Description
The Carpentry program provides you with a knowledge of woodworking machines, blueprint reading and sketching, safe working practices and a familiarity with the materials and procedures needed to enter related occupations.
You will learn the safe and proper use of hand and power tools and woodworking machines. You will develop practical skills in framing, roofing, and surveying and have some exposure to concrete form construction.
Prior to starting the program, you will be invited to attend a program overview information session. You will also be invited to participate in a math and reading skills diagnostic testing session that will advise you of your program readiness.
This is a not an apprenticeship program, but may provide credit transfer opportunities towards apprenticeship. Apprenticeship Manitoba offers apprenticeship training that combines on-the-job practical skills development with levels of technical training. If you are interested in applying to an apprenticeship program, please visit www.manitoba.ca/tradecareers
DOCUMENT SUBMISSION
Upload Through Your Future Student Account
If you do not have a Future Student Account or require assistance, please contact our Student Service Centre at 204-632-2327.
Internationally Educated Applicants - visit www.rrc.ca/credentials for credential assessment information.
However, if you apply within 6 weeks of the program start date, admission requirements are due within 5 days of applying.
Regular Admission Requirements
Mature Student Admission Requirements
If you are 19 years of age or older and have been out of high school for a minimum of one year at time of application, and you do not meet the regular admission requirements, you may apply under the Mature Student admission requirements.
| English Language Assessment | Minimum Required Levels | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L - Listening, S - Speaking, R - Reading, W - Writing | L | S | R | W |
| AEPUCE
(Academic English Program of University and College Entrance )
Requirement: Submission of a parchment (certificate) indicating successful completion of the AEPUCE program, including language levels achieved if available. | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| CAEL and CAEL Online (Canadian Academic English Language) | 60 | 60 | 60 | 50 |
| CLB (LINC)
(Canadian Language Benchmark - Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada)
Canadian Citizens: LINC programs are not available. | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| Duolingo
(Duolingo English Test)
* MINIMUM OVERAL SCORE OF 115 REQUIRED. There are no minimum required levels for L,S,R,W. Only Duolingo English Test scores that have been verified through the Duolingo English Test Portal will be accepted. | 0* | 0* | 0* | 0* |
| IELTS - Academic
(International English Language Testing System)
Please Note: 3 year expiry date for Nursing Program Applicants | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 5.5 |
| PTE - Academic Online Assessment (Pearson Test of English) | 58 | 58 | 58 | 42 |
| Password Skills
(An in person English Language Assessment hosted by RRC Polytech)
This in-person, computer-based test is composed of four test modules: reading, writing, listening and speaking. The test takes 3 hours and 5 minutes to complete and is conducted in two parts. The first part assesses reading, listening, and writing, and the second part assesses speaking in a separate room.
Password Skills is hosted by the RRC Polytech Testing and Assessment Centre: E440, Manitou a bi Bii Daziigae building, on the fourth floor.
If you wish to do Password Skills remotely (not in-person), Password Skills Plus can be taken online. RRC Polytech does not offer Password Skills Plus, but we do accept the results for entry into program.
| 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Password Skills Plus (Password Skills Plus is an online assessment that can be taken instead of Password Skills. ) | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| TOEFL-iBT
(Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet Based Test)
To meet the needs of students who are unable to take the TOEFL iBT® test at a test center due to public health concerns, ETS is temporarily offering the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test in selected areas. | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 |
You must be in good health, be physically fit, and have good eye, hand, and finger coordination. You will need average learning skills and the ability to mentally picture the position and shape of objects, do detailed and exacting work, and perform quick and accurate arithmetic computations.
If you are seriously considering a career in carpentry, you should be prepared to work at any height. Because your work will often take you out of doors, you should also be prepared to face some unpleasant weather conditions. Overtime is periodically required. The location of the work site may mean that you need to commute to your work or temporarily reside away from home.
You should be prepared for occasional late shifts at the College as courses may, from time to time, run until 6 p.m.
| Location | Start Date | Apply Link |
|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame Campus | Feb 02, 2026 | Apply Now |
Students may apply for financial assistance through the Manitoba Student Aid program. For general information on applying please call 204-945-6321 or 1-800-204-1685, or visit their website at www.manitobastudentaid.ca, which also includes an online application. For detailed information, please visit one of the RRC Polytech Student Service Centres or call 204-632-2327. Applicants requiring financial assistance should complete their student loan applications well in advance of the class start date.
This course is an introduction to the technical communication processes required in the carpentry field. Topics include writing e-mail and letters, writing short incident reports, completing trade-related documents, preparing for employment, and examining related workers’ legislation.
This course gives students the opportunity to transfer theoretical knowledge of equal slope roofing to practical layouts and projects. Students will practice laying out, cutting and assembling components of a gable, hip and intersecting roofs.
This course is designed to help students transfer their theoretical knowledge of builders’ level and transit level to practical situations. Students will use both levels to lay out a typical house. Students will take readings, accounting for the difference in elevations and layout angular measurements.
This course is designed to teach the use of builders’ levelling tools. Students will learn the use and care of the builders’ level and the transit level. Students will learn a variety of leveling terms, learn to read leveling rods, fill out charts for differential leveling, calculate angles for the transit level and learn uses of the laser level as well as an introduction to the total station.
This General Safety Training (GST) teaches basic general safety content to arm students with the core information necessary for them to protect themselves in workplaces on all descriptions. Although some examples may consider Manitoba legislation, this course has been developed by occupational safety and health professionals using generic information that is not provincially specific.
The Carpentry five month program closely resembles the Level 1 and Level 2 Apprenticeship program. Upon completion of this program with a mark of 70% or greater, students may apply to receive accreditation toward the academic portion of Level 1 Apprenticeship. More information about this process can be received from instructors and Apprenticeship Manitoba.
Practical use of all tools in project such as woodworking joints, coping moldings, quarter round, brackets, drawers. Sharpening hand saws, chisels and plane blades.
This course is designed to teach students to read linear measurements, convert units of measurement in metric to imperial and vice versa, and identify, select, safely use, and care for various hand tools and devices. This course also introduces students to various fasteners and adhesives used in the trade.
This course introduces students to blueprint reading, drawings, specifications, and building codes; measuring with scales; produce drawings using orthographic, isometric and oblique views; and material symbols and abbreviations.
This course introduces students to roofing terms, definitions, and conventions. Students will learn about different types of roofs as well as advantages and disadvantages of each. Trade-related calculations will be performed on a variety of worksheets which will commence during class time and assigned for homework to be reviewed in class the following day/s.
Fractions, decimals, percent, board measure, area, rectilinear, square root circular measurement, ratio and proportion, volume, cylinder, cones, pyramids.
This course introduces students to the theory underpinning general framing. Topics include girders and beams, columns, wood sills, floor joists, floor openings, bridging, cantilevers, subflooring, wall framing, wall openings, wall sheathing, partition framing, furring, backing and types of house framing.
This course introduces students to the theory of underpinning concrete form construction. Topics include cast in place concrete, precast concrete ,concrete tools, material handling equipment, preliminary preparation, footings, foundation walls, grade beams, concrete slabs, sidewalks, piles, beams, columns, concrete floors/ceilings, curbs, concrete forming methods ,slump, curing, joints, defects, additives, finishes, reinforcing bars and types of concrete.
This course introduces students to scientific principles in underpinning carpentry. Topics include a study of wood, timber fastenings, simple machines, adhesives and glues, insulating materials, and stresses.
This course provides students with opportunities to safely use woodworking machines that complement the machines covered in the theory portion of the course. At least two projects will be constructed to help practice several uses for these machines.
This course introduces students to safety requirements in a woodworking shop. Students will focus on safe and efficient operation and maintenance of woodworking shop machines as well as portable power tools. They will learn the parts of the machines and accessories that come with most machines. Students will also have an opportunity to research and give a brief presentation on a machine selected by the instructor.
(No description available at this time)
Online learning is a critical component of course delivery in all Red River College Polytechnic programs. To ensure each student has the tools they need to achieve their academic goals, all Red River College Polytechnic students require, at minimum:
1. Off-campus access to a current computer with a webcam
2. A high speed internet connection
• Recommended minimum speed: 10 mbps for download, 3 mbps for upload
• Slower internet connection speeds may result in audio and video issues. Please keep in mind that if others in your home are using the same internet connection at the same time as you are, you may also experience audio and video issues.
• Please refer to https://www.rrc.ca/future-students/computer-requirements/ for further information on Computer Requirements for Students.
Please note that any anticipated costs are not included in Books and Supplies estimates.
Apprenticeship opportunities
Students just starting in the trade can, after completing the program successfully, enter the provincial apprenticeship program.
You may be granted one level of in-school training towards the carpentry apprenticeship. Time credit, which would reduce the length of your apprenticeship, is at the discretion of the employer. For the next three years of your apprenticeship program, you will be required by Apprenticeship Manitoba to return to the College for additional theoretical and practical training.
Students who have worked previously in the trade, and have the required practical experience, can apply on graduation to write the Provincial Examination under the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualification Act.
Apprenticeship Manitoba
Manitoba Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade
1010 - 401 York Avenue
Winnipeg MB R3C 0P8
Phone 204-945-3337
Fax 204-948-2346
Toll-Free: 1-877-978-7233 (1-877-97-TRADE)
Email: apprenticeship@gov.mb.ca
www.gov.mb.ca/ctt/
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which documents and compares an individual's prior learning gained from prior education, work and life experiences and personal study to the learning outcomes in College courses/programs. For more information, please visit www.rrc.ca/rpl.
View a required equipment list for this program at https://catalogue.rrc.ca/files/file/catalogue/CarpentryList.pdf
An alternate related program is the Carpenter Apprenticeship program offered by the Government of Manitoba and delivered by Red River College Polytechnic. For more information, visit http://www.gov.mb.ca/tce/apprent/trades/cabinetmaker.html.
If you are more interested in woodworking (furniture and cabinetry) than carpentry (roofing, framing, concrete forming, etc), you may want to consider these programs:
Cabinetry and Woodworking Technology
Cabinetmaker Apprenticeship (Gov of MB)
Graduates may find work across Canada in commercial construction, house building, or factories.
You may choose to enter the apprenticeship program, as graduates who reach journeyperson apprenticeship level may progress to: