Craft carpentry and joinery
Level 3 · AdvancedConstruction and the built environment 1.3 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
The Craft Carpentry and Joinery apprenticeship develops you into a skilled carpenter and joiner capable of producing, installing, and finishing timber components for buildings and structures. You will develop expertise in both site carpentry (first and second fix) and bench joinery, working with hand tools, powered tools, and machinery to a high craft standard. This Level 3 qualification leads to careers in housebuilding, refurbishment, shopfitting, or your own joinery business.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Timber technology - species, grades, moisture content, and defects
Setting out, marking, and cutting joints for frames, stairs, and furniture
First fix carpentry including stud walls, floor joists, and roof structures
Second fix joinery including skirtings, architraves, doors, and staircases
Bench joinery and the production of bespoke windows, doors, and units
Safe use of portable power tools and bench machinery in workshop and on site
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Set out and construct timber stud partitions, floors, and roof structures
Install first fix items including joists, staircase strings, and window frames
Hang doors, fit ironmongery, and install second fix joinery to fine tolerances
Produce bespoke joinery items in the workshop from technical drawings
Work accurately from setting-out rods, details, and site dimensions
Apply appropriate finishes and sealants to completed carpentry work
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 3 (Advanced) - roughly A-level level. Employers usually look for some GCSEs (often English & maths around grade 4/C) or a Level 2 apprenticeship first. English & maths can sometimes be finished during training.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 4/5 (Higher) apprenticeship, or straight into the role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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