Carpenter (Construction) is a Certificate program offered by Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana/Kentucky in Elkhart, IN. The program takes 4 years to complete, with tuition of $610 per semester.
Program Overview
ABC of Indiana/Kentucky (ABC) is a provider of formal construction apprenticeship programs through the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship. ABC is also an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor and, as such, awards globally recognized craft credentials and certificates upon completion of each level of study. ABC is a federally certified training program by Veteran Affairs.
ABC offers a wide variety of training options from formal apprenticeship programs to specific task training modules of study.
What sets this Program apart
By the time apprentices graduate they will be one of the most highly certified journeyman in their field.
Vincennes University partnership. Vincennes University and ABC have been partners for nearly 20 years. This partnership brings a tuition free associate degree opportunity for all ABC Indiana apprentices. During the apprenticeship, each student must successfully complete and pass ABC Apprenticeship courses, accumulate On-The-Job Learning hours, and finish Vincennes University Core Curriculum Classes. Students may also transfer in credits from other institutions.
Admission Requirements and Process
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to qualify for enrollment in the program:
On-the-job hours earned must be verified by the company the student is working for.
General Requirements
- Minimum ageBe at least 16 years of age
- Proof of educationProvide an office copy of a their high school diploma, G.E.D., or proof of track of completion; *High school graduation or equivalent must be complete by the start of the second year in order for the apprentice to continue in the program.
- IdentificationProvide copy of Drivers License or Government Issued Identification
- Eligible to work in the U.S.Must be legally eligible to work in United States
- Physical abilityBe physically capable of performing the essential functions of the apprenticeship program
- Signed applicationSubmit a completed and signed official application
School Information
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
ABC of Indiana/Kentucky is a provider of formal construction apprenticeship programs through the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship (program IN001820001), and an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor.
- Registered with the U.S. Department of Labor
- Nationally recognized NCCER credentials
- Earn while you learn on the job
- Recognized by employers nationwide
Accreditations
Application Process
- 1Choose New or ReturningStart here if this will be your first year attending an ABC training site and you do not already have a Flashpoint account registered through ABC Apprenticeship.
- 2Select your training siteSelect the training site you’d like to attend and review its registration guide before applying. Sites: Indianapolis, Daleville, Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Kentucky/Southern Indiana, Lafayette, Greenwood/Columbus.
- 3Prepare your documentsFill out Part A of the DOL Apprentice Agreement (ETA Form 671) electronically — do not sign it yet. Review the ABC Apprentice Handbook and sign the Handbook Authorization Release / Program Acknowledgment form. Have a clear image of your driver’s license or government-issued ID, and your NCCER number (create or find it at NCCER if you do not have one).
- 4Complete the registration formOpen the registration link for your training site, read the instructions and complete all required information, uploading the Apprentice Agreement, the signed acknowledgment and your ID.
- 5Verify your email within 1 hourAfter submitting the form, you will receive an email asking you to verify your email address. You must complete this step within 1 hour, then watch for the email confirming your registration was submitted.
- 6Follow-up from your training siteThe apprenticeship coordinator for your training site is notified automatically and will continue the next steps. You will then receive an email to set up your Flashpoint account; once your password is set, your new apprentice registration is complete.
- 7Register for classes and payClass registration is a separate follow-on step. Payment must be received prior to the start of each semester; self-pay students and non-member companies must pay in full two weeks before the first day of class.
Program Schedule
Classes begin in late August and are held once a week for three hours in the evening with three hours of online study.
Term. 4 years — 8,000 hours of on-the-job learning (2,000 each training year) and a minimum of 160 hours of academic study each training year.
Training sites. This trade is listed on the 2026–2027 registration forms for the Elkhart and Fort Wayne training sites. Registration for 2026–2027 is currently open at Elkhart and Fort Wayne; other sites show “This application is not currently available.”
Wage progression. ABC’s DOL Apprentice Agreement (ETA 671) sets a hybrid, 8,000-hour term with a 1,000-hour probationary period and this progression, as a percentage of the journeyworker wage rate:
| On-the-job hours | Percent of journeyworker rate |
|---|---|
| 0–1,000 hours | 50% |
| 1,000–2,000 | 55% |
| 2,000–3,000 | 60% |
| 3,000–4,000 | 70% |
| 4,000–5,000 | 75% |
| 5,000–6,000 | 80% |
| 6,000–7,000 | 85% |
| 7,000–8,000 | 90% |
| 8,000 hours (journeyworker) | 100% |
Curriculum
ABC teaches the NCCER curriculum. The modules below are NCCER’s published curriculum for this craft (Carpentry, REVISED 6th Edition, 2022); ABC does not publish its own module list.
| Module | Title | Recommended Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Carpentry, 6th Edition | ||
| 27101 | Orientation to Carpentry | 2.5 |
| 27102 | Building Materials and Fasteners | 20 |
| 27113 | Construction Plans and Documents | 20 |
| 27114 | Principles of Site and Building Layout | 20 |
| 27105 | Floor Systems | 25 |
| 27111 | Wall Systems | 10 |
| 27112 | Roof Framing | 47.5 |
| 27110 | Basic Stair Layout | 12.5 |
| 27109 | Building Envelope Systems | 12.5 |
| Adv. Carpentry: Frame & Finish | ||
| 27213 | The Building Process | 5 |
| 27402 | Site Preparation | 7.5 |
| 27404 | Wall Systems and Installation | 25 |
| 27202 | Roofing Applications | 35 |
| 27205 | Steel Framing Systems | 15 |
| 27203 | Thermal and Moisture Protection | 7.5 |
| 45104 | Drywall Installation | 25 |
| 27215 | Interior Finish, Trim, and Cabinets | 30 |
| 27208 | Doors and Door Hardware | 25 |
| 27209 | Suspended and Acoustical Ceilings | 15 |
| 27405 | Finished Stairs | 25 |
| 27204 | Exterior Finish and Trim | 35 |
| 27214 | Mass Timber Construction | 25 |
| 46100 | Introduction to Leadership | 22.5 |
| Form Carpentry | ||
| 27303 | Properties of Concrete | 10 |
| 27304 | Reinforcing Concrete | 17.5 |
| 27305 | Handling and Placing Concrete | 20 |
| 27306 | Trenching and Excavation Safety | 15 |
| 27409 | Advanced Site Preparation and Layout | 20 |
| 27307 | Foundations and Slab-on-Grade | 10 |
| 27308 | Vertical Formwork | 22.5 |
| 27309 | Horizontal Formwork | 15 |
| 27310 | Tilt-Up Wall Panels | 17.5 |
| 29102 | Oxyfuel Cutting | 17.5 |
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Students are billed each semester. Total tuition cost will vary per-level, per-trade, per-member vs. non-member.
| Charge | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition — ABC member | $610 | $610 |
| Tuition — non-member | $840 | $840 |
| Lab supplies fee | $100 | $100 |
| Textbook | $200 | — |
| Vincennes University fee | $55 | — |
| New student enrollment fee (first year) | $100 | — |
Who pays. The registration form asks who will be invoiced: the apprentice directly, or the company/employer. Training companies responsible for student tuition will be invoiced. Self-pay students and non-member companies must provide payment in full two weeks prior to the first day of class.
Testing out. There is a $200 fee for each level of written testing.
Veterans. ABC is a federally certified training program by Veteran Affairs. Apprentices using VA benefits receive a monthly stipend; the reimbursement goes directly to the apprentice and not to ABC.
Career Outcomes
Credentials. ABC is an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor and awards globally recognized craft credentials and certificates upon completion of each level of study. Completers receive a U.S. Department of Labor certificate of completion.
Required safety certifications. Students are required to hold these certifications by the end of their apprenticeship: OSHA 10 Hour Safety Training; First Aid/CPR; Lockout/Tagout; Fall Protection; Lift Certifications (Fork, Boom, Scissor).
Associate degree. During the apprenticeship, each student must successfully complete and pass ABC Apprenticeship courses, accumulate On-The-Job Learning hours, and finish Vincennes University Core Curriculum Classes to earn the associate degree. ABC describes it as tuition free for ABC Indiana apprentices; Vincennes University’s 2026–27 catalog lists $25.00 per credit hour for major program requirements.
What to expect as an Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana/Kentucky student
On-the-job hours. On-the-job hours earned must be verified by the company the student is working for: apprentices enter their hours in Flashpoint and the company confirms them.
Graduation. Indiana gathers graduates from all locations across the state for a central commencement ceremony. Graduates in attendance will be recognized as they walk across the stage and receive their ABC portfolio, V.U. Diploma if earned, DOL certificate, along with a gift from ABC and sponsors of the event!
Videos
School Information
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
ABC of Indiana/Kentucky is a provider of formal construction apprenticeship programs through the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship (program IN001820001), and an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor.
- Registered with the U.S. Department of Labor
- Nationally recognized NCCER credentials
- Earn while you learn on the job
- Recognized by employers nationwide