Carpentry and building apprenticeships in New Zealand
A carpentry apprenticeship in New Zealand takes 3 to 4 years: you are employed by a builder while you work towards BCITO's Level 4 Certificate in Carpentry, then apply for your LBP licence. BCITO's fees are $1,984 for the first year and $964 a year after. Here are the five steps, the costs and what you are paid on the way.
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How long did your apprenticeship take?
Put it on the record. Anonymous, about two minutes.
Add your timelineHow does a carpentry apprenticeship work?
You get the building job first, and the training is built around it. BCITO, the building and construction training organisation, manages carpentry apprenticeships: your employer trains you on site, BCITO sets the training plan and assessments, and at the end you hold the New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4). Carpenters are New Zealand's builders, so a "builder apprenticeship" and a carpentry apprenticeship are the same thing. The order:
- Get a job with a builder. A carpentry apprenticeship is a job first. BCITO's own order is: pick the trade, find an employer ready to support your apprenticeship, then register. There are no strict entry requirements, but BCITO says good maths and English help, because you need to follow instructions and work out measurements, quantities and angles.
- Register with BCITO. Once you have the job, you register online. BCITO says it takes about five minutes, and it then contacts your employer, sets up a tailored training plan and arranges your training material and assessments.
- Train on site under an experienced builder. You learn on real jobs: foundations and floors, wall and roof framing, cladding and exterior joinery, then linings, insulation and interior finishing. An experienced builder coaches you on the job and a BCITO training advisor checks your progress.
- Finish the Level 4 Certificate in Carpentry. The qualification is the New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4). BCITO says it typically takes 3 to 4 years. Some apprentices work towards Foundation Construction (Level 3) instead, and a metal roof cladding strand can be added at no extra charge.
- Apply for your LBP carpentry licence. Restricted building work on homes has to be done or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner. If you hold a recognised New Zealand qualification in the licence class, the LBP scheme lets you use its streamlined (qualified) application rather than proving your experience in a standard one.
How much does a carpentry apprenticeship cost?
$1,984 for the first year and $964 for each year after, so $3,912 over three years or $4,876 over four. The first year costs more than double the later years. Ask the builder before you sign who pays: some cover the fees, some do not.
| BCITO carpentry fees (2026) | 3-year apprenticeship | 4-year apprenticeship |
|---|---|---|
| First year | $1,984 | $1,984 |
| Each later year | $964 | $964 |
| Total fees | $3,912 | $4,876 |
Worked example: an apprentice who takes the full four years pays $1,984 in year one and $964 in each of years two to four, $4,876 in all. Over the same four years, at the training minimum wage and 40 hours a week, they earn at least $39,853 a year. Fees Free refunds the final 2 years of work-based learning only if you finish by 31 December 2026, so do not count on it if you are only starting. How apprenticeship fees and Fees Free work →
How much do carpentry apprentices get paid?
At least $19.16 an hour if you are 20 or over and your agreement requires 60 credits a year of training; otherwise at least $23.95. Those are floors, and builders often lift an apprentice's rate as each stage is signed off. Qualified carpenters earn considerably more.
| Stage | Rate | A year at 40 hours a week |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice, training minimum wage (floor) | $19.16 an hour | $39,853 |
| Apprentice, adult minimum wage (floor) | $23.95 an hour | $49,816 |
| Qualified carpenter, starting out | — | $50,000 |
| Qualified carpenter, most common | — | $52,000–$84,000 |
| Experienced carpenter | — | $103,000 |
The gap between the two floors is $4.79 an hour, about $9,963 a year at 40 hours. Check which one your agreement uses before you sign. How the two wage floors work →
How do you get a carpentry apprenticeship?
Find the builder first. BCITO runs a form for people still looking for a job, and building apprenticeships are advertised on SEEK and Trade Me. What helps:
- NCEA Level 2 if you are still at school. Tahatū lists it as usually required.
- A driver licence. Tahatū notes it is often useful, and most sites are not on a bus route.
- Labouring first. A few months as a builder's labourer is a common way in.
- Gateway at school, if your school offers a building placement.
Ask whether the builder will claim Apprenticeship Boost, which makes a first-year apprentice cheaper for them. Starting later? Adult apprenticeships covers what changes. Not sure who runs BCITO now? BCITO, Competenz and Connexis explained. The carpenter trade page lists building companies that take apprentices on.
Common questions
How long does it take to become a carpenter in NZ?
Three to four years through an apprenticeship. That is BCITO's typical time for the New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4). You earn a wage the whole way through. A pre-trade polytechnic course first can teach you the basics, but you still need the on-site apprenticeship to qualify.
How much does a carpentry apprenticeship cost?
BCITO charges $1,984 for the first year and $964 for each year after that. Over a three-year apprenticeship that is $3,912; over four years, $4,876. Some employers pay the fees for their apprentice, so ask before you sign. You will also buy your own tools over time.
How much do builder apprentices get paid in NZ?
At least $19.16 an hour, the training minimum wage, if you are 20 or over and your agreement requires at least 60 credits a year of training. Otherwise the floor is the adult minimum wage of $23.95. Many builders pay more as you progress. Once qualified, Tahatū gives $50,000 a year starting out and $52,000–$84,000 for most carpenters.
Is it hard to get a carpentry apprenticeship?
The hard part is the employer, not the paperwork. BCITO has no strict entry requirements, but you need a builder willing to take you on. Turning up to sites and building companies with a short CV, a driver licence and some labouring or school Gateway experience is what usually gets the first yes. BCITO also runs a form for people still looking for a job.
Is 25 too old for a carpentry apprenticeship?
No. There is no upper age limit, and people retrain into building in their 30s and 40s. At 25 you are on at least the training minimum wage if your agreement requires 60 credits a year of training, and many employers value the reliability an older apprentice brings. Your fees and qualification are the same as a school leaver's.
Fees, entry and qualifications from BCITO — Carpentry: careers and apprenticeships (apprentice fees); length and content from BCITO — New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry Level 4; registration from BCITO — How it works, all checked 2026-10-30. Licensing from Licensed Building Practitioners (MBIE) — Apply for licensing, checked 2026-10-30. Qualified pay and entry from Tahatū Career Navigator, checked 2026-09-18. Wage floors from Employment New Zealand — Minimum wage rates and types, checked 2026-09-18. Fees Free from Inland Revenue. Totals and annual figures are our arithmetic.