Overview
Do you know what a Cabinetmaker is? A Cabinetmaker will layout, machine, assemble, install and finish products that are fabricated from wood, plastics and other materials. Many of these processes will combine conventional techniques with automated (CNC/CAD/CAM) procedures.
Cabinetmakers work in these areas for example:
- Architectural Woodwork (Millwork)
- Cabinets
- Commercial furnishings
- Residential furnishings
- Yacht interiors
- Specialty items
To become a certified journeyperson, you need to complete four years of apprenticeship training. Apprenticeship is a time-proven method of acquiring skills in the trade by combining technical in-school instruction with practical on-the-job training. Apprenticeship training is the best method for passing along trade skills from one generation to the next.
Check the Apprenticeship Training Schedules to see available training dates.
Your Safety is our Priority!
Check out our Cabinetmaking Safety Videos and more!
Entrance Requirements
Pathways
There are two ways of beginning your new career as a cabinetmaker (joiner) apprentice:
- Take our Cabinetmaker (Joiner) Foundation program. By working through a series of practical projects and assignments and theory assignments you'll build a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to make you more employable in an entry-level position. By successfully completing the program, you will also receive credit for the in-school portion of Level 1 of our Cabinetmaker (Joinery) Apprenticeship training.
- Find employment under a joiner who will register you with SkilledTradesBC. In this option, you are indentured to a company as an apprentice joiner, learning basic skills while you are employed. The advantage here is that you earn while you learn.
Entrance requirements
You must be an active apprentice registered with SkilledTradesBC to register for apprenticeship training at BCIT.
Recommended for success
Grade 10 education or equivalent*, including:
- English 10 or English language proficiency
- Any Math 10
- Science 10
*High school graduation is preferred.
Apprentices with medical or physical difficulties should contact Accessibility Services to arrange an interview with the Institute’s rehabilitation specialist.
International applicants
BCIT welcomes apprentice training requests from Canadian citizens and permanent residents only. View programs that accept international students
Scheduled Intakes
Multiple start dates each year.
Please refer to the Apprenticeship Training Schedule for availability of upcoming intakes.
Register for Apprentice Training
To register for apprentice training:
- Consult the training schedule to find a date that is suitable to both you and your employer.
- Create your BCIT ID if you don’t already have one.
- Register by phone or email.
- Pay the $200 commitment fee.
Disclosure of personal information & privacy notice
BCIT Apprentice Services reserves the right to communicate with SkilledTradesBC and your active employer sponsor about your registration, progress, and related academic information. BCIT also shares apprentice registration information with Work BC. If you have questions about the protection of your personal information, you may contact the BCIT Information Access and Privacy Office.
myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your apprentice training request, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT e-mail addresses. All correspondence regarding your training request will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We'll send you an e-mail when a new message is posted. It's important to watch for these e-mails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your training request within four weeks.
Costs & Supplies
Tuition fees
Use our tuition estimator to find tuition and fees for this program.
For more information on tuition and fees, visit Apprenticeship Training Tuition & Fees.
Books & supplies
Apprentices are expected to bring their CSA-approved steel-toed footwear. Cost of books is available at the BCIT Bookstore. Cost of additional supplies to be determined
Financial assistance
Income support for apprentices is provided by Human Resource Development Canada (HRDC) through regular Employment Insurance (EI) eligibility. For questions regarding Employment Insurance or Personal Support Payments, please visit the income support overview for current BCIT apprentices.
Courses
While serving an apprenticeship you acquire skills by combining technical in-school instruction with practical on-the-job training.
The Cabinetmaker (Joiner) apprenticeship program divides your technical in-school training into four distinct levels, 1 through 4. Each level builds on the knowledge gained in previous ones.
In addition to your in-school instruction, you’ll need to accrue four years of on-the-job training, working under the supervision of a qualified tradesperson.
While at BCIT, you’ll learn by:
- Receiving formal lectures in a classroom setting as well as on the shop floor
- Gaining practical experience by working through a set series of exercises and projects
- Challenging a series of written exams, based on your lectures and theory assignments
Class hours
0730-1400, Monday through Friday
Please refer to the Apprenticeship Training Schedule for class hours and availability of upcoming intakes.
Program matrix
| Level 1 (6 weeks) | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ACBM 1GAP | Cabinetmaker (Joinery) Apprentice Level 1 Final Grade (Harmonized) | 12.0 | |
| Level 2 (6 weeks) | Credits | ||
| ACBM 2GAP | Cabinetmaker (Joinery) Apprentice Level 2 Final Grade (Harmonized) | 12.0 | |
| Level 3 (6 weeks) | Credits | ||
| ACBM 3GAP | Cabinetmaker (Joinery) Apprentice Level 3 Final Grade (Harmonized) | 12.0 | |
| Level 4 (6 weeks) | Credits | ||
| ACBM 4GAP | Cabinetmaker (Joinery) Apprentice Level 4 Final Grade (Harmonized) | 12.0 | |
| Total Credits: | 48.0 | ||
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
Program Details
In BCIT’s Cabinetmaker (Joiner) program you’ll learn core skills for the trade, organized in a logical sequence and taught by qualified instructors who have worked in the industry. The program is designed so that comprehensive instructions are followed by a series of assignments and practical projects to give you the opportunity to hone your skills. Each level of apprenticeship training builds on the skills and knowledge you acquired in your previous training.
The scope of training in the Cabinetmaking department includes:
- Solving mathematical problems
- Identifying and selecting materials
- Identifying woodworking joints
- Applying layout techniques
- Using hand tools, portable power tools, and woodworking machines
- Using machining and assembly techniques
- Constructing a sash, door, and frame
- Building a staircase
- Making curved millwork
- Fabricating a veneered panel
- Applying a finish
- Installing millwork
- Drawing CAD shop drawings
- Using a CNC machine centre, CNC panel saw, and CAD/CNC software
- Describing manufacturing processes
For more detailed information about course content:
- Apprenticeship Training [PDF]
Program length
The total amount of in-school training for a joiner apprenticeship is 720 hours. There are four levels of training; each is six weeks in length.
Program delivery
In person: This program is delivered on campus.
Program location
Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC
Graduating & Jobs
Students that successfully complete their four levels of apprenticeship training and Red Seal exam qualify for BCIT’s Diploma (Apprenticeship). Graduates also have the option of receiving this diploma at BCIT’s convocation ceremonies.
As a Cabinetmaker, you could be employed in one or more of the following areas:
- Architectural Woodwork (Millwork) – This is a broad term for items such as mouldings, windows, doors, staircases, panelling and other products for all types of building construction. View millwork examples…
- Student work – Cabinetmaking is a rewarding and creative trade. Our students are constantly creating new and challenging projects that reflect traditional and modern cabinetmaking techniques. View some of our student projects and check out our BCIT Cabinetmaking Instagram page.
- Yacht interiors – This is a specialized form of Joinery that adapts standard trade practices to produce the cabinets and trim required for the boat building industry. This often requires cabinetmakers with good three-dimensional thinking to fit parts onto curved and irregular surfaces. View yacht interior examples…
- Specialty items – There are many woodworking companies specializing in items that do not fit neatly into one of the above categories, for example makers of musical instruments and sporting goods. View specialty item examples…
The scope of a Cabinetmaker’s responsibilities varies with the size and type of employer. When you set out to learn the trade, you should try to master all aspects. Your abilities to lay out, machine, assemble, finish, and install a wide variety of products to a high level of quality will give you the best chance for continued employment, career advancement, and receiving the highest pay levels.
Graduate employment outcomes
The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2021-2023 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2020-2022 graduates and for Degree 2019-2021 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.
To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
Credential
BCIT offers a Diploma of Trades Training for apprentices who have successfully completed their technical training at BCIT and have been granted a British Columbia Trades Qualification (IP/TQ). In trades where there is no requirement to complete a Trades Qualification (TQ), a Certificate of Apprenticeship is acceptable. Please see the BCIT apprenticeship training section of the website for more information.
Faculty, Advisors & Staff
If you still have any questions about our program after reviewing our web pages, please contact any one of us. It would be our pleasure to provide additional information.
For a list of our current Program Advisory Committee (PAC) members please see below.
Faculty and Staff
 |
Bill Nash, RSE Department Head Tel: 604-451-7162 Email: bnash@bcit.ca |
 |
Breena Jackson, RSE, M.Ed. Faculty Tel: 604-451-7163 Email: bjackson64@bcit.ca |
 |
Kyle Karlstedt, RSE Faculty Tel: 604-451-7016 Email: kyle_karlstedt@bcit.ca |
 |
Andrew Pavle, RSE Faculty Tel: 604-451-6812 Email: apavle@bcit.ca |
 |
Doug Smith, BEd, RSE Faculty Tel: 604-431-4962 Email: douglas_e_smith@bcit.ca |
 |
Devi Hite, RSE Faculty Tel: 604-456-8124 Email: devi_hite@bcit.ca |
| Nancy Smith Tool Room Attendant Tel: 604-432-8806 Email: nancy_smith@bcit.ca |
Advisory committee
- Reg Vidmar, chair, Peregrine Retail Design Manufacturing
- Glenda Harskamp, AWMAC
- Ken Simpson, Kitply Industries
- Monika Soos, Sofa Kitchens
- Jason Dugal, iakona Creations
- Tyler Hesketh, Towne Millwork Ltd
Contact Us
Bill Nash, TQ
Department Head
Tel: 604-451-7162
Email: bnash@bcit.ca
The Cabinetmaking building (NE-2) is located at the north end of BCIT’s Burnaby Campus, close to the intersection of Willingdon Avenue and Canada Way. The easiest access is from the Canada Way entrance at Beta Avenue. At the stoplight, turn south onto Beta and then take the next right at Smith Street. Continue on Smith. We are the fifth building down on your left hand side. Please note it will be labelled as the “Joinery” building as we change over to our new title of “Cabinetmaking”.
Metered visitor parking is available on the west side of the Inglis Building (NE-1), just across the street from our shop.
BCIT Apprentice Services
For more information on this or other apprenticeship programs, tuition fees and when programs are offered, please contact BCIT Apprentice Services at:
Office Location: Building SW1, First Floor
Burnaby campusPhone: 604-456-8100
1-800-667-0676 (BC)Fax: 604-435-1197 On the web: bcit.ca/apprenticeship
BCIT Apprentice Services can assist apprentices with their registration, tuition fee payments, and other details.
Anyone interested in registering as an apprentice can contact SkilledTradesBC at 778-328-8700 or 1-866-660-6011 (BC). BCIT's Apprentice Services can also assist individuals interested in entering apprentice training.
Questions or comments?
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