonio, TX 78228 US
Phone: (512) 236-9165; Fax: (512) 236-9166
Universities and Colleges that Offer Degree Programs
Certificate and associate degree programs are also being offered by a community college or university in Texas. Below is the list. Each school has a unique curriculum covering a wide range of topics. If you decided to take the training from them, here are the schools:
- Rice University
6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005, USA
Phone: +1 713-348-0000 - St Philip's College
1801 Martin Luther King Dr, San Antonio, TX 78203
Phone: 210-486-2000
800 Quintana Road, San Antonio, TX 78211
Phone: 210-486-7000
- Lee College
Location: 200 Lee Drive, Baytown, TX 77520
Mailing: P.O. Box 818 Baytown, TX 77522-0818
Main: 281.427.5611; 800.621.8724 - Austin Community College District
5930 Middle Fiskville Rd., Austin, Texas 78752
Phone: 512-223-4636 - Laredo Community College
South Campus: 5500 South Zapata Highway, Laredo, TX 78046
Phone: 956.794.4000
Fort McIntosh Campus: West End Washington Street, Laredo, TX 78040
Phone: 956.722.0521 - Vista College
6101 Montana Ave, El Paso, TX 79925
Phone: 1(866) 442-4197 - Midland College
3600 N. Garfield, Midland, TX 79705
Phone: (432) 685-45005 - Texarkana College
2500 North Robison Road, Texarkana, Texas 75599
Phone: +1 (903) 823-3456 - Everest Institute-Bissonnet
9700 Bissonnet St-Ste 1400, Houston TX, 77036
Phone: 714-000-0000 - Central Texas College
P.O. Box 1800, Killeen, TX 76540-1800
1-800-223-4760; 1-800-792-3348; Office: 254-526-1345
Houston Community College
3100 Main Street, Houston TX 77002
Phone: 713.718.2000 - Texas State Technical College
3801 Campus Drive, Waco, Texas 76705
Phone: 254-799-3611 - Coastal Bend College
3800 Charco Road, Beeville, TX, 78102
1-866-722-2838
704 Coyote Trail, Alice, TX, 78332
1-866-891-2981
1814 Brahma Blvd., Kingsville, TX, 78363
1-866-262-1615
1411 Bensdale, Pleasanton, TX, 78064
1-866-361-4222
For Woodworking Class, here are the vocational schools:
If your inclination is toward woodworking and you are looking for a class to enroll in, here are the schools where you can take a class:
- Ploughshare Institute
608 Dry Creek Rd., Waco, Texas 76705
877-392-6920; 254-754-9620;This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Austin School of Furniture & Design
3508 E. Cesar Chavez Austin, TX 78702
website: austinschooloffurniture.com
How to Choose a Trade School to Take the Carpentry Training
- Offers job placement assistance. Enroll in a program offered by a school close to industry connection to increase your employment prospects. This school keeps a record of companies requiring talented individuals to be part of the workforce.
- The tuition for taking the carpentry training is expensive, if you could find a school that offers grants, scholarships or another form of financial aid to reduce the cost. You can make an inquiry with the school if you are qualified for such aid.
- Find a school accepting monthly payment plans if you don’t have the upfront cash to pay the tuition in full. The school usually has a flexible payment scheme, you just have to inquire about what they can offer to you.
- Find a school that offers the program in current building codes and practical training with plans of actual buildings.
- Enroll in a program with mathematics as part of the training curriculum to prepare you for possible advancement as a supervisor or foreman. It also provides you with the fundamentals necessary to understand the design behind current construction methods.
- Last but definitely not least, enroll in a program with a strong emphasis on workplace health and safety and other specialized instruction on first aid, fire control and prevention, working at heights, emergency procedures, and other safety-related subjects.
How to Become a Carpenter
Choosing a career to go into is not an easy undertaking. You have to spend a lot of time thinking about it before making the final decision. But now that being a carpenter is at the top of your list, you may be thinking, about how to get into it. Here, we laid down the steps you need to do in order to start this career, see below:
- Know what are the job description and responsibilities of a carpenter so that you have a sneak peek of what you are going to do on the job – you mostly get employed in construction, and the industry badly needs qualified carpenters like you.
- Decide what carpentry programs you want to take - there are choices you can choose, you can take a short-period certificate program, a diploma or a degree which much longer course to finish. Deciding what type of curriculum you want can definitely save you time and money.
- Enroll in a program offered by a carpentry trade school in Texas – the list of vocational schools and community colleges and universities is above for your reference. Pick the school that suits your requirement. We also laid down some criteria in choosing the right school to enroll at, see above.
- Take the OSHA training requirement – in order to boost your marketability and to comply with the current legislation, you may take the 10- and 30-hour OSHA safety training for woodworkers.
- Keep your qualifications fresh and current – you can take a refresher course periodically so that you can get updated on current trends and learn about new pieces of equipment and building techniques. The period will solely depend on you since there’s no law requiring you to get retrained in a particular period. The more frequent, the better.
- Get a job – this trade is always in demand, and you won’t be running out of employment opportunities. If you have sufficient experience, you can become a carpentry foreman, a supervisor or a manager. Others took the chance of starting their own construction firm.
Requirements to Become a Carpenter
Now that you know the steps you have to take to be a carpenter, you might ask, what are the minimum requirement need to attain?
- The actual job demands vigorous exertion. You must be physically fit, be in good health condition and with a good sense of balance as the nature of the job demands it.
- You must be able to work long hours per work shift. In many instances, you may be asked to render overtime. This means you have to work longer hours in different weather conditions.
- You need to have the ability to handle work pressure. The job could be really stressful oftentimes.
- You need to accept the fact that the nature of the job often involves safety risks, you are exposed to work hazards such as falling, slipping, injury from the use of tools, and other types of workplace hazards. Exposure to elements is also a risk if you primarily work outdoors.
While you may need also these requirements:
- You need to have a high school diploma or a GED as its equivalent
- Completion of apprenticeship training from a union or trade group
- You need to be at least 18 years old of age in a hazardous environment
Carpentry Certifications in Texas
The state doesn’t require a carpenter to have certification or licensure to be qualified for the job. However, OSHA, as per their standard, requires candidates to take the 10- and 30-hour relevant safety training for woodworkers. This is to address the safety issues involving the use of power tools and other machinery while on the job and other health hazards. Please see the relevant OSHA regulation, CFR 1910.213, Woodworking Machinery Requirements.
Other OSHA standards that must be adhered to are as follows:
- 29 CFR Part 1926 - Construction Industry, Occupational Safety and Health, Protective Equipment
- 29 CFR 1910 Occupational Safety and Health Standards
Please be informed that state and OSHA regulations could change anytime, but as of this writing, these are what you or your employer has to comply to.
Taking the Carpentry Apprenticeship
If you would like to take the carpentry apprenticeship in Texas, the Texas Carpenters and Millwrights Training Trust Fund provides such a program. See their contact information above if you would like to enroll in their program.
The length of an apprenticeship program typically stretches for three (3) to four (4) years that covers 200 hours of classroom lectures and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training. The topics usually covered in the program are basic to advance carpentry, mathematics, cost and material estimation, blueprint reading, building codes, proper use of tools and machinery, workplace health and safety, and other topics that may be deemed necessary.
You will receive a regular wage in a journey-level status. Being an apprentice is a great opportunity to learn practical skills and gain actual real-world experience while making a living.
Salary of Carpenters in Texas
After all that hard work, you are now asking how much pay you can get doing this job. If you will work in Texas, the average salary you could get is $60,680, this figure is according to the latest July 25, 2023 report of Salary.com but it usually ranges from $52,438 and $70,262 depending on some other factors. If you will work in the bordering state of Louisiana, the salary is a little lower.
The factors that affect your pay are the experience and skill you have as a carpenter, the city or town of the place of work, and additional certifications you have under your belt.
As you go along, you enhance your skill and ability, and you will earn the chance to advance to a mature role in the company which dictates a higher salary. For career advancement, carpenters who had acquired considerable experience in the field became independent contractors, while many enjoy varied employment opportunities.
The job outlook for carpenters is good.
- Steady Demand: Carpenters remain in demand due to ongoing construction, renovations, and repairs.
- Economic Sensitivity: The construction sector, where many carpenters are employed, can be impacted by economic fluctuations.
- Green Building: Sustainable construction trends provide new opportunities for carpenters.
- Technological Changes: While innovations like prefabrication affect carpentry, they don't necessarily reduce the need for skilled carpenters.
- Aging Workforce: As older carpenters retire, opportunities for younger professionals may arise.
- Training & Specialization: Specialized skills or training can offer better job prospects.
- Regional Variations: Carpenter demand can differ based on local construction trends and growth.
Overall, carpenters remain essential in the construction industry, but job prospects can vary based on economic conditions, specialization, and location.
Contacting the Authorities
Texas Workforce Commission
101 E 15th St, Rm 370, Austin, TX 78778-0001
512-463-2222; 800-832-2829
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
La Costa Green Bldg., 1033 La Posada Dr. Suite 375, Austin, Texas 78752-3832
(512) 374-0271; (512) 374-0086 FAX
17625 El Camino Real, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77058
(281) 286-0583; (281) 286-6352 FAX
To Conclude This
For a lot of beginners, going to a carpentry trade school in Texas seems like an instinctive option when choosing this career. There’s one good reason, going to such a school takes a shorter time to complete.
You can easily find trade schools or community colleges or universities that offer carpentry training is in Texas.
Being a carpenter is a fruitful career to get into. The occupation pays well and will remain in demand in the next coming decades.
We wish you good luck on your journey!
Cities and Towns of TX
Frisco, Pasadena, Mesquite, Killeen, McAllen, Dallas, Austin, Plano, Laredo, Lubbock, Garland, Irving, Amarillo, New Braunfels, North Richland Hills, Harlingen, Atascocita, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Brownsville, McKinney, Carrollton, Midland, Waco, Wichita Falls, Lewisville, Tyler, San Angelo, League City, Allen, Sugar Land, Edinburg, Mission, Longview, Bryan, Pharr, Baytown, Missouri City, Temple, Flower Mound, El Paso, Conroe, Victoria, Cedar Park, Arlington, Corpus Christi, Mansfield, Georgetown, San Marcos, Rowlett, Pflugerville, Port Arthur, Spring, Euless, DeSoto, Grapevine, Galveston, Houston, San Antonio, Denton, Abilene, Odessa, Beaumont, Round Rock, The Woodlands, Richardson, Pearland, College Station,
