Apprenticeship is a training program where you earn wages while learning to become a skilled carpenter. Apprenticeship combines classroom studies with on-the-job training supervised by a trade professional. Much like a college education, it takes several years to become fully trained in the trade that you choose except you get paid while coming to school and also during the on-the-job training. The rewards of apprenticeship training are the good wages and benefits you receive as a member in the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (over a half million members in the United States and Canada). These members work for qualified contractors under the protection of union contracts. This means you will become eligible to have health insurance, a pension and an annuity.