Building Trades-Carpentry students are trained to construct residential structures using both standard and sustainable building materials. Students will prepare for this career through a blend of classroom theory and hands-on experience. Students will become adept at using hand tools, portable power tools, and other equipment common in the carpentry profession, as well as working with lumber, panel products, concrete, roofing materials, fasteners, and a variety of hardware. The skills needed for site layout and foundation work, rough framing, roof framing, and exterior and interior finish work will also be developed. In addition, blueprint reading, math, and estimating components will be studied.
  • Overview

  • Is This Program for You?

    Do you like making things and working with your hands? Are you detail-oriented and do you enjoy physical work in the outdoors? A career in Building Trades-Carpentry may be for you.

    Students entering the Building Trades-Carpentry program should:

    • Enjoy hard physical work.
    • Enjoy working outdoors at times.
    • Be able to lift 100 pounds.
    • Have good hand eye coordination.
    • Be concerned with detail and accuracy.

    Program Basics

    • Technical diploma, requiring a minimum of one year to complete.
    • Day classes.
    • High school articulation courses accepted.
    • Financial aid available.
    • Classes start in August.
  • Curriculum & Costs

  • It is the student's responsibility to purchase and wear a hard hat.

    Cost of Attendance (COA) 26-27

    Cost of Attendance (COA) is a total of all the usual expenses of being a student. The COA sets the maximum amount of financial aid a student can receive.

    Category Amount
    Tuition and Fees $5,240
    Living Expenses (Housing and Food) $10,910
    Books and Supplies $1,463
    Personal Expenses $3,084
    Transportation 3,899
    Charger Tech 360 Fee $700
    Loan Fees $85
    Yearly Total (Living Away from Home) $25,381
    1 Semester Total (Living Away from Home) $12,691

    Based on Wisconsin Residents.

    Approximate school costs are for a full-time (12 credit) student over a semester span of 17 weeks.

    Fees are legislated by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.

    These costs are estimates and are subject to change without notice.

  • Admissions & Requirements

  • Admission Requirements


    Academic Preparedness Requirements

      Before you can be fully accepted into your program, you need to complete the requirements below. These are the same requirements you may see in your SWTC Student Portal.

    • Submit Official High School, College, Military Transcripts, and Test Scores (Not Required)
      Have documents sent directly to:
      • Email: admissions@swtc.edu
      • Mail: Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, Attn: Admissions, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809
    • Meet with Your Advisor for an Admissions Meeting
      Schedule an admission meeting with your program advisor to complete your student success plan, including a career assessment and academic map and support plan.

      To schedule your meeting, go to the Appointments page. Find your advisor in the list, then select Make an Appointment under their contact information.

      Appointments are available on campus or virtually.

      • If you want to check which of these requirements you still need to complete, log in to your SWTC Student Portal, go to My Profile → Document Center, and make sure All Programs is selected.

  • Outcomes

  • Program Outcomes

    At the completion of the program, students are expected to be able to:

    • Use hand and power tools and equipment
    • Apply industry recognized safety practices and procedures
    • Analyze sustainable building practices
    • Interpret construction drawings
    • Interpret building codes
    • Demonstrate industry building practices and material application
    • Attain the OSHA 10-hour course completion card as an orientation to occupational safety and health for workers in the construction field.
  • Career Opportunities

  • The U.S. Department of Labor and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development statistics show that carpenters will continue to be in strong demand as both one of the top 30 occupations with the most annual openings and occupations with the most employed. Local job market data also supports the need for entry-level carpenters who have a good foundational background of knowledge and skills along with a desire to work. Carpenters may work alone or for small or large contractors. They may specialize in certain aspects of the trade such as rough or finish carpentry, remodeling, or repair work. They may build residential, agricultural, and/or commercial buildings.

    Southwest Tech's Career Services Center offers services to assist students looking for job placement.

    Find a Job
  • Transfers
  • Prior Learning

  • Credit for Prior Learning

    Experience Pays! You've Been There... You've Done That... Let's See If You Can Get Credit For It!

    Credit for prior learning gives you opportunities to earn credit for college-level knowledge that you have already acquired. This may be the result of work or volunteer experiences, certifications, apprenticeships, military training, extensive self-instruction, or professional development. Credit for Prior Learning affords you the opportunity to accelerate the completion of your educational goals.

    For more information on Credit for Prior Learning see our Credit for Prior Learning page.

    Building Trades-Carpentry Courses that may have Credit for Prior Learning options:

    Course # Course Title
    Challenge Exam
    (Demonstration)
    Challenge Exam
    (Standard)
    CLEP
    Credential
    Portfolio
    31-801-310Workplace CommunicationYes
    31-804-305Applied MathematicsYes
    College Mathematics CLEP Test would also be accepted.