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Construction and Carpentry in Michigan
These pages summarize rules to help you plan. They are not legal advice. Before you place students at a work site or change a program, check with your state agency, your district's counsel and your insurance carrier.
In short
Michigan construction students can earn NCCER and builder prelicensure credentials, but any paid job-site work by a minor needs a school-employer agreement on file.
State program: CIP 46.0000 Construction Trades (open to new applications, Dec 2025 list)
What a high school can deliver
NCCER and builder-track credentials, including the 60-hour prelicensure certificate; the residential builder license waits until 18.
Credentials students can earn
Per MDE 2022 FAQ: NCCER Core plus Carpentry Levels 1 and 2; UBC Career Connections plus MC3; Michigan Home Builders certification; 60-hour prelicensure builder certificate; OSHA-10 supplemental only (current CTEIS list: Confirm with the agency)
Age and hour requirements
Residential builder license (LARA) at 18 with 60 hours of prelicensure courses and an exam. Registered apprentice at 16 under federal standards; sponsors may set 18.
Other agencies involved
None for the program. LARA licenses residential builders (adults).
Who can teach it
CTE certificate or Annual Career Authorization: 4,000 recent hours in 10 years; no construction-specific requirement found.
Child labor rules for work placements
R 408.6208 bars all minors from construction work, roofing, excavation, demolition, power woodworking machines, saws and hoists unless a school-employer agreement (MCL 409.118; R 408.6206(a)) is on file. Federal HO 5, 14, 16, 17 need student-learner terms; HO 2, 7, 15 barred. YEPP permit need open.
College credit after high school
Statewide agreements for 46.0000 with Gogebic CC, Macomb CC and Northern Michigan University (terms and dates: Confirm with each college).
Where to go next
- The full Construction and Carpentry guide, showing Michigan
- The Michigan state profile
- Add this pathway to your plan
Construction and Carpentry in other states
Other pathways in Michigan
- Nurse Aide / Patient Care
- EMT
- Electrical
- Welding
- HVAC/R
- Cybersecurity / Networking
- Programming / Computer Science
- Automotive
- Medical and Dental Assisting
- Cosmetology
- Agriculture
- Early Childhood Education
- Culinary and Hospitality
- Machining and Mechatronics
- Engineering and Drafting
- Firefighting
- Law, Public Safety and Corrections
- Business Management and Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
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