Building Renovation Technician Program - George Brown CollegeCarpentry Education in CanadaCarpentry and Woodworking Programs -- Community College Programs
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Building Renovation Technician Program - George Brown College The George Brown College 2-year Building Renovation Technician, Ontario College Diploma program, 'the only one of its kind in Ontario,' is primarily designed for individuals aspiring to a career 'in the renovation and construction field.' The Program, which will be delivered at the Casa Loma Campus, combines theoretical and practical education to expose students to the wide range of skills involved in 'construction and building renovation,' including 'carpentry techniques and new materials application.' Among the major topics to be covered are basic wiring and plumbing, building codes, cabinetry, custom home construction, demolition, dry-walling and masonry, framing and finishing, millwork, residential renovations, site layout, stair construction, and use of computer software and technology such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD), presentation tools, project management, and spreadsheets. Moreover, students will acquire 'a solid understanding of the renovation-related trades' as well as the business skills needed to start and/or manage 'a renovation, custom home building or general contracting business,' including client relations, controlling, cost accounting, estimating, management, marketing, planning, and project management. The training portions of the Program will take 'place in two large, fully equipped labs where students practice framing techniques by building a house.' Career-wise, graduates usually pursue employment, including self employment, in a myriad of positions and areas in 'the renovation and construction field' including carpentry, general contracting, custom home building, estimating, home inspections, project management, renovation, site supervision, and technical sales, among others. The Canadian Home Builders Association states that job prospects for this field is positive as over 'half the spending in the Canadian construction industry takes place in the renovation field.' Graduates may also advance their training in various related trades, such as through a carpentry or cabinetmaking/joinery apprenticeship. In fact, the Building Renovation Technician diploma shares its first year with the College's Building Restoration Technician program, which focuses on the restoration of brick and masonry structures. Thus students are given 'the option of completing either of the programs, or taking a third year to complete both programs.' Furthermore, Building Renovation Technician graduates qualify for advancement 'into the third year of the Construction Engineering Technology program.' The latter provides learners with the 'technical, business and interpersonal skills required to effectively manage construction projects of varying size and complexity.' Individuals who aspire to advance their careers may be interested in pursuing further educational opportunities to refine and enhance their abilities, particularly via an apprenticeship. The latter is a method of learning a trade through a combination of periods of in-class, technical/theoretical education and periods of paid, on-the-job training. During the latter portions of an apprenticeship, the student (apprentice) will work under the direction of a certified, journeyperson member of the trade one is learning for a specified amount of time. A journeyperson is an individual who has earned the standards of practice of his/her trade, typically via the completion of an apprenticeship. Graduates of the Building Renovation Technician may qualify for advanced credits towards an apprenticeship. The advantage of completing an apprenticeship is not only that one acquires in-depth knowledge and skills in a trade but also that, within the latter, one's career opportunities and salary potential are normally increased. Furthermore, once an individual has obtained journeyperson status, he/she may be eligible to have his/her certification as such endorsed by the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program (Red Seal). The latter enables the journeyperson to practice his/her trade throughout Canada, provided the trade is designated in that locale, without undergoing further examinations. Persons who earn journeyperson status may, after obtaining several years of experience beyond an apprenticeship, become educators, supervisors, and/or trainers of their respective trades. To be eligible for the Building Renovation Technician program, applicants must either possess an Ontario Secondary School Diploma including 6 Grade 12 University (U) or University/College (M) courses or 6 Ontario Academic Credit (OAC) credits, or equivalent, with Grade 12 U or OAC English and any Grade 12 U or OAC Mathematics. Applicants must attain a 60 or higher 'in all prerequisite courses and an overall average of 65% in 6 OAC' or 'Grade 12 U or M courses.' The College advises prospective students to acquire skills in 'basic computer software applications and Geometry or Discrete Mathematics.' Applicants who are 19 years of age or over may apply under 'mature student status' provided they have 'Grade 12 University (U) or OAC English and Mathematics, or equivalent, with a minimum grade of 65 in all required courses' or post secondary English and Mathematics courses with a B grade standing or higher. Students whose primary language of education has not been English must write the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and attain a score of 580 or higher, or equivalent. For information and/or assistance regarding admission standards, interested persons are encouraged to contact the College. Interested applicants may also take the Computer Skills Challenge Test (CSCT) which, if passed, will give the student credit for the Program's computer skills course. However, the student must register for the said course regardless whether he/she passes the CSCT.
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