The first job may be hauling lumber and plywood to the skilled carpenters, cleaning up and keeping track of tools. That's why carpenters need to be strong. They lift heavy tools, large timbers and sheets of plywood, and hoist and wrestle sections of walls into place. And they must be comfortable working at heights - on ladders, scaffolding or rooftops. There are no formal educational requirements to be hired, but carpenters do need to know basic math, plus some geometry.
Community colleges teach the basics and offer technical degrees in carpentry.
Many of the first classes offered in apprenticeship programs emphasize safety and good working habits. Nevertheless, carpenters are subject to back injuries and hernias from lifting, and cuts from tools. Some carpenters focus on one job - building foundation forms, framing the skeleton of the house, doing siding or interior finish work. Others do them all. Those working for major developers usually end up as specialists.