Enroll Today in Construction Professional Development Courses
Online or In-Person, Build Smart is Here to Help You Advance Your Career!
Build Smart Institute's Professional Development courses will help you to gain the skills you need to advance your career and take on more responsibility on the job. Best of all, Build Smart offers three different ways to take courses: • In-person at Build Smart Institute in Roanoke or through a training partner such as Ferrum College or New College Institute. • Virtually with a live instructor. • On-demand and at your own pace.
Professional Development Courses Offered On Demand at Your Own Pace:
Build Smart currently offers several online, on-demand courses. Coming soon are self-paced courses for Business for Contractors, Bookkeeping for Contractors, and Contractors' License Preparation.
This online, on-demand course provides the essential skills to master the excavation bid/estimating process, from the initial bid meeting until bid day.
Course Objectives: This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of the excavation estimation process.
• Understand the purpose of construction estimating. • Recognize how contracts, bonds, and insurance affect cost and risk. • Identify indirect costs and contingency. • Understand how labor and equipment needs impact cost. • Understand the role of subcontractors. • Identify soil types affecting excavation. • Measure perimeter and area and estimate topsoil removal. • Distinguish general vs. special excavation. • Identify backfill, excess, and borrow needs. • Understand topsoil spreading and finish grading. • Recognize basic landscaping earthwork & rock excavation needs. • Identify pumping needs for water removal. • Understand pile installation basics. • Recognize asphalt paving as site work. • Understand how profit is applied to estimates.
Prerequisites: None Certificate: Build Smart Institute Certificate Modules: Three *Students purchase required e-textbook for online courses at their own expense Tuition Cost: $225
This online, on-demand course is tailored for busy professionals and provides an introduction to and enhancement of the skills needed for a Project Manager.
Course Objectives: By the end of the course, participants will have a solid understanding of the following key areas: • Introduction to Project Management • Safety • Interpersonal Skills • Issues and resolutions • Construction Documents • Construction Planning • Estimating and Control • Scheduling • Resource Control • Quality Control & Assurance • Continuous Improvement
Prerequisites: None Credentials: National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) - Project Management Credential Modules: Eleven *Students purchase required e-textbooks for online courses at their own expense Tuition Cost: $550
This online, on-demand course provides the essential skills a Project Supervisor needs to effectively lead a construction project.
Course Objectives: By the end of the course, participants will have a solid understanding of the following key areas: • Orientation to the Supervision Role • Problem-solving • Safety • Quality Control • Contract Management • Construction Documents • Document Control and Estimating • Planning and Scheduling • Resource Control and Awareness
Prerequisites: None Credentials: National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) - Project Supervision Credential Modules: Eight *Students purchase required e-textbooks for online courses at their own expense Tuition Cost: $450
This online, on-demand course provides the essential skills for communicating in a professional work setting.
Course Objectives: This course is designed to teach the mechanics of communication, including how it occurs, and practical aspects such as making and recording various common methods of communication. • Mechanics of communication • Active & passive listening • Body language • When to communicate • Forms of communication
Prerequisites: None Certificate: Build Smart Institute Certificate Modules: Four Tuition Cost: $100
This online, on-demand course provides the essential skills to master the bid/estimating process, from the initial bid meeting until bid day.
Course Objectives: This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of the estimation process. • Understanding the Bidding Process • Calculate Labor Costs • Request for Quote (RFQ) & Scope of Work for Subcontractors • Estimate Quantities of Landscaping, Granular Base, & Asphalt for excavation • Estimate Quantity & Cost of Concrete • Estimate Quantity & Cost of Masonry • Estimate Quantity & Cost of Structural Steel • Estimate Quantity & Cost of Wood • Estimate Waterproofing, Damp Roofing, Insulation, & Roofing • Estimate Doors, Windows, & Storefront • Estimate Wall Board, Plaster, Drywall, Steel Studs, Flooring, & Painting • Price & Subcontract Electrical, Plumbing, & HVAC • Add Profit to Bids
Prerequisites: None Certificate: Build Smart Institute Certificate Modules: Seven *Students purchase required e-textbooks for online courses at their own expense Tuition Cost: $450
Build Smart Institute seeks to make courses accessible to motivated individuals seeking a career in construction and the trades. We offer the Build U Scholarship opportunity to ease the burden of tuition fees and have a partnership with Ferrum College that offers tuition assistance. Call our team in Roanoke, VA, for more information about our classes and financial aid.
