High School Pre-Apprenticeship Programs

High schools that lack a formal CTE space or teacher can now offer a recognized pre-apprenticeship program that offers up to 16 college credit hours. The program uses only hand tools so can be set up in almost any classroom and when offered as an elective, does not require a CTE certification or extra insurance. 

Students also earn certificates for each level completed and gain exposure to the Carpenters Union. Post high school, students may apply to the Carpenters Union apprenticeship program or use credits towards degrees.

Teachers are trained and supported by Maplewoodshop which also provides all equipment and project materials. Curriculum, rubrics, assessments, and pacing guides provided by the Carpenters International Training Fund are approved in all 50 states.

Benefits

  • Earn up to 16 transferable college credits in high school with Career Connections from the Carpenters International Training Fund (CITF).

  • Curriculum approved in all 50 states.

  • Implement in any room using only hand-powered tools

  • Staff with any credentialed teacher by offering as an elective.

  • Pathways towards apprenticeships with the Carpenters Union

  • Early exposure to the trades

  • Collaboration, resiliency, design thinking

  • Tactile, project based learning

“I have to give all the credit to Maplewoodshop. They are the ones that helped in our brainstorming with Mike Schloff, the owner and CEO of Maplewoodshop… And I said, Mike, why don’t we just send kits and so our students get hand tools, no power tools. So that’s key. They also get a workbench, and we send them the lumber. It all comes from Maplewoodshop.”
— JD Smith,Director of Career Readiness at the Reach Cyber Charter School

Features

  • Professional Development for your teachers.

  • No CTE certification required

  • All hand powered tools and portable equipment

  • State recognized curriculum called Career Connections from the Carpenters International Training Fund (CITF)

  • Rubrics and assessment included

  • All project materials provided ready to use

  • Math training using hands-on learning

  • Exposure to the EASRCC and its local council representatives

“The Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical College is excited to partner with Maplewoodshop. The future of skilled trade apprenticeship programs are very bright due to programs of this nature & level.”
— Robert Smith, Executive Training Director at Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical College

Bring hands-on learning to life with Maplewoodshop lesson plans, where students gain essential woodworking skills while building confidence, creativity, and resilience.

Available in any room with any teacher

Maplewoodshop has adapted Project Books 1, 2, and Book 3 - Residential Construction to work with its integrated combination of hand tool based portable woodworking equipment, train-the-trainer professional development, curriculum and support, as well as project materials. PLEASE NOTE: Schools will purchase Career Connections directly from the EASRCC.

When Career Connections is offered as an elective in high schools, the teacher does not need to have any special certifications and due to the use of only hand tools, the school does not need to take out any additional insurance. 

Schools that wish to add select power tools, such as cordless drills, may opt to do so at their discretion. 

Maplewoodshop provides additional tools appropriate to Career Connections, additional lesson plans and training, and all required project materials.

Table 1
Carpentry 1 Carpentry 2  Carpentry 3
Three Year Plan: 9th or 10th 10th or 11th
 11th or 12th
Two Year Plan: Can be completed in a Semester meeting 5 days a week. Can be completed in a Semester meeting 5 days a week. Typically runs full year.
Curriculum: Project Book 1 + One Trade Many Careers Project Book 2 + Math for the Trades Project Book 3: Residential Building
Projects:

Sanding block
String Art
Tower Blox
CITF Birdhouse
CITF Tool Box
CITF Bookcase
CITF Step Stool

25 estimated hours of project time.

CITF Storage Chest
CITF Notched Top Sawhorse
CITF Bevel Top Sawhorse
CITF Folding Portable Workbench
Wave Hill Chair
Little Free Library

30 estimated hours of project time.

CITF Stair Step Bookcase
CITF Dog House






45 estimated hours of project time.

Certification of Completion and
Issuance of College Credits

The EASRCC partners with Thomas Edison State University (TESU) to offer 16 credit hours upon completion of books 1, 2 and either Book 3. The teacher submits documentation attesting that a given student has demonstrated the competencies for each project book to the EASRCC which then provides certificates of completion. 

The student may then submit the three certificates of completion for books 1, 2 and 3 to TESU along with a nominal registration fee (currently $420) to receive 16 credits which may be used in any university or college nationwide.

Further, if the student attends TESU, they may use these credits towards:

  • AAS Construction and Facilities Support

  • BS Construction

  • BS Technical Studies

Learn more about transcripts at the  Thomas Edison State University Site