25 February 2025
How to Become a Carpenter in the UK
6 minutes
If you’re curious about how to become a carpenter, you’re showing interest in a vocation that never goes out of style. As long as people have needed benches, buildings and bridges, carpenters have got to work.
In this article, we’ll take you through the various avenues you can follow to get into carpentry. We’ll also answer your most pressing carpentry questions, such as how long it takes to become one and how much money you can expect to make.
Let’s dive in.
How to get into carpentry
You don’t need a specific qualification to practice as a carpenter. Employers will have their own requirements for the experience and skills they need for a job.
However, there are important steps that you can take to prepare yourself for a career in carpentry, including formal education and apprenticeships.
Here’s how to get started.
How to start out as a carpenter
- Check to see if it’s the right job for you.
While associated with woodwork, carpenters work with a range of different building materials, including metal, fibreglass and plastic.
Carpenters work in a range of locations, including workshops, construction sites and clients’ homes and offices. Their varied work includes:
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- Getting timber ready to be used as a building material by measuring, cutting, and shaping it.
- Designing projects which can include everything from furniture to skyscrapers.
- Working with technical drawings to bring to life the designs of others.
- Installing exterior elements such as floors, roofs and walls in homes and offices
- Installing interior elements such as doors, staircases and cupboards in homes and offices
- Working on major public infrastructure such as bridges, dams, and roads.
Whether you’re looking to make a career shift into carpentry or are a school leaver just starting your working life, the first step is to understand precisely what carpentry entails so that you can see if it’s right for you.
The first question to ask is will you even like this job? Do you enjoy working with building materials and power tools? Do you mind dusty environments? How much do you like working with others? (Carpenters are often on a team.)
Many colleges offer short courses in carpentry-related subjects such as woodworking and joining. It’s not a bad idea to start by dipping your toes in the water before diving in.
- Start your training.
If you’ve decided that your carpentry is a good fit for you, the next step is to start gaining the skills you need to work in the profession. It’s not mandatory to have a specific qualification to work as a carpenter. However, having a certification behind your name will not only increase your chances of getting hired in the future but will also ensure you have sufficient training to excel in it.
The top 2 certification types to know are:
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- The National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)
- T Levels, specifically aimed at 16 to 19-year-olds who are just entering the job market.
NVQ in Carpentry
An NVQ is a certification of your expertise in your trade according to a set of national standards. It shows future employers, clients, and health and safety bodies how skilled you are at your profession.
An NVQ Level 2 Carpentry certification will give you the skills and paperwork you need to enter the industry as a skilled professional. These trade qualifications include a one-on-one assessment in your workplace to check your skill level. Assessors will also look at a portfolio of work that you have completed.
There are various ways that you can become NVQ-certified in carpentry. A popular option if you are just starting out is to get your qualification through a college that offers diplomas geared towards the NVQ.
But this is not the only route. You can also secure an apprenticeship with a company. You can work towards your NVQs under the supervision of a working professional which will also provide you key insights into how the industry functions. This is a valuable model for those who are looking to earn while they learn.
If you are looking at going the college route, your next step is to find an institution that’s a good fit for you.
The National Careers Service offers this tool to help you with your course search. Type in your location and the kind of job you are looking for and it will point you in the direction of online and in-person courses in your area.
The same type of search tool exists for you to find apprenticeships. You can access it here.
After looking at the available options in your area, consider what kind of course you’re interested in taking. Diploma types include:
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- Construction Carpentry
- Carpentry and Joinery
- Site Carpentry
- Site Construction
You are usually eligible to take a:
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- Level 2 course if you have 2 or more GCSEs with a grade of 3 or above.
- Level 3 course if you have 4 or 5 GSCEs with a grade of 4 or above.
However, it’s important to check with the college you’re interested in to understand their specific entry requirements.
T Levels
T Levels have been introduced in England for young people (16 to 19-year-olds) looking to go into technical careers
This two-year technical qualification is equivalent to three A Levels. To be eligible, you’ll need 4 or 5 GCSEs (including English and Maths) with a grade of 4 or above.
Use this government search tool to find a school that offers T Levels in your area.
NOTE: If you need help funding your studies, the government offers various resources to assist you with the cost of your education.
The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund is aimed at helping those studying at publicly funded schools or colleges in England or who are on a training course. The money can be used for anything related to your education, such as equipment, books, and transport. Find out all the details here.
- Keep gaining skills
For technical trades, there’s nothing better than on-the-job training to improve your skills. Keep gaining practical experience and build a strong portfolio with high-resolution images of your work that you can show future employers and clients.
You may want to level up your NVQs by getting your skills assessed in a particular area, such as construction management for example, that you want to focus on.
If you want to work on a construction site, you may need to apply for a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card. You can do so here.
These cards are aimed at improving health and safety standards in the UK by verifying that construction workers are qualified to do their jobs. If you have achieved an NVQ Level 2, you will be eligible for a blue Skilled Worker Card.
Career paths for carpenters
Carpenters are needed in a variety of contexts, including construction sites, interior furnishings, and film set building.
If you work for a large company, you can work towards becoming a project manager or construction team leader. Another option is to start your own business, take on apprentices and help others follow the same path as you.
Yet another path is to follow a niche interest. You may want to focus on constructing film and stage sets or restoring heritage buildings.
Becoming a carpenter FAQs
How long does it take to become a qualified carpenter?
In total, you can expect to finish your diploma in two years. This will give you an NVQ Level 2 or 3 qualification, depending on where you’re at in your journey.
Remember that formal education is not the only route to becoming a carpenter — so there’s no definite timeline that will apply to everyone.
How much do carpenters make in the UK? According to the National Careers Service, carpenters start with an average salary of £17,000 for a 40 to 45-hour work week and can work their way to £38,000. However, this is not necessarily the ceiling, particularly if you start a successful business or gain a top-tier position in a thriving company.
How to become a carpenter: Quickfire summary
By becoming a carpenter, you’ll join an age-old profession that is always in need.
There are various routes you can take to fulfil your dream of becoming a carpenter. You may want to attend formal training at a college that caters towards technical professions. You can also secure an apprenticeship and learn from experienced professionals while on the job.
Though not mandatory, getting your NVQ Level 2 or T certification will make it easier for you to secure employment.
Carpenters are needed in a range of industries including construction, arts and entertainment, and interior furnishings — so there are many places to discover your niche.
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