Wood Technology

31 Credit Technical Diploma

Housed in NTC’s state-of-the-art Wood Technology Center of Excellence, the Wood Technology Technical Diploma program is a one year hands-on training opportunity for learners preparing to enter the Forest Products Industry. Curricula include material science, lumber inspection, quality assurance and machine operation. With over one million forest industry jobs in the United States and 64,000 in Wisconsin, the skills learned in this program are in high demand. Potential occupations include: Quality Control Specialist, CAD Engineer, Lumber Inspector, Architectural Woodworker, Moulder Technician, Millwork Fabricator, Furniture Maker and Sawmill Head Sawyer. Learners wanting to continue their education in this industry can choose the Wood Science Associate Degree program, where they can focus on Furniture Design and Craftsmanship or Business and Engineering Technology. As an Embedded Technical Diploma, this program ladders fully into the Wood Science Associate Degree program.

Approximate Cost

$6,345
Tuition: $5460 , Books: $885

Starting Salary

$34,172
Average, based on the annual Graduate Outcomes Report

Financial Aid

Available

Availability

Courses for this program may be available at a variety of campus locations through multiple modes of delivery if you meet the admission requirements and prerequisites.

10-20 %
Wausau
100%
Antigo
10-20 %
Medford
10-20 %
Phillips
10-20 %
Spencer
10-20 %
Wittenberg

* Campus and online availability of courses and programs may be subject to change.

Outcomes

Graduates will be able to…

  • Design efficient manufacturing processes for wood products
  • Apply wood industry testing standards to products and materials
  • Inspect various wood products according to industry standards
  • Create CAD drawings for wood products
  • Operate technologically advanced wood manufacturing equipment
  • Use current safety precautions in a manufacturing setting

Courses

The Wood Technology Technical Diploma is a 31 Credit program. The following is a typical semester breakdown of the courses within the program.

First Term

WOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 4.00
INDUSTRY ORIENTATION AND SAFETY 1.00
WOOD MANUFACTURING PROCESSES 3.00
HARDWOOD GRADING AND MERCHANDISING 3.00
FUNDAMENTALS OF FURNITURE MANUFACTURING 2.00
COLLEGE MATHEMATICS 3.00

Second Term

SECONDARY WOOD MANUFACTURING 5.00
WOOD ADHESIVES APPLICATION 2.00
MOULDER, SHAPER, AND GRINDING TECHNOLOGY 4.00
2D MECHANICAL CAD 1.00
LEAN MANUFACTURING FUNDAMENTALS 2.00
INTERPRETING ENGINEERING DRAWINGS 1.00

Credit for Prior Learning Available

View All Detailed Course Information

Pathways

Pathways are a series of connected programs that enable you to advance over time to better jobs and higher levels of education and training. By earning one degree, you could also be completing several courses of a related program in a pathway, bringing you one step closer to an advanced degree.

Completing the Wood Technology Technical Diploma Earns You:

  • 50% of the total credits in Wood Science (31 of 62 Credits)

Additional Information

Gainful Employment Information

Admissions Process

Our application process takes just a few minutes to complete, but we want to make sure you have the things you’ll need on hand to complete the application. We’re here to help if you have any questions while submitting your application.

Before you apply, you should know

This program is housed in the Wood Technology Center of Excellence, a one-of-a-kind, 27,000 square foot facility dedicated to preparing students for careers in the forest products and woodworking industry.

Fill out our application

The application can be submitted online and takes just a few minutes to complete. A $30.00 non-refundable application fee is required. Pay at the time you apply or bypass to pay in person within a week of applying.

Apply Now

What’s Next?

We’ll review your application and let you know if we need anything else. If you’re all set, your acceptance letter will be mailed to you.