Apprentices must be at least 16 years old to begin employment.

The minimum educational requirements are: 

Grade D or "Achieved" in five subjects in the Department of Education & Skills Junior Certificate Examination or an approved equivalent,
or
The successful completion of an approved Pre-Apprenticeship course,
or 
Three years’ work experience gained over sixteen years of age in a relevant designated industrial activity as SOLAS shall deem acceptable.

You must obtain a job as an apprentice in your chosen occupation. Your employer must be approved to train apprentices and must register you as an apprentice within two weeks of recruitment.

Note: To become a Carpenter / Joinery apprentice you may require the Ishihara Colour Vision Test (24 Plate Edition). For further information, contact your local Education and Training Board    .

Please note that these are the current approved minimum educational requirements for apprenticeship programmes. However, prior experience in the following subjects would be an advantage, though not essential:

• Mathematics
• Technical Drawing/Graphics
• Construction Studies
• Materials Technology

Phase 1: With Employer 

• Induction Training
• Introduction to Health & Safety
• Introduction to Tools & Equipment
• Introduction to Basic Skills

Phase 2: Delivered in Training Centre (21 weeks) 

Course Content: 

• Induction
• Tools and Joints
• Timber Roofs
• 1st Fixing and Site Works
• Joints in Moulded Timber
• Joinery
• 2nd Fixing Activities 
• Communications and Team Leadership

Phase 3: With Employer 

• Work Based Training and Assessments 

Phase 4: Delivered in Educational Colleges (11 weeks) 

Course Content:

• 1st Fixing and Site Works
• Timber Roofs
• Joinery
• 2nd Fixing Activities 
• Communications and Team Leadership  

Phase 5: With Employer 

• Work Based Training and Assessments 

Phase 6: Delivered in Educational Colleges (10 weeks) 

Course Content:

• First Fixing and Site Works
• Timber Roofs
• Joinery
• 2nd Fixing Activities 
• Communications and Team Leadership 

Phase 7: With Employer 

• Work Based Training and Assessments 

The overall duration of this apprenticeship is a minimum of 4 years provided all phases are successfully completed. 

On successful completion of the programme the learner is awarded a Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft - Carpentry & Joinery.

Training is provided by the following institutions:

• Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute    
• ATU (IT Sligo)    
• SETU (IT Carlow)    
• City of Dublin Education and Training Board    
• Cork College of FET - Mallow Campus (Mallow CFE)    
• Dundalk Institute of Technology  
• TUS Moylish Campus (Limerick Institute of Technology)  
• Kerry Education and Training Board    
• MTU Kerry    

As a Carpenter and Joiner, you need to be physically active and skilled in working with your hands. A strong awareness of health and safety, good housekeeping practices, attention to detail, and a keen eye for shape and form are essential.

The Carpenter and Joiner must have the ability to:

• Plan and organise
• Communicate effectively
• Solve problems
• Work independently and as part of a team
• Show a positive attitude
• Recognise the need for good customer relations
• Demonstrate good work practices, including time keeping, tidiness, responsibility, quality awareness, and safety awareness

Core Skills

• Construction of upper floors  
• Construction of flat roofs
• Construction of pitched roofs
• Construction of hip roofs
• Construction of pitching roofs (trussed)
• Construction of load and non-load bearing partitions
• Fabrication and erection of formwork for walls, columns, floors, stairs 
• Construction and hanging of the following: Framed and sheeted doors, Panelled doors, Flush doors
• Construction and installation of internal and external door frames
• Construction and installation of windows
• Carrying out 1st and 2nd fixing on buildings
• Operation of the following powered hand tools: Saw, planer, drill, router, screwdriver, ballistic gun, router, sander, jig saw

Specialist Skills

• Construction of moulds
• Construction of centres for arches
• Construction of specialist type joinery
• Construction of fittings
• Setting out buildings
• Site levelling

• Learning and developing new practical craft-related skills, knowledge, and competencies
• Working with and learning from experienced Craftspersons
• Seeing a job through from start to finish
• Comply with Health and Safety requirements

• Working with wood and allied materials
• Being accurate with measuring and craft calculations
• Working with technical drawings and diagrams
• Working with hand and power tools or machinery
• Operating, controlling, and adjusting equipment/machines

• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Being well organised and careful with practical tasks
• Working at heights
• Lifting or carrying heavy items
• Taking responsibility for own learning, including the allocation of study time

• Can be based in a workshop, factory, or construction site
• Being physically active
• Passing all your phase exams (theory, practicals skills demonstration)
• Earning as you learn

The Carpenter & Joiner is also required to work in a cross section of domains within the overall trade.

The following are some examples: 

Joinery Shop: 
This section of the occupation requires the Carpenter & Joiner to engage in setting out, production and assembling items of joinery which include stairs, doors, windows and built-in furniture. 

Site Work: 
Site work is the construction of buildings or houses which require 1st fixing, formwork roofs, and 2nd fixing. This section is split into two categories: constructing/civil engineering contracts. 

Maintenance: 
Maintenance work requires the Carpenter & Joiner to carry out a variety of tasks in general maintenance and upkeep of public and private buildings, e.g. shops and factories. Other areas associated with the trade include renovating buildings, shop fitting, and exhibition/display work.

Where apprentices and craftspersons have the necessary ability, initiative, and basic qualifications, opportunities are available for advancement.

For top-level carpentry apprentices with an ambition to progress, potential career pathways include:

• Site manager
• Contract Manager
• Clerk of Works
• Starting a business – an ideal route for those with entrepreneurial drive

This trade is highly transferable, both across the country and internationally. 

People in employment have a number of options for both educational and career progression.

It may be possible to gain promotion within your existing company. By using your existing qualifications and your experience, you may be able to secure an alternative position in a more senior role in another company.

It may also be possible to set up your own company based on your existing qualifications and experience.  Whatever route you decide to take, remember, education is a lifelong pursuit and you can always continue to up skill and/or retrain, whatever your age.

Career Progression Useful Links:  

Educational Supports: Upon completing an apprenticeship, you may have the opportunity to progress to full awards on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) at Levels 7 to 10.

You may also decide to embark on a partial award or upskill in a particular area by undertaking a short specialised course. Depending on your skills, knowledge, and experience, some of the opportunities below might be appropriate to help develop your career pathway.   

• Springboard & conversion courses      
• Skillnet Sector learning network courses    
• Skills to advance Local ETB Board    
• Further education training centres Fetchcourses    
• Post graduate education Search Post Graduate options    

Enterprise and Self-Employment Support:

On completion of an apprenticeship you may decide to set up your own business.

The links below might be useful to support you:

• Local Enterprise Offices     For profit Local enterprise support
• Local Area Partnerships      For profit enterprise support
• Social entrepreneurs     Not-for-profit enterprise support
• Franchising     Developing your business under an established franchise

To become an apprentice in Ireland you must be hired by an employer. Apprenticeship employers are formally approved by SOLAS     in advance of employing apprentices. Apprentices get a formal contract of employment as part of their apprenticeship.

Opportunities for this apprenticeship arise on an ongoing basis throughout the year. In order to secure an apprenticeship contract of employment, you should target companies you would like to do your apprenticeship with by applying directly to them.

To find an apprenticeship, you can search apprenticeship vacancies and a list of currently approved apprentice employers on the Apprenticeship Jobs & Employers Portal    . You can search for vacancies by location and employer in each apprenticeship.

Full eligibility criteria for this apprenticeship are available in the Carpentry and Joinery brochure    .

SISK recruit carpentry & joinery apprentices annually – learn more here.    

Finding an Employer

Finding an employer or registering your interest with an official Coordinating Provider is one of the first things you need to do to start an apprenticeship.

To find an apprenticeship and secure an apprenticeship work contract you can search apprenticeship vacancies on the Apprenticeship Jobs Portal . You can search for vacancies by location and by apprenticeship type.

Your local Education and Training Board may also hold details of employers seeking to employ an apprentice.

You should also directly connect with local employers who might be interested in taking on an apprentice. It is a great idea to get a part time job with a local employer who might be more inclined to take you on as an apprentice following a successful work experience placement or a part time job contract.

Further information about this apprenticeship may be available from the following organisations on this website:

Organisations supporting this apprenticeship

Where we know of supporting organisations we list these below:

Online Job Sites

Here are some direct links to employment websites that frequently list apprenticeship vacancies.

Note: These websites may include vacancies that are not QQI accredited Apprenticeships.

As an apprentice, you earn while you learn.

Employment Salary (On-the-job)
The employer pays you a salary while you are being trained on-the-job. The rate of pay is agreed between you and your employer.

Training Allowance (Off-the-job)
A training allowance is paid by the local Education and Training Board (ETB) while you are attending the off-the-job training. In some cases, a contribution towards travel or accommodation costs may be paid.

The sector the apprentice's employer is engaged in will determine the allowance payable. These allowances are calculated on the gross wages paid by industry in each sector. The hourly rates and weekly gross wage norms in the construction industry are listed below.

View more details on rates of pay at Connect Trade Union.     

(Connect is the largest trade union representing construction, electrical, and technical workers in Ireland.)

Apprentice Hourly Rates of Pay in the Construction Industry 

(Per Construction SEO Order SI 620 of 2024)

From 1st August 2025 to 31st July 2026 

• 1st Year.     33.33%.    €7.67
• 2nd year.    50%.        €11.50
• 3rd Year.     75%.        €17.25 
• 4th Year.     90%.        €20.70 

From 1st August 2026 

• 1st Year.    33.33%.       €7.91
• 2nd year.    50%.          €11.87
• 3rd Year.     75%.          €17.81 
• 4th Year.     90%           €21.37

View more details on rates of pay at Connect Trade Union    

View more Information on off-the-job payments here    .

FEES

Apprentices complete two of their three phases of off-the-job training in a higher education institution. A student contribution must be paid for this part of the training.

The amount of the student contribution is a proportion of the annual student contribution paid by students who are attending a full-time course in higher education. The student contribution is paid directly to the higher education institution.

The student contribution for this apprenticeship is €1,000 for Phase 4 and €1,000 for Phase 6.