Best Blueprint Reading Classes in Miami

What is Blueprint Reading?

Blueprint reading is the ability to understand construction documents. Blueprints are architectural or engineering drawings that create plans for how to construct a building, structure, or system. These are industry-specific documents that use the most accurate means possible to detail the location and dimensions of every element of a structure and what materials are needed to build the project. 

Blueprints serve to communicate how to design and build something and are considered a universal language for professionals in the AEC industry. It can be hard for those with little training in technical drawing or construction to understand the symbols, notations, lines, and other industry-specific features of these construction plans. Understanding blueprints is an essential part of not only working in construction but also the whole of the AEC industry, as architecture and engineering professionals will also need to create and understand these construction documents for their projects. Learning to read blueprints will involve understanding how to read these documents, how blueprints relate to the project’s quantity takeoff, and how these documents fit into the entire construction process. 

Blueprint Reading Classes in Miami

Those looking to learn blueprint reading should consider enrolling in a course through Virtual Design & Construction Institute (VDCI). VDCI offers online, self-directed courses of study for beginners and those looking to refresh their blueprint reading skills. Learners will have the ability to start a class whenever they choose and will receive expert guidance as they work through the course material. Courses offer hands-on, project-based training, and students will receive individualized feedback on their skills. VDCI is nationally accredited, which ensures that courses and certificate programs meet rigorous standards of quality control. 

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Learners interested in understanding both commercial and residential construction plans can enroll in the Blueprint Reading Fundamentals Course Bundle. Over about six weeks, this project-based course teaches students what they need to know to be able to read, understand, and use blueprints in the workplace. VDCI also offers a combined course in learning to read construction documents and estimate construction costs. The 50-hour Blueprint Reading & Construction Estimating Course Bundle walks students through learning to interpret commercial and residential construction plans and will teach the components of estimating construction costs, including how blueprints relate to the quantity takeoff. Both course bundles come with 1-on-1 bonus training and digital certificates of completion. 

Some learners might prefer individual courses in blueprint reading rather than a course bundle. In this case, VDCI offers the Blueprint Reading Course—Residential Construction and the Blueprint Reading Course—Commercial Construction. The residential construction course also has a Spanish-language option, Lectura de Planos—Construcción Residencial. These courses are short and ideal for beginners who want to learn how to read construction documents quickly. A licensed architect teaches students the basics of blueprint reading in 10 hours of course material and hands-on projects. Those who complete any of these courses will earn a digital certificate of completion, which they can show to potential employers as verification of training. 

Miami residents can also consider learning to read blueprints in Miami Dade College’s training courses. Those looking to enroll in career-oriented training at a community college can take their Fundamentals of Blueprint Reading course. This will be held in-person on one of their campuses and will complement other courses in construction and design that they offer. They also offer an online, on-demand Blueprint Reading Basics course for any learner through their School of Continuing Education & Professional Development. Students will receive 30 hours of training intended to teach them how to read commercial and residential construction documents and how blueprints relate to the construction process. 

Another Miami-based option is taking the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Central Florida’s Blueprint Reading course. Blueprint Reading is an 18-hour, six-week course of study designed to teach the basics of reading construction documents. Students will learn about lines, symbols, and scale, as well as the purpose of materials, different modes of construction, and reading different plan elements. As a beginner-friendly course, ABC suggests it can be useful for everyone from construction project advisors to craftsmen working within their field. This introductory course also serves as a prerequisite for ABC of Central Florida’s intermediate construction documents course, Blueprint Reading II.

Gold Coast Schools offers a two-day Plan Reading Essentials course. Students enrolled in this course learn how to interpret construction documents and receive training in how plans are used, the math basics necessary to do construction calculations, and the particularities of understanding field-specific construction documents. This course is beginner-friendly, though Gold Coast Schools suggests that construction professionals can also benefit from the training. Plan Reading Essentials has both English and Spanish language options. 

Blueprint Reading Corporate Training

If you’re looking to upskill or reskill your workforce in blueprint reading, consider VDCI’s corporate training options. VDCI offers online, self-directed courses in blueprint reading for residential and commercial construction and blueprint reading and construct cost estimating. These courses teach students using real-world examples so they can quickly transition from learning how to read construction documents to putting these skills to use in the workplace. In addition to self-directed training, courses can be taken at VDCI’s Midtown Manhattan facility, and VDCI can create a customized curriculum for onsite training at your location. 

What Can You Do with Blueprint Reading Training?

At the most basic level, knowing how to read construction documents will help you to understand how a design can and will go from an idea in someone’s head to a physical, built reality through the construction process. In the AEC industry, most professionals will need to know how to read these documents. Professionals on the design side need to understand construction documents because they are the ones responsible for envisioning and drawing the projects that get built. Professionals on the construction side need to understand blueprints to generate costs, material, labor, and equipment lists and actually make the designs into a functioning reality. 

For those not already in the AEC industry, learning to read blueprints can be an entry point into launching a career within this industry. Understanding blueprints can help you work in an entry-level or intern position within a design firm or on a construction site. Learning to interpret and understand blueprints will also involve learning some of the basics of how designers and construction professionals use specific terms and language and how projects are transformed from an image to a material, physical reality. It can be a good idea to learn blueprint reading early in your career to set yourself up for success as you move into this industry. 

Knowing how to read a blueprint can also be useful for your own projects. Those interested in building their own structures, from a family home to an outdoor cat patio or dog house, can use their training in reading construction documents to make sure these projects result in safe and functional structures. Someone interested in interior design, as a hobby or a profession, can also use their blueprint reading skills to better plan how to reorganize their interior spaces to maximize the look, feel, and function of each room. 

What Will I Learn in a Blueprint Reading Class?

The main goals of a blueprint reading class will be to familiarize students with the format of construction documents and teach students how to interpret these documents. This will involve learning construction jargon as well as understanding the symbols, notations, lines, scale, and measurements that one finds on different plans. Depending on the course, learners will become familiar with different site plans and floor plans and might learn to create field-specific plans like structural plans or MEP plans. A blueprint reading class will have you work on interpreting real-world commercial or residential construction plans so that you can continue to develop your blueprint reading skillsets even after the course ends. 

In addition to learning how to interpret blueprints, you will also learn how these documents fit into the construction process. Blueprint reading classes will cover the purpose and function of blueprints and how they are used to create quantity take-offs. Professionals like Construction Estimators will use blueprints during the pre-construction phase of a project to generate quantity take-offs, which list all necessary materials, labor, and other costs. 

Learning to read blueprints also enhances your problem-solving and collaboration skills. Blueprints are a kind of universal or common language that those in different sectors of the AEC industry can use to communicate how something should be built. Knowing how to read these documents will not only help you work across fields and departments, but it will also make sure that all teams and stakeholders are on the same page about a project. Learning to read construction documents will also help you to identify and resolve any problems before construction begins, as it will be easier and cheaper to fix any errors in the pre-construction phase of a project. 

What Kinds of Training Options Are Available to Learn Blueprint Reading?

In-Person

In-person training involves learning blueprint reading from a live instructor in a college classroom or training facility. Learners will attend regularly scheduled classes along with other students and can interact in real time with other students and the course instructor. This kind of training is offered by a number of education providers, including community colleges, vocational schools, and technical skills training centers, and the length of the class can vary depending on the depth of training. Some basic blueprint reading classes can be as little as two days long, while others allow you to learn the content over multiple weeks or months.

Live Online

Similar to in-person training, live online training will involve attending regularly scheduled courses along with other students and a live instructor. The major difference is that you attend your classes from a distance, usually using a video streaming platform like Zoom. This allows learners to take the course from home or another convenient location while still learning the course content in real time along with other students. Live online classes are offered by many of the same providers as in-person classes, though there are many more online-only education providers today than there are in-person providers. 

Self-Directed

Another option for remote learning is taking a self-directed online course. These are asynchronous online courses that allow you to start the training whenever you want rather than having to attend regularly scheduled training sessions. In self-directed courses, students will receive access to course material that they can work through and will have guidance from an instructor or mentor who can answer questions and help direct their learning. Self-directed courses can also provide additional career support services that other asynchronous online courses may lack. 

On-Demand

Like self-directed courses, on-demand ones are asynchronous online courses. Students receive access to course material that they can work through at their own pace and can usually start their training right when they enroll in the course. These courses are more likely to be offered through large online providers like Udemy, Coursera, and Skillshare, and they are less likely to offer any direction or guidance from an instructor or mentor. 

Choosing the Right Training Method for You

Determining which blueprint reading course is right for you involves thinking about your own learning needs as well as the cost, schedule, convenience, and curriculum of a specific course. In-person training is still considered one of the best ways to learn and retain information. While this type of training can be more expensive than online training, learners are able to receive 1-on-1 attention from expert instructors and can more freely network with other students. Not everyone will be able to find in-person blueprint reading courses that meet their needs, and those with full-time jobs or busy schedules should consider online training options instead. 

Live online classes offer many of the same benefits as in-person training. Learners will receive hands-on training from a live instructor, and they are able to engage with an instructor and other students. Many people benefit from being in a larger community of learners and enjoy the convenience of being able to learn from home rather than having to commute to a training facility. Live online classes tend to be more accommodating for full-time and busy learners as they often offer more part-time, evening, and weekend options than in-person training. This kind of training can either be cheaper than in-person training or similarly priced, depending on the provider. 

Asynchronous online classes are a great option for working professionals and those who want to learn at their own pace. Both self-directed and on-demand courses allow learners to learn course material when they want and where they want. Self-directed courses combine the convenience and cost-effectiveness of online learning with the mentorship and guidance of instructor-led courses. This type of training is often career-oriented and will be best for those who want to take their skills from the classroom directly into the workforce. On-demand classes, by contrast, are best for those looking to become familiar with a new topic and usually will not provide the depth of training necessary to start a career in one’s chosen field. 

Online learning is not for everyone. Though it has many advantages over in-person training, some learners struggle to remain engaged with course material, even in live online courses. Learning online and from a distance is best for self-motivated learners and making sure to find a training program that offers some amount of structure and guidance will help students complete the course and learn the necessary skills. 

How Hard is It to Learn Blueprint Reading?

Learning to read blueprints is not considered difficult. Like learning any new skill set, it will take time to learn how to make sense of these 2D technical drawings. Beginners will need to become accustomed to reading lines, understanding the measurements and scale, and making sense of specific symbols and notations on the documents. It will take time and practice to learn how to read these industry-specific construction plans, but those who are willing to learn this skill should not run into too much difficulty. 

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Blueprint Reading?

Blueprint reading can be challenging for beginners, as you will need to understand industry-specific symbols and conventions. Those with no knowledge of technical drawings or construction can find it daunting to be faced with needing to make sense of multi-page construction plans. It can be overwhelming to read and interpret a blueprint with no training. Training will provide you with a way to decode how these documents translate 3D space into a 2D drawing and will teach you the necessary jargon of the construction industry and how blueprints relate to the entire construction process.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Blueprint Reading?

Generally, most can learn to read blueprints in just a few weeks. The basics of how to read symbols, abbreviations, notations, lines, measurements, and other elements can take as little as a few days, though learners find that they need to practice their skills consistently to become familiar with these documents. Mastering reading construction plans will take most people from three to six months, depending on how often they are practicing their skills. How long it takes to learn blueprint reading will also depend on your familiarity with technical drawings and the construction industry. Those who know more about material and labor lists and how construction documents are used will find that they can learn blueprint reading faster than others.

Can I Learn Blueprint Reading Free Online?

There are online resources to learn the fundamentals of blueprint reading for free. Noble Desktop’s free seminars and YouTube channel are a good place to start for those looking for basic training in design-related software and careers. YouTube also has a variety of free video tutorials that learners can browse. Library card holders can often gain free access to LinkedIn Learning, LinkedIn’s on-demand education platform, and will be able to find blueprint reading courses for beginners. In addition, you can locate other tutorials, instructions, websites, and resources, many of which are geared toward an introductory level of knowledge. These resources can help you get started reading construction drawings and plans, but they will not provide the professional skill development that someone needs to start a career in the AEC industry. 

What Should I Learn Alongside Blueprint Reading?

Learning 2D and 3D modeling software can complement one’s blueprint reading skills. AutoCAD is the leading, industry-standard 2D technical drawing software. It is widely used in the AEC industry to create and modify accurate, detailed construction plans. Even those not in a design role will likely need to be familiar with this software, and familiarity will help you to better understand blueprints and how they are created by AEC professionals. 

Current or prospective AEC professionals can also consider learning Revit. Revit is industry-standard BIM software that is often used to design 3D models, coordinate designs, and collaborate with team members and project stakeholders. This software not only allows one to generate construction documents, but, as a collaborative tool, users can also share and annotate these documents in real time. Even if you will not be using Revit to create 3D models of buildings, structures, or systems, you will likely need to be familiar with the basics of Revit when working in the AEC industry. 

Industries That Use Blueprint Reading

Professionals working within the AEC industry will need to learn how to read blueprints and construction documents. The AEC industry continues to thrive in Miami, a city known for having a wide variety of residential, commercial, and industrial construction projects. AEC professionals are in-demand in Miami-Dade County, and both sides of the design and construction process need to understand these important documents. Architects, engineers, and other designers need to know how to create the detailed technical drawings and floor plans that will be the basis for buildings, structures, or systems, and construction professionals need to be able to interpret these documents and use them to generate construction schedules and material and labor costs. 

There are other professionals who can benefit from understanding blueprints, as well. Blueprints are also used in manufacturing as the basis for how products are designed and created. Interior Designers might need to understand blueprints given that they are often on design teams and part of design firms that work to create aesthetically pleasing and functional spaces. Other professionals like attorneys, advisors, or accountants, might also need to be familiar with blueprints when working with clients in the AEC industry. 

Blueprint Reading Job Titles and Salaries

Construction Estimator

A Construction Estimator is in charge of calculating the cost of a project, including materials, labor, permits, and any other necessary expenses. One of the key parts of this cost estimation will be reading detailed project blueprints to understand the scope and breadth of a project. In addition, someone in this role will need to visit construction sites, coordinate with vendors, and prepare proposal bids to send to clients. Construction Estimators in Miami earn an average salary of $81,000, which is similar to the national average for this role. One’s salary can depend on factors like experience, education, and location, and one’s total yearly salary can range from $51,000 to $130,000. 

Architect

An Architect is responsible for planning and designing buildings and other structures. They can work on projects ranging from residential homes to commercial, institutional, or organizational buildings and sites. An Architect will need to generate construction documents to share with other team members and stakeholders and will need to be able to have a detailed understanding of project blueprints. In Miami, Architects make around $90,000 per year, not including additional pay in the form of bonuses, commissions, or profit-sharing endeavors. The total yearly salary for an Architect in Miami ranges from $66,000 to $142,000. Architects need formal education beyond blueprint reading, and their salary depends on their educational background, experience, and specialization. 

Construction Manager

Similar to other Project Managers, Construction Managers are tasked with overseeing a project from start to finish. They not only have the ability to read and create construction documents, but they will also need to manage budgets, monitor construction sites, communicate project updates to stakeholders and team members, and ensure safety and quality control standards are met. Construction Managers in Miami make around $92,000 a year, according to Indeed. The salary for this profession can range from around $60,000 at the low end to around $141,000. This is a management position, so you will need years of on-the-job experience to reach this level. 

Discounted bulk vouchers are available for enrollment in VDCI’s regular training classes and bundles. This option allows you to determine which courses your team can sign up for, and it allows team members to handle the scheduling logistics themselves. Email partnerships@vdci.edu to learn more about corporate training and to sign up for a free consultation for your business or organization.