Carpenters can learn the trade either by joining a vocational school or community college that teaches the skills or working under a carpenter. You can become an apprentice with a carpenter either by directly approaching one or searching online. There are many online apprenticeship programs for carpenters to gain on-the-job training. For example, the Carpenters Training Institute offers the Carpenter Apprenticeship Program. You need to complete 7,000 hours of on-the-job training and 640 hours of classroom learning to become a carpenter.