Construction Professional Course Online

Learn about the roles played by the design & construction team. Learn how the site is prepared, the types of equipment used, different types of soil conditions & why various building foundations are used.

• The construction team and the on-site construction activities
• Different types of soils and subsurface conditions.
• The equipment and the heavy equipment we use on a site – scrapers, dozers, excavators and more.
• Clearing and grubbing the site.
• Installing the site utilities.
• Preparing for our building, with Earth work and excavation support.
• Installing foundations.

Learn about the cranes used, designing a building structure, the structural systems & how building load is analyzed and factored into the design. Receive an in-depth study of cast-in-place & precast concrete and structural steel.

• Explore different types of cranes and the projects they are best suited for.
• Understand how cast-in-place concrete is constructed and its advantages on-site.
• Discover the benefits and uses of precast concrete for efficient and durable building solutions.
• Gain insight into the evolution of steel as a key material in construction.
• Learn how steel is used in structural systems and why it’s chosen for specific projects.
• Explore the applications and benefits of masonry and tilt-up concrete in building projects.

Learn about the building envelope, cold-formed steel stud systems, cladding systems, curtain walls, roofing systems and glass window systems. Learn how the building envelope keeps water out and controls temperature & humidity.

• The building envelope.
• Maintaining the integrity of the building.
• Keeping water out.
• Ultimately controlling the building’s temperature and humidity.
• The most commonly used cold-formed steel stud systems for exterior walls.
• Cladding systems and curtain walls.
• Roofing systems.
• Glass window systems.

Learn about wall types, interior partitions, drywall and drywall finishes and construction sequencing. Learn about construction sequences for curbs, asphalt paving & landscaping.

• The different types of wall and interior partitions.
• The sequence of building interior partitions.
• Different types of drywall and drywall finishes.
• The construction sequence for finishes.
• Different options for paint, flooring, ceilings and casework.
• The sequence for installing specialties and furniture options.

This course is an in-depth study about MEP and building systems, including thermal comfort, indoor air quality, HVAC controls & how plumbing, electrical & emergency distribution systems function.

• Thermal comfort.
• Indoor air quality.
• The types and major components of a mechanical system.
• The purpose of HVAC controls.
• How plumbing systems function.
• Domestic water, drain, waste and vent lines.
• Components of the electrical distribution system.
• Emergency and standby power.

Learn many details about fire suppression systems, life-safety requirements, installing elevators, building commissioning, certificate of occupancy and project closeout.

• Wet-pipe fire suppression system.
• Dry-pipe fire suppression system.
• The purpose and components of a fire alarm system.
• Fire alarm inputs, controls and outputs.
• Elevator types and construction sequencing.
• Final MEP system activities.
• The purpose of commissioning.
• The process to turnover a building and the requirements for post-occupancy.

There is an immense amount of information to absorb over a lifetime in construction. Kick off your career with a course proven to set you up for success in the industry. The fundamentals, the tips and tricks, terminology, the things that will give anyone a head-start in the industry.

• An overview of the construction industry
• The key parties involved
• Project and Master Planning
• Industry sectors
• Design vs. construction
• The major project delivery systems
• Payment and procurement options
• Bonds and insurance

In the second part of the Construction Management Fundamentals course series, you’ll learn about cost estimating and scheduling concepts, earthwork estimating and contracts. There is an immense amount of information to absorb over a lifetime in construction.

• An overview of construction estimating
• Contracts and scheduling
• Contracts
• Safety and quality plans
• Site logistics and phasing
• Submittals, RFI’s, and document control
• Stormwater management plans
• Site issues and tracking

Learn to build connection, make requests, engage in conflict management and negotiate. Build your Emotional Intelligence. Communicate and collaborate with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in mind. Learn the art of public speaking and body language.

• How to build connections
• Make requests
• Engage in conflict management and negotiation
• How to build your Emotional Intelligence
• Collaboration with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• The art of public speaking and body language

Learn to evaluate your time, improve efficiency, prioritize what matters, learn how to establish a positive frame of mind and set goals in your career and life. In addition, you will learn a framework to make decisions and avoid common pitfalls. Lastly, you will learn how you can prioritize your ethics and integrity to build trust.

• Evaluate your time
• Improve efficiency
• Prioritize what matters
• Establish a positive frame of mind and set career and life goals
• Form a framework to make decisions
• Prioritize ethics and integrity to build trust

Teamwork, Collaboration & Leadership will help you learn the essential skills which are often overlooked and will improve your ability to solve problems, thrive on teams, and lead others.

• Effectively conduct meetings
• Build collaboration
• Thrive as a team and make decisions as a group
• Encourage teams to buy in to an idea or plan
• Move an idea forward in a group setting
• Inspire others through leadership

This is an online blueprint reading class for residential construction projects. Learn from a licensed architect about drawing types, scale and about the relationships between drawings.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the inter-relationship between the drawings included in a set of Construction Documents (blueprints).
• Analyze different drawings and see how scale is presented throughout a set of Construction Documents.
• Evaluate the similarities between all sets of blueprint construction documents submitted for building permits.
• Recognize the need for consistency in presenting information in all types of Construction Document in this online blueprint reading course.

So what is blueprint reading and why is it necessary in the construction industry? Many people in the construction industry can benefit professionally by learning how to read a set of blueprints, also known as construction documents (CDs). “Blueprint” is the historic name for construction documents. Contractors build the design and follow the drawings included in the set of “blueprints.”

The blueprint reading class is 100% online and references a real-world project. VDCI encourages strong online engagement, participation in group discussion forums, and connecting with your instructor and classmates. Join us in the VDCI Student Lounge, where our current students and alumni share information about the industry and help one another.

This is an online blueprint reading course for commercial projects. Learn from a licensed architect how to read blueprint drawings for a mixed-use commercial project that includes hotel, retail and parking.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the inter-relationship between the drawings included in a set of Construction Documents (blueprints) for a Mixed-Use Commercial project.
• Analyze different drawings and see how information is referenced throughout a set of Construction Documents.
• Evaluate the similarities between all sets of construction documents submitted for building permits.
• Recognize the need for consistency in presenting information in all types of Construction Documents.
• Gain experience understanding how 3D model presentations within a set of construction documents make the construction documents easier to understand the project.

So what is blueprint reading and why is it necessary in the construction industry? Many people in the construction industry can benefit professionally by learning how to read a set of blueprints, also known as construction documents (CDs). “Blueprint” is the historic name for construction documents. Contractors build the design and follow the drawings included in the set of “blueprints.”

The blueprint reading course is 100% online. VDCI encourages strong online engagement, participation in group discussion forums, and connecting with your instructor and classmates. Join us in the VDCI Student Lounge, where our current students and alumni share information about the industry and help one another.

This online construction estimator course is taught by a professional construction estimator. You will learn about the types of estimates and how an estimate is organized. The components and sub-components of an estimate will be addressed – you will learn how to become an estimator.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the inter-relationship between the construction drawings and a quantity-takeoff cost estimate.
• Analyze the components of a construction cost estimate and learn how a quantity-takeoff cost estimate is created.
• Master an understanding of quantity surveying, estimating takeoffs and pricing estimated quantities.
• Recognize the need for thoroughness and attention to detail when preparing construction cost estimates.

In this construction estimator course, you will learn the purposes for construction estimating, the estimating tools used, and the skills required for construction estimating. The course discusses quantity takeoffs and teaches you how to determine prices based on estimated quantities. The course wraps up by discussing cost estimate proposals and what is included and excluded when creating an estimate.

This online construction estimating course is designed to help trades professionals, journey people, drafters, designers and architectural and engineering interns. By the conclusion of this class, participants will be able to understand and apply the inter-connectivity between the construction documents and the information created in the construction cost estimate. You will learn how to become an estimator and you will receive a course certificate upon completion.