PRESS RELEASE: SBWI Receives ACCSC Approval for New Carpentry and Timber Framing Program

ADRIAN TOWNSHIP, Mich., October 6, 2026 — Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute (SBWI) has received approval from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) for its new Carpentry and Timber Framing program. ACCSC is an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Beginning August 30, 2027, the 40-week program will prepare students for careers in carpentry, timber framing and mass timber construction. Applications are now open.

The program opens a local path into skilled trades with strong earning potential. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a national median annual wage of $60,580 for carpenters in May 2025. A Southeast Michigan union wage schedule for June 2025–May 2026 lists journeyman base pay of $41.37 per hour, plus pension and annuity contributions. These figures describe the broader occupation and experienced journeymen; starting pay varies by experience, employer and position.

“People deserve the opportunity to earn a better life through education and hard work.” said Luke Barnett, President of SBWI. “Our job is to provide the training and support that help them turn that effort into a career. We want students to leave with skills they can use to support their families and build a future they are proud of.”

Developed with the help of Michigan State University, this program was developed by a group of experienced carpenters, timber engineers, architects, business owners, project managers and timber framers from across the country. Contributors represented five-person shops through large national construction firms, with representatives from both union and non-union companies. MSU’s Dr. George Berghorn and Shawn Huberty helped facilitate and host the curriculum-development meetings, grounding the program in the skills employers need.

Students begin with basic carpentry, including measuring, layout, safe tool use and blueprint reading. They progress through conventional wood framing and traditional timber joinery to stair construction, advanced roof framing and complex timber structures. Students will build multiple full-size structures, developing the skills to move from a simple shed to the layout and joinery required for an octagonal pavilion.

Mass timber is a method of constructing buildings and even skyscrapers out of wood. It uses large massive beams, columns and wood panels to form a building’s structure. Components can be manufactured by gluing together smaller pieces of wood and then cut to precise dimensions off site, helping speed assembly.

As an emerging technology that is gaining momentum, Mass timber is an important part of the new program. Students will study modern structural wood systems alongside traditional timber framing, connecting foundational carpentry skills with the work of assembling large timber structures. This training prepares students to pursue mass timber installation careers with construction firms and specialty contractors, extending their options beyond traditional timber frame shops.

“A strong mass timber ecosystem connects forest owners and wood product manufacturers with architects, engineers, construction professionals, researchers, educators, and policy makers”, said Sandra Lupien, Director, MassTimber@MSU. “Builders and installers are critical to that system. They make the connections, solve problems in the field and bring the structure together. Mass timber momentum is growing fast in Michigan, and workforce education must grow with it to ensure we have the people to build the beautiful wood for facilities that Michiganders want to live, work, and play in.”

Certifications and career preparation

Students who complete the program will earn a professional diploma and can earn multiple additional credentials. The program includes:

* Career Connections Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 certificates through the Carpenters International Training Fund, with each level earned by completing its requirements.

* An OSHA 30-hour Outreach course completion card.

* Rough Terrain Forklift Certification.

* First aid training through the American Red Cross.

* Stop the Bleed training through the American College of Surgeons.

The training takes place during scheduled class time and is included in tuition. Students must meet the completion requirements for each course or credential.

Graduates may pursue work as carpenters, timber framers and mass timber installers, with opportunities to advance into crew leadership, estimating, project management or business ownership as they gain experience. Instruction in estimating, pricing, marketing and small-business management helps students connect their craft to a livelihood.

SBWI’s partnership with the Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters supports eligible students pursuing union apprenticeship opportunities in Michigan. Apprenticeship combines paid work with continued training; admission is a separate process with its own requirements.

No prior carpentry experience is required. Classes meet Monday through Friday for eight hours a day at SBWI’s new campus in Adrian Township. The 24,000-square-foot facility (which was built with mass timber) on 31.5 wooded acres will bring expanded career training to the community and help prepare the next generation of carpenters for employers of many sizes.

To learn more and apply, visit sbwi.edu/timber-framing-school.

About Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute

Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute provides career education in woodworking and carpentry in Adrian Township, Michigan. SBWI is accredited by ACCSC, an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.