Providing detailed and accurate estimates is a critical part of construction projects. Estimating, bidding and submitting proposals are crucial skills in the construction industry. Getting them all wrong can lead to a whole host of problems for a company, including a loss in profits and eventual business decline. If you are detail-oriented and have strong analytical skills, it may be worth considering having a career as a professional construction estimator.
Professional estimators are now in high demand because without estimates, construction managers can’t develop budgets, get the necessary approvals and even hire workers for a construction project. Whether you are interested in estimating as a full time career or in creating better bids for your business, construction estimating courses can provide the training you need.
The people who seek out construction estimating courses can be anything from project managers, supervisors, brand new estimators, and even individuals who want to jump into the industry because of the shortage of construction estimating professionals. Construction companies depend on estimators to prepare and price tender packages to win construction jobs to keep them in business as well as to keep them profitable.
One of the foremost and key challenges faced by construction project managers in the ability to ensure the viability of a particular project. This, of course, begins with the development of a project bid. Unreasonably high estimates significantly reduce the chances of success while unreasonably low estimates can lead to financial losses for the company.
Construction estimating courses can be particularly useful to individuals who are looking to make transitions within the industry. For instance, people who have primarily been involved in administrative work might want to get into project management roles. Construction estimators need to have an in-depth understanding of the whole construction business, the process, the technologies, and all the relationships within the industry.
Depending on the desired level of knowledge and certification, construction estimating courses can take anything from five weeks to a few months. They may include construction cost estimating from the conceptual design phase of a project to the more detailed design phase of the project. That means basic as well as advanced skills in construction estimating and bidding in the construction industry.
Modules may include cost estimating and control overview, quantity takeoff and measurement, building estimates, pricing, procurement, and construction cost control methods among others. They can cover an overview of the basics and the tools of the trade, including the software offerings that are tailored to construction estimating.
Construction estimating courses – Online Courses
The construction industry is labour intensive and people can easily have 60-hour work weeks when working on certain projects. Attending a physical class might be incredibly difficult for such people. In such instances, online courses might be more preferable. On-demand classes mean that people can take the classes at any time of the day. You will never feel compelled to leave the comfort of your own home or your children in the evening to try and catch a class at campus.
Construction estimating courses are often taught by experienced instructors who have spent a good chunk of their lives in the construction industry. These are mostly real experts in the industry who are passionate to impart real and practical estimating and bidding skills. Therefore, they often have a lot to talk about and teach, and they also provide a lot of resources that go beyond the theory. Some online courses even have bulletin boards which present an opportunity for learners to examine everyday challenges in the construction industry as shared by others.
Online construction estimating courses are a fast and easy way to learn both estimating basics and advanced estimating skills at your own pace and convenience. In fact, online courses can be much easier to follow as compared to construction estimating books. They often employ visual learning techniques and a video to follow along with.
Corporate Training and Continuing Education Requirements
Some companies demand tailor-made construction estimating courses that meet their training goals. This way, companies not only get to train groups of employees at the same time, but they also design training courses that meet specific needs. For instance, a construction company may want to bring all its employees up to speed with new software it has acquired. Therefore, it might choose to also brush up the employees on the relevant knowledge and recent developments in the industry. It would then design its own training program to fulfil its corporate needs.
Some regions require contractors to fulfil continuing education requirements to keep their licences. They require contractors within their jurisdiction to devote a certain amount of hours in a year to continuing education in the industry. The good thing is that even online courses are acceptable ways to meet these kinds of requirements. Other licensing bodies require contractors to take certain exams before they can receive or renew official licences.
Self-Paced Courses
If you want to decide how quickly you would like to go through construction estimating courses, self-paced courses are an excellent choice. They allow you to decide on how you want to learn, which means that you can either step up the pace to complete the course in a shorter time, or you can work at your own pace, and when you are available. There is no interaction between students, but there is a lot of interaction between the student and the instructor.
Self-paced courses are often divided into modules that contain a combination of text, video illustrations, slides with narration and interactive exercises. This will be followed by an exam, which you can always re-take if you don’t succeed on your first attempt. However, your certificate may not be released until you have successfully completed the final exam.
Self-paced courses may not be accessible immediately after registration. You may be forced to wait for several hours or even one to two days before you gain access to the course. Many of the self-paced courses available online are not accredited. Other than ensuring you’ll sharpen or gain new skills, they are mostly great resume-builders that could show potential employers that you have the requisite estimating skills.
Whether you are currently employed within the construction industry or seeking employment, or you just wish to upgrade your skills, construction estimating courses offer an excellent opportunity to learn.
You never know the kind of opportunities that are out there in the construction. Preparation is key and the more the education you have, the better.