Building and Construction

Career Pathway

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Start prepping NOW for your dream job or work-anywhere trade skills!

Sharpen Your Mind. Fine-Tune Your Hands.

In an increasingly digital era, there’s something to be said for someone who is exceptionally skilled with their hands. Do you love to work with your hands to bring ideas to life? Are you fascinated by wood and woodworking? If this sounds like you, then a career in the skilled trade industry could play right into your hands. Take a hands-on, deep dive into the fascinating and particular world of cabinet millwork or take a broader approach as you sharpen your skills and hone your hands with a fine woodworking class. If you want to break into the skilled trade industry, or even have your eye on a career in construction, this program is worth sinking your teeth (and hands) into.

What You'll Learn

From 9th grade upward, enroll in A-G approved courses to start preparing for your skilled trade career. Classes include:

  • CTE Concentrator Fine Woodworking (Year 1)
  • CTE Capstone Construction Tech: Cabinetry (Year 2)

What You’ll Do

Take what you’re learning in the classroom into the real world and experience for yourself all that awaits you in the time-honored and always-needed skilled trade industry. Hands-on, immersive experiences include:

  • Individual projects
  • Group projects
  • Onsite internship
  • Field trips to local industry partners and colleges to explore potential career paths

Who You Can Be

Kickstart your career path with top-tier academic instruction and industry-leader insights. The Cabinetry, Millwork, & Woodworking program prepares you for potential careers such as:

  • Carpenter
  • Furniture Maker
  • Cabinet Maker
  • Carpentry Finisher
  • Craft woodworking artist
  • Construction Manager

Industry Average Wages: $50,000 - $68,000

Projected Industry Growth: 16%

What You Need to Know

VUSD’s Woodworking pathway prepares students for successful careers in the skilled trade and construction industries, which includes furniture making, carpentry finishing and construction work. Students (grades 9 and up) learn vital skills such as tool safety, project planning, project construction and project finishing.

The program is based at Buena High School and consists of two sequenced year-long courses, a concentrator followed by a capstone. Students learn and sharpen skills in both individual and group situations and settings. The class also takes a handful of field trips to learn from area professionals, and benefits from an impactful onsite internship. Students emerge from this truly hands-on program with enhanced skills, confidence, and direct access to a rewarding career.

Next Steps

Once you have gained the skills and knowledge in this pathway, there are many options for your next steps after high school - some you can even begin pursuing before you graduate!

1 Year

Construction Technology: Construction Management Option Certificate - Ventura College
Industrial Technology and Fabrication Certificate - Ventura College

2 Year

Associate in Science in Construction Technology: Building Inspection or Construction Management - Ventura College

4 Year

Bachelor of Science in Construction Management - California State University, Northridge