On the Apprentice Program page, learn more about the 12-week paid apprentice program that is centered on building the next-generation trades worker.

Apprentice Program

We’re building the future of the trades industry – one person at a time

The Forge Apprentice Program is for people looking to start a career in carpentry and construction.

Here’s how it works:

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Step 1

12 weeks of paid, foundational training

Our program starts with 12 weeks of full-time training, where apprentices are paid $15/hour to learn specific carpentry skills, preparing them to join specialized crews in the field.

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Step 2

Graduate into a full-time position on our team

Program graduates are hired for a full-time role on the Forge pro team, which comes with a pay increase, medical insurance, a 401k, and other benefits like paid gas.

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Step 3

Continue to learn and grow on one of our crews

Apprentices continue to learn from experienced pros in small crews, and receive performance feedback every three months.

Crew lead opportunities are available to apprentices who excel and want to grow into a leadership role.

Foundational Training

What apprentices learn

Our hands-on training is a combo of foundational carpentry instruction and specialized skill building that’s specific to what apprentices will do in the field after the program. Apprentices learn:

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Framing walls with window and door openings

Door and window installations

Cabinet installations and trim work

Use of basic carpentry hand and power tools

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Use of our internally developed technology

OSHA-10, tool, and ladder safety practices

Job site setup, containment, and cleanup

Is our apprentice program right for you?

If you want to learn new skills, work hard, and start a new career in carpentry, then the odds are that yes, it is. Here at Forge, we’re building a diverse and inclusive trades workforce, and our apprentice program is where it all starts. Join us and become part of the next generation of tradespeople.

What you DON’T need:

Any professional trades experience (although a natural ability to work with tools and build things will help you be successful).

What you DO need:

A US driver’s license and a vehicle, to consent to a background check, and to be eligible to work in the United States.

In the typical apprentice class:

29%

identify as female, nonbinary, or transgender

71%

have no prior professional trades experience

66%

don’t have a higher ed degree

69%

of participants graduate

Whether you want to start a trades career, take yours further, or move it in a different direction, the Forge Apprenticeship Program allows you to pursue that dream.

Apply Now

Get inspired to join our apprentice program

Take a different post-secondary path.

Change your career

Build on your trades experience

Break into the trades

Grow your trades career

Michael

Meet

Michael

Apprentice Carpenter

Michael’s passion for carpentry started in high school, where he built sets and props for the theater department. After high school, Michael wanted to pursue a career working with his hands. When he learned about the Forge Apprentice Program, he was immediately drawn to it, because it allowed him to build on his previous experience, learn new skills, and get a job in the trades after graduation.

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I’m looking to enhance my career in carpentry and gain valuable knowledge about the construction field.

Brittany

Meet

Brittany

Apprentice Program Coordinator

Brittany had a great career in healthcare, but she always wanted to work with her hands. Forge was perfect because our apprentice program provided her with an income while she was trained in new skills — and not having to pay tuition meant she was able to support her family as she started her new career journey.

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The desire to dismantle the artificial barriers for women in the trades empowers me to show up every day.

Eli

Meet

Eli

Junior Carpenter

After working as a welder, Eli was looking to take his trades career to the next level. The Forge apprentice program allowed Eli to expand his skills by learning carpentry and construction. After completing the apprentice program, Eli joined a residential construction crew at Forge, where he is able to use both his welding experience and his new carpentry skills in a new phase of his career.

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I found a love of carpentry thanks to Forge. Now I couldn’t be happier!

Alex D

Meet

Alex D

Junior Crew Lead

As a woman, Alex was never sure how to get started in a trades career, despite serious interest. Fortunately for us and her, she discovered Forge, completed the apprentice program, joined a crew, and continued to develop the skills she worked on in the program. A year later, Alex is now managing a job site as a crew leader with two to three crew members.

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Forge was one of the only places I found that had what I was looking for, which was a very clear way to get my skills up to speed and to learn what it means to be a carpenter.

Alex

Meet

Alex

Junior Crew Lead

With some professional trades experience, Alex was just looking for a company where he could grow his career as a carpenter. So he completed our apprentice program and worked on the specialized window crew for about a year, where he trained under one of our carpentry supervisors to develop his skills. Alex now leads one of our window crews and helps less experienced Forge team members grow themselves.

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My first experience with carpentry was when I would help my grandfather build pieces of furniture. That is what led me to becoming a carpenter and working with Forge. I really enjoy the precision and attention to detail that finish carpentry requires.

Great training can’t happen without great trainers: meet our instructors.

Each apprentice program class is taught by a different pro (with the help of a teaching assistant), but there are a few faces you’ll always see around the workshop.

Christof

Christof got his start in the trades by working at his dad’s sawmill in his native South Africa. The creator of the apprentice program curriculum and overseer of all of our program operations and training initiatives, Christof has years of experience as a cabinet and furniture maker. He is extremely passionate about sharing all he has learned with the trades workers of tomorrow.

Christof

Head of Apprentice Program

Christof

Head of Apprentice Program

Christof got his start in the trades by working at his dad’s sawmill in his native South Africa. The creator of the apprentice program curriculum and overseer of all of our program operations and training initiatives, Christof has years of experience as a cabinet and furniture maker. He is extremely passionate about sharing all he has learned with the trades workers of tomorrow.

Read more

Nick

When Nick was growing up, he would watch his stepdad work, never expecting to follow in his footsteps — but he’s glad he did. Nick saw how Forge is changing the trades industry, and he wanted to be a part of it. A 2021 graduate of the apprentice program, Nick now works as an Apprentice Program Coordinator. He loves helping others discover their passion for carpentry and watching them grow.

Nick

Apprentice Program Coordinator

Nick

Apprentice Program Coordinator

When Nick was growing up, he would watch his stepdad work, never expecting to follow in his footsteps — but he’s glad he did. Nick saw how Forge is changing the trades industry, and he wanted to be a part of it. A 2021 graduate of the apprentice program, Nick now works as an Apprentice Program Coordinator. He loves helping others discover their passion for carpentry and watching them grow.

Read more

Brittany

A Massachusetts native, Brittany comes from a family of artists and tradespeople. Her father was an artisan and master carpenter, and Brittany always wanted to get into the trades herself but never quite knew how. The Forge Apprentice Program changed that, though, and she switched careers in 2021. After completing the program, Brittany now works as an Apprentice Program Coordinator and plays a key role in keeping the workshop running smoothly.

Brittany

Apprentice Program Coordinator

Brittany

Apprentice Program Coordinator

A Massachusetts native, Brittany comes from a family of artists and tradespeople. Her father was an artisan and master carpenter, and Brittany always wanted to get into the trades herself but never quite knew how. The Forge Apprentice Program changed that, though, and she switched careers in 2021. After completing the program, Brittany now works as an Apprentice Program Coordinator and plays a key role in keeping the workshop running smoothly.

Read more

Interested in joining one of our teams?

Check out the open roles.

Apply now

Frequently asked questions.
Answered.

Does the program cost anything?

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How much is the pay?

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What am I expected to bring or purchase?

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Who can apply?

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Can I just do the 12-week training program if I don’t want a full-time job afterward?

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Is there an age limit?

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Do I need any prior experience to apply?

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What are the program requirements?

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What specific skills or specialties does the program focus on?

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Where are classes held?

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What happens when the 12 weeks are over?

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What kind of construction company is Forge, and what kind of work would I be doing on a crew?

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