Bakersfield College, located at the southern tip of the Central Valley, offers an apprenticeship in carpentry that culminates in an associate's arts degree, according to the school's website. You will need to combine 12 to 45 units of apprenticeship classes and another four to 16 units of work experience along with the necessary guidelines regarding general education and graduation requirements -- all spelled out in the school's catalog. Classes meet between three and eight hours per week and you can earn anywhere between two and six units of credit for each class, depending on how much time it takes each week.
Los Angeles Trade Technical College offers a program for students to earn an associate in science, AS, degree, an associate in arts, AA, degree or a certificate of completion in carpentry, according to its website. There are three full-time faculty and two part-time faculty. Students should expect to do some basic math review, introduction to hand tools, materials and blueprint reading, among other things. The AS program is designed for entry-level students, therefore, requires 24 hours per week of classroom and lab work. The AA is for those working in the field already, and who want to enhance their skills and classes are in the evenings.
San Joaquin Delta College, located in Stockton, offers the Carpentry Technology program for entry-level students. Stockton is located in the Central Valley, right in the middle of the state. Classes focus on knowledge about tools, materials, basic hand tool operation, framing and trimming, according to the college's website. You can also expect to learn blueprint reading, estimating and materials. The program offers a certificate, however, not an associate's degree.
For those who live in Northern California, Sierra College is one of the only options if you are looking for a carpentry school close to home. Sierra College, located in Rocklin outside of Sacramento, and offers a certificate in carpentry. According to the school's website, 26 units are required. You must take foundations and floor systems, conventional framing, building industry analysis, residential blueprint reading, estimating, residential house wiring and codes as well as plumbing installation and design. You must also take two of the following options: introduction to cabinet making, machine operations and joinery, custom cabinet making, cabinet related studies, skill and speed development or construction manufactured products.