Essential Information
There are a total of 95 public and private, not-for-profit colleges in Virginia. Individuals interested in woodworking can find classes at three community colleges. Training ranges from certificate to diploma programs in carpentry and woodworking. Listed below are overviews of three schools that have woodworking programs available.
Patrick Henry Community College
Located in Martinsville, Patrick Henry Community College offers a non-credit fine woodworking and woodturning certificate program that takes two semesters to complete. Students can learn how to build and design custom furniture, start a woodworking business and construct wood accessories. Coursework also covers hand tools and woodworking machines, finishing techniques, wood characteristics, wood veneering and wood bending. The program includes a fine woodworking laboratory component that provides students with hands-on skills development.
Southwest Virginia Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College can be found in Richlands and has a two-semester carpentry program. Students are trained in building framework, reading blueprints, following building codes, erecting walls, installing flooring, constructing roofs and laying bricks. Most building courses require a laboratory component where students receive hands-on experience. The program may feature a mix of classroom and online coursework and can prepare students to work in a variety of capacities, such as carpenters or remodel technicians.
Wytheville Community College
Wytheville-based Wytheville Community College has a construction technology diploma program with a carpentry specialization that can prepare students to work as framers, carpenters or construction contractors. This five-semester program features courses in blueprint reading, building codes, shop practices, construction estimating, carpentry framing, construction management and entrepreneurship. Students also participate in cooperative education for professional experience and complete an internship or final project.
School Comparison: At a Glance
| School Name | School Type and Setting | Woodworking Programs Offered | Undergraduate Tuition (2018-2019)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Henry Community College | Two-year; public; fringe rural | Fine Woodworking and Woodturning Certificate of Completion | $4,720 in-state $10,648 out-of-state |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | Two-year; public; fringe rural | Career Studies Certificate in Carpentry | $4,703 in-state $10,631 out-of-state |
| Wytheville Community College | Two-year; public; distant town | Construction Technology Diploma with a specialization in carpentry | $4,725 in-state $10,653 out-of-state |
Sources: *NCES College Navigator
