You can receive a certification in Carpentry, Cabinetmaking and Construction Management Technologies. This involves around 15-17 credit hours in a core area, or 2 semesters of time. A Diploma in Carpentry or an Associate’s Degree in Construction Management Technologies can also be achieved.Diplomas will involve a commitment of 42 credit hours, or 3-4 semesters, while Degrees will involve around 70-73 credit hours (4 semesters or more dependent on the student’s capabilities).

These credentials are been well accepted in the community. A-B Tech has a long-standing tradition of training professionally-skilled students for the building industry.

Asheville’s Green Building School is a program of AB Tech, officially known as A-B Tech’s Construction Science program. Therefore, costs for the program are the same as costs for all A-B Tech programs. Here is information on A-B Tech’s Tuition and Fees. 

Our student demographics are very diverse.  We’ve had students ages 16 to 65, men and women, and many races and creeds. We feel that, like in nature, diversity contributes to a healthier program.

Some students come with no skills, while others come with more skill.   Some students find that while there are plenty of opportunities to learn, there are also many networking opportunities.

For instance, some Carpentry department students have teamed up on side jobs together, while others have traded sub-contractor contacts, etc.

Recently, some Carpentry I students met Stan and Patty Jones on a field trip to visit their Earth Ship home (recycled tire construction) in Madison Co. and now are advancing their green building knowledge by helping Stan build another Earth Ship.  

AB Tech’s Construction Management Technologies faculty collaborate with GIST by serving on their advisory board. However, our program, AB Tech Construction Science, offers in-depth job training for people looking to enter the construction industry.The Construction Science program has helped GIST by providing information about some of our sustainable construction projects which has been used to acquire grants which will help fund future endeavors.  GIST provides some funding for Continuing Education to offer introductory classes/workshops for non-degree seeking students and community members.  Classes offered through GIST and Continuing Education help people get acquainted with sustainability concepts and technologies. 

Construction Management Technology is a department within A-B Tech Construction Science.  There are six named scholarships currently available to Construction Management Technology students:

• Bowers, Ellis & Watson Architects
• Deltec Homes
•  Patrick A. Brannen Construction
• Thompson Properties
•  W.P. Hickman Company
• Christiana Tugman Scholarship Honoring Jose Luis Marino-Saldana and William Ralph Tugman
• Students are also eligible to apply for general scholarship, which are numerous. 

Yes, we offer courses approved to satisfy the Comprehensive  Articulation Agreement general education core requirements which enables courses to transfer to any college or university in the state.  We assist each student entering our program by facilitating transfer of credit to other institutions at or near junior level.Courses usually need to achieve a “C” or better to transfer.

What do students and graduates say?
 

“I am taking Carpentry and Cabinetmaking.  If you are interested in this type work, I suggest going to the A-B Tech [Construction Science program]. The teachers are friendly and knowledgeable.  I really have learned a lot so far. In carpentry class, we do a lot of live projects. We are being taught the very latest technology in construction, including green building, which is becoming very popular in the construction world.”

-Chad Hunter

 

Are you interested in enrolling in Asheville’s Green Building School? The A-B Tech Construction Science program is Asheville's own green building school, and enrolling is easy. The first step that we advise is to fill out our Questionnaire. In addition, you’ll want to read over A-B Tech’s General Admissions Requirements and Procedures:

AB Tech Construction Science is Asheville’s Green Building School, offering an array of classes in carpentry (including comprehensive renewable energy and green building instruction) as well as construction management (teaching students how to start and manage a construction business) and cabinetry skills. Here are details on our programs: 

You can receive a certification in Carpentry, Cabinetmaking and Construction Management Technologies. This involves around 15-17 credit hours in a core area, or 2 semesters of time.

A-B Tech’s Construction Science program is Asheville’s Green Building School. This comprehensive program offers students green building and business skills to enable them to start and run a green construction business or to enhance their current business with additional up-to-the-minute skills and technologies. A-B Tech Construction Science program comprises several departments within A-B Tech, including the construction management technology, carpentry, and cabinetmaking departments.

“At AB Tech, I was hoping to launch ahead after years of on-the-job training, and that is exactly what happened.  AB Tech provided a mix of fieldwork and construction theory that made understandable what otherwise could have been overwhelming.  By the time I finished the carpentry program, I felt confident that I could make my intended career transition.  My current success as a builder shows that I, in fact, gained the skills and knowledge needed to run a competitive carpentry business." - Sam Pedisich

As the construction industry focuses more on building performance, no building component or aspect is isolated.  Understanding the building envelope requires knowledge of many aspects of materials and methods.  The construction curriculum program at AB-Tech focuses on providing students with the overall knowledge that will help them compete in the modern construction industry.However, for introductory workshops and general primers on certain aspects of green building, students can check with AB-Tech’s Continuing Education Program, or view our upcoming workshops and specialized classes.

The program teaches many skills both helpful and crucial to running a construction business, but we don't claim to teach everything you need to know to run your own business. The purpose of our Carpentry and Cabinetmaking programs are to prepare students to construct residential structures with the proper use of tools and by introducing them to current and future construction methods. Concepts such as Optimum Value Engineering, Energy Star, Thermal Insulation Systems, Passive Solar and their effects are applied throughout the curriculum. 

Our Carpentry classes will primarily focus on energy efficient framing techniques that use more traditional materials in a more efficient way which ensures more insulation and less wood to create a tighter building envelope.  This type of construction is often referred to as advanced framing or OVE (Optimum Value Engineering).  Classes will also be introduced to other building systems such as  SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels), ICF’s (Insulated Concrete Forms), aerated block systems, and several engineered wood options.