Learn & Earn 18 month residential construction apprentice program

RCAP—Residential Construction Apprentice Program; 18 month, 288 hour program.

Established in 2017, a formal residential construction training program, approved by the United States Department of Labor and The Arkansas Department of Career Education.

For more information about our program and enrollment; please contact: DeAnne Hankins, Executive Director, at 479-452-6213.

What is a Carpenter?

A craft dating back thousands of years, carpentry is the largest of all building trades with many different "specialties". A carpenter works with various materials to construct, install and maintain buildings and other objects like cabinets or furniture. Although the trade has evolved over the years to include new techniques and materials, the basics remain the same:

Layout - Carpenters measure, mark and arrange materials inside and outside a structure.

Cutting and shaping - Carpenters mold wood or other materials into a specific shape using hand or power tools.

Joining - Carpenters attach material together with nails, screws or adhesives.

Checking - Carpenters check work with levels or squares and make adjustments.

A carpenter works indoors and out, using heavy or rough materials, sharp tools and power equipment. Although the work can be strenuous - bending, lifting, standing, climbing and kneeling - it also is creative in nature. If you like working with your hands, enjoy math and have an eye for detail, carpentry may be the trade for you!

Skills?

Building walls

Installing roof joists, rafters and trusses

Laying roofs with plywood and shingles

Insulating, weather-stripping and caulking

Installing doors, windows and siding

Laying wood floors and stairs

Installing interior finish and trim

Installing cabinets and countertops

Building forms for concrete

Using green building techniques to reduce resources, conserve energy, increase durability of structures and improve indoor air quality

Career Opportunities

Job openings in carpentry are expected to grow at an average rate through 2018. Demand for remodeling and energy efficiency is expected to stimulate growth in the trade. Land developers, general contractors and remodelers are examples of businesses that might hire and entry-level carpenter. Those with skills in all aspects of the trade - like finish work, framing, roofing - work more steadily because they have skills to accommodate various jobs. In addition to a pre-apprentice carpenter, the kills of an HBI graduate can transfer to other specialties like roofer, framer, weatherization technician, floor layer, drywall installer, insulation worker, cabinet maker or maintenance and repair work.