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Chicago Regional Council
of Carpenters

How Do I Learn Cabinetmaking and Millwork? Training for cabinetmakers and millworkers is generally available through local labor-management apprenticeship committees. These committees, made up of contractor and union representatives, make sure you get proper instruction while you are working to earn a good wage. The first thing to do is call your local Mill/Cabinet or Carpenters union to get more information. And remember, cabinetmakers and millworkers are members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, a proud organization of more than 650,000 members. Check it out!

	What Is An Apprentice? An apprentice is someone who is learning a trade while working under the guidance of skilled workers of that trade, called journeymen. Apprenticeship is on-the-job training. You earn while you learn and you are paid a wage from the first day you become an apprentice. Today, many women are training as apprentices, too. Beginning apprentices usually start at about half of the journeymen rate of pay. Your wages are increased periodically, usually every six months, until you reach the full journeyman scale at the end of the apprenticeship period. In most cases the length of your apprenticeship is four years, with no cost to you for the training. What a bargain!
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