Construction Carpentry
CONSTRUCTION CARPENTRY (CIP Code: 46.0201)

Skilled carpenters are in great demand! The Construction Carpentry program provides thorough instruction through hands-on projects and various shop demonstrations. Don’t be afraid to try the Construction Carpentry program even if you’ve never picked up a tool before. The program covers instruction in the safe and proper use of hand and power tools, and will help build your foundation for success.
Instructor: Mr. Jamal Kirby (jkirby@nmtcc.org)
Please see the tabs below for more detailed information about the program.
- Program Overview and Outcomes
- Pre-Apprenticeship
- Industry Certifications
- Cooperative Education Opportunities
- Task List
- Course Materials/Required Tool Kit
- Classroom Expectations
- Honors Course
- Acknowledgements
Program Overview and Outcomes
Construction Carpentry is a three to four-year program. The objective of this program is to prepare students to enter the Carpentry field with well-rounded entry-level skills in a variety of Carpentry focuses. Students in this program will learn Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Carpentry skills and concepts. Upon completing the program, students will be prepared to enter the workforce and be college-ready.
Career/College
Some possible careers include:
Carpenter’s Helper
Cabinet Maker
Carpenter
Furniture Maker
General Contractor
Kitchen Installer
Roofing Installer
CNC Operator
Siding Installer
Insulation Installer
Drywall Installer
Drywall Finisher
Painter
Renovation Specialist
Floor Covering Installer
Window and Door Installer
Deck Installer
Laborer
Pathways to college:
- PDE SOAR Agreements
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
- 1:1 Agreements
Johnson College
St. Frances University
Profile of a Graduate
Pre-Apprenticeship
This program is a Registered Pre-Apprenticeship designed to prepare students for entry into Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) or related employment opportunities. It facilitates individual success through career training, support services, mentorship, and exposure to apprenticeship offers. Students participate in authentic learning experiences, including field trips to registered apprenticeship sponsors, networking events, job fairs, and resume/interview support. Upon completion, students receive a Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate of Completion from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, demonstrating their commitment to the trade and readiness for employment or advanced training.
Industry Certifications
Cooperative Education Opportunities
Cooperative Education allows students to be employed during the school day while gaining meaningful instruction in a technical area, applying classroom knowledge to real-world experiences and developing life-long career skills. Students may be allowed to go to work for a number of days determined by their teacher and the cooperative education coordinator.
Task List
A program task list is an instructional tool to measure the technical competency of a student. During your enrollment in the Carpentry program, you will be taught and assessed on the following tasks:
-100 Safety/Occupational Orientation
-200 Hand Tools
-300 Power Tools
-400 Blueprint Reading
-500 Site Prep and Layout
-600 Footings and Foundations
-700 Floor Framing
-800 Wall Framing
-900 Roof Framing
-1000 Exterior Finish
-1100 Interior Finish
- 1200 Estimation
Course Materials/Required Tool Kit
Each program may require the student to purchase a “uniform” of some type in keeping with that trade. See below for a complete list of tools, uniforms, and safety items required for the Carpentry program.
All students are also required to pay an activity fee of thirty-five dollars ($35) – (separate check made payable to “North Montco Technical Career Center” or payable online)
Safety rules and regulations will be reviewed and posted. Students are required to follow all rules and regulations. Students must wear school IDs at all times in the building. State law requires students to wear approved safety glasses in the lab area at all times. If your child already wears prescription glasses, another style of safety glasses is available to wear over his/her glasses. Long hair must be tied back, and earrings, necklaces, or jewelry of any type are not permitted to be worn in the lab area. In addition, shorts, sneakers, and sandals are not permitted at any time.
See below for a list of tools, uniforms, and safety items (with approximate costs) required for the Construction Carpentry program:
- Relaxed Fit Heavyweight Duck Carpenter Pants (men's) $50
- FLEX Relaxed Straight Fit Duck Carpenter Pants (women's) $50
- Leather shoes or work boots (w/tan soles and steel/safety toe) $30 to $150
- Two Carpentry t-shirts and one Carpentry hoodie are required for the uniform and can be purchased using this link.
- Toolbelt $35
- Toolkit $275 can be purchased using this link.
-
Textbooks / Learning Management System / Communication
Textbooks and assignments will be accessed through our Canvas learning management system. The textbook used in class is:
Carpentry Textbook and Workbook and NCCER Carpentry
NMTCC provides students with a Google Account and a Canvas account. To access these accounts, see below for links, username and password format:
Google account: https://www.gmail.com
Canvas account: https://nmtcc.instructure.com/login/canvas
Username: (first initial) (last name) (2-digit graduation year)@students.nmtcc.org
Password: 9-digit student ID number (found on back of ID card)
Example: username: jdoe24@students.nmtcc.org
password: 000012345
Required Tool Kit
The tool kit is to be purchased through the school at a cost of $275.
The kit includes:
- 15-in-1 painters' multi-tool with stainless steel blade
- Faming hammer
- Black fine point jobsite permanent marker (4-pack)
- Material estimator calculator
- 8 in. bear claw nail puller
- Maxfit ultra steel screwdriving/drill bit set (120 piece) with large tough case
- 14 in. stainless steel mud pan
- Heavy-duty utility blades with dispenser (50-pack)
- Hammer-end joint knife
- 3/4 in. brass stair gauges (2-pack)
- 7 in. speed square/carpenter square layout tool with black gradations and speed clip
- 3-piece nail set
- 25ft locking tape measure
- Carpenter pencils with original sharpener (10-pack)
- 6 in. pocket combination square with stainless steel blade and bubble level
- Straight cut compound action aviation snip
- Quick-change retractable utility knife
- Cast aluminum chalk reel in blue
To pay for the Construction Carpentry Tool Kit by credit card, please use the online payment link.
Tool Kit Order Form
Classroom Expectations
- Daily Class Procedures
- Classroom Rules
- Safety
- Physical Criteria
- Grading Policy
- Attendance Policy
- Senior Portfolio
Daily Class Procedures
Students will secure their cell phones in an assigned phone locker upon arrival. No use of earbuds is allowed. Students will then change into the program uniform in the locker room. Students will not loiter in the locker room. Students will return to the classroom, sit down, work on the daily assignment, and wait for further instruction from the teacher. Students will stay productive throughout the class period. Students will start cleaning up a minimum of 10 minutes before dismissal times (some jobs may require a longer cleanup time). Lecture or theoretical time is approximately 20% of the class, consisting of computer and direct instruction. Practical skills time is approximately 80% of the class time.
Classroom Rules
- Cell phones must be placed in the provided cell phone locker during class and shop time.
- You must read and follow all school rules.
- Do not talk when someone else is talking.
- Hall passes will only be issued when absolutely necessary and no more than one student will be permitted to leave class at any given time.
- Never touch any equipment unless instructed to or given permission to do so.
- Equipment is to NEVER leave the classroom unless authorized.
- Please treat other people’s property as you would like people to treat your property.
- Personal items MUST be placed in locked lockers at the end of each class.
- Your best effort is expected at all times.
- You are expected to follow all lab rules and instructions given by your instructor in order to participate. Failure to follow lab rules will result in a work ethic grade deduction for that day.
- Using the equipment and technology is a privilege. When you, or other people, are using the equipment and technology, your behavior and conduct are to comply with the teacher’s instructions.
- You may only use the equipment and technology when told to do so.
- You may not use the equipment or technology for any other reason, except for the purpose explained by the teacher. At any time, the teacher has the right to take away or forbid the use of the equipment or technology for any amount of time.
- Students are responsible for the proper care and maintenance of all equipment and technology used in this program. In the case of a student destroying or damaging the equipment or technology, the student may be responsible for reimbursement of the equipment or technology.
- Use of foul language is prohibited
Discipline Procedures:
- First act of misbehaving for the school year is a warning.
- Second act of misbehaving for the school year will be a loss of lab privileges and an alternate assignment for the day.
- Third act of misbehaving for the school year is a write-up and a phone call home.
- Fourth act of misbehaving for the school year, we create a behavior contract and a phone call home.
- Fifth act of misbehaving for the school year, you are referred to the Dean of Students and a phone call home.
- Each discipline infraction will result in points deducted from your work ethic grade
Safety
Safety is not an option! Safety is YOUR responsibility! Students are required to follow all rules and regulations. In addition to following all NMTCC’s listed and/ or posted safety and MSDS Policies, refer to the specific equipment manufacturer’s user, operator, or consumer guides and or shop manuals for complete safety details when using any equipment. Students are not permitted to use any equipment or tools unless they have received and documented they have received the appropriate safety instruction. Safety glasses are REQUIRED at all times while work is being performed in the lab area.
Potential Safety Hazards:
- Hand and power tools
- Use of ladders
- Exposure to outdoor elements
Physical Criteria
Grading Policy
Knowledge grades are based on quizzes, tests, worksheets, and homework. Knowledge grades are 30% of the grade.
Skill grades are based upon visual assessments, job completion, and data-based proof of skills. Skills grades are 40% of the grade.
Work Ethics are graded daily and applied to the overall rubric during the course of the task at hand. Work ethic is 30% of the grade.
Every assignment will have a grading rubric for reference on how you are being evaluated.
Attendance Policy
Due to the amount of work it takes to complete some of the assignments, your attendance is essential to get the most out of your learning experience. If you are going to be absent or late, please have your parent or guardian email nmattendance@nmtcc.org, call the school or bring in a note. Students who are absent will receive a Work Ethic grade of a "0" for the day. If the absence is excused, the student will receive a Work Ethic grade of a "5" with an opportunity to make up the assignment and have their Work Ethic grade changed to a "10". Students who are late will receive a Work Ethic grade of a "5" for the day. If the lateness is excused, the student will receive a Work Ethic grade of a "5" with an opportunity to make up the assignment and have their Work Ethic grade changed to a "10".
Senior Portfolio
Every student must complete a Senior Portfolio. Portfolios will be created by following the sequence of grade-level assignments. Senior Portfolio artifacts will be graded per program expectations and assignment criteria and will be included in the marking period grade for which the assignment is due. Portfolios will be housed in their Google Drive. Students will be able to take the portfolios with them or have access to them after graduation.
Honors Course
Students have the opportunity to enroll in the Honors level course of their CTE program. The Honors course is for 12th-grade students who have demonstrated a high level of interest and achievement in their program and who aspire to an advanced level of learning. Students in the Honors course will be exposed to individualized industry-related advanced work, rigorous study of CTE subject matter with embedded academic content, and practical application of knowledge and skills to work-based situations. Students must meet the required prerequisites and submit a completed Academic Teacher Recommendation form during their 11th-grade year to be considered for the Honors level course.
Prerequisites:
100% of POS Tasks
GPA of >90% in CTE program
GPA of >80% in academic courses
Recommendation Form completed by academic teacher
Specific Industry Certification:
- OSHA 10-hour Course
- SP/2 Construction Safety
- Ladder Safety Certifications
Acknowledgements
Parents are asked to review and acknowledge the program information by either:
-
Visiting the Parent Portal using this link, or
-
Signing the program syllabus distributed in class and returning it to the program teacher.



