Best Construction Classes in Miami

What is Construction?

Construction refers to planning and building structures, objects, and other forms within the physical environment. While creating and building different structures has been around for as long as humans have wielded tools, construction today involves learning specialized concepts, skill sets, and software to plan, implement, and complete construction projects. Depending on one’s specific role, a construction professional may need to learn to read blueprints, estimate construction costs, use CAD and BIM software, and plan and manage projects so that they remain on schedule and within budget while adhering to safety standards and industry regulations. 

Construction is an in-demand industry, and learning construction can lead to a sustainable and fulfilling career. What you need to learn can relate to the type of construction you intend to work on: commercial, industrial, infrastructural, or residential. You can also train to work in cost estimation or in planning, coordinating, and managing construction projects. Construction Managers and Project Managers are two of the higher-paying managerial roles that someone can pursue with training and on-the-job experience in construction. 

Construction Classes in Miami

The Virtual Design & Construction Institute (VDCI) offers hands-on, project-based training to learn construction. Their courses are online and self-directed so that students from any location can start their training immediately upon enrollment and can learn from the convenience of home. VDCI is nationally accredited meaning learners can trust that all of their courses and certificate programs meet rigorous standards for quality and excellence. Many of VDCI’s courses also come with 1-on-1 instructor guidance and career-support services like help putting together a job portfolio or navigating the job market. 

Learn Construction

• Nationally accredited
• Create your own portfolio
• Free student software
• Learn at your convenience
• Authorized Autodesk training center

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Beginners should consider enrolling in a fundamentals course or certificate program. VDCI’s Construction Fundamentals Course can be a good place to start. This is a beginner-friendly course for those looking to get into the AEC industry or related design or real estate professions. The complete course combines training from six different classes and aims to familiarize students with everything they need to know to understand how a construction project is initiated and how a building is built from the ground up. Students gain access to 70 hours of course material and will spend an average of 19 weeks learning about important materials, systems, terminology, management practices, and safety protocols. VDCI also offers more specific role-based courses like the Construction Management Fundamentals Course, the Construction Estimator Course, and the Blueprint Reading Fundamentals Course. 

Career-oriented learners should also consider enrolling in a certificate program, like the CAD/BIM Certificate Program. This course of study is designed to provide learners with all of the necessary AutoCAD and Revit training they will need to understand these industry-standard programs, how they are used in the design, modeling, and construction processes, and how to use them to create construction documents. VDCI also offers individual certificate programs for CAD and BIM software for those not interested in this combined, comprehensive program of study. Those who want short courses on topics like managing the interior and finish work on a construction project or understanding the building enclosure can also find VDCI courses that will meet their training needs. 

Noble Desktop also provides training in necessary construction industry software, like AutoCAD. Noble Desktop’s courses provide hands-on training from industry experts and courses can be taken live online or in-person at their training facility in Manhattan. The 30-hour AutoCAD Bootcamp is the quickest way for beginners to learn AutoCAD fundamentals. This course covers using AutoCAD to create simple 2D drawings that you can manipulate, edit, and annotate. Noble’s AutoCAD Masterclass is a great way to start your AutoCAD mastery by learning introductory, intermediate, and advanced skills over the course of 48 hours. They also offer individual courses catered to one’s skill level and an AutoCAD Certification Program to prepare students for the Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design & Drafting exam. 

Another training provider with both in-person and online construction courses is Ledet Training. While they are based in Atlanta, they have a training center in Fort Lauderdale so that those in and around Miami can learn the necessary construction skillsets in-person. For those in the AEC industry, they offer training in AutoCAD. Their Autodesk AutoCAD 101—Beginner course is a great place to start your training as you will learn basic drawing tools as well as how to use blocks, prepare layouts, and add annotations or dimensions to your drawings. They also offer other courses for intermediate or advanced learners and industry-specific AutoCAD courses. 

Like Ledet, Certstaffix Training also provides a variety of AutoCAD courses. Certstaffix’s classes can be taken live online or as self-paced courses and they offer training options for beginners, intermediate learners, and more advanced learners. Their three-day AutoCAD Essentials allows beginners to learn about AutoCAD’s interface and start creating and modifying simple shapes and objects. This class gets you started learning AutoCAD and prepares you to take their more advanced AutoCAD coursework. If you’re looking for a longer, more comprehensive program, their self-paced Autodesk, Drafting & Building Design e-learning Bundle Course combines 136 courses into one so that prospective AEC industry professionals can learn essential concepts, technical skills, software, and career skills. 

What Can You Do with Construction Training?

Learning construction allows you to start a career in the AEC industry. Your training will provide you with a skill set that you can use to get started working on residential or commercial construction projects, as you will know about the entire construction process and how buildings, systems, and infrastructure go from a design plan to a reality. Learning about building materials and systems is often the first step in your construction training and will provide you with enough knowledge so that you can then specialize in a particular area of construction. 

Beyond the basics, construction training often gives you the skills to read blueprints, use specific design and modeling software, and know how to create budgets and construction schedules. Learning to read construction documents or blueprints is essential to all phases of construction. In the pre-construction phase, you can use these skills to create a budget for a project by estimating the costs associated with the necessary materials and labor. Before a project begins, blueprint reading also allows you to resolve any potential issues with the designs or plans themselves. 

Reading construction documents is often necessary for many construction professions, and your training can allow you to generate these documents by learning to use CAD or BIM software. Those in construction often learn AutoCAD and Revit, as these are industry-leading design and construction software programs. Both will allow you to generate essential construction documents, and it will require training for you to learn how this process differs in each software. Learning BIM software will also be essential for those looking to become Project Managers as this is collaborative software that you can use to track and manage projects in real time. 

What Will I Learn in a Construction Class?

Construction classes will teach a variety of concepts, technical skills, and soft skills, depending on the focus of the class. Someone who is just learning the ropes of construction will learn about the different types of construction, like residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructural, the phases of a construction project, and the different roles and jobs in the construction industry. Construction basics and fundamentals courses will also teach learners what materials are used in the building process, necessary MEP systems within a building or infrastructure project, and important safety regulations and procedures. 

Students can also expect to learn more specific skillsets depending on the course. A blueprint reading course covers how to read these essential construction plans, whereas a construction estimating course builds on this knowledge to teach students how to generate material and labor costs from reading blueprints. Construction courses focused on CAD and BIM software will often teach students how to generate blueprints from 2D and 3D design models, and construction management courses will focus on logistics, contracts, scheduling, budgets, and the necessities of taking a project from a design to a completed building, system, or structure. 

In addition to these conceptual and technical skillsets, construction classes will also strengthen your communication skills. There are many different players involved in construction projects, from the architects and engineers who plan and design projects and the clients who have specific needs for their projects to on-the-ground builders, carpenters, and electricians. You’ll need strong communication skills to make sure everyone remains in-synch and working effectively towards the same goals. Learning project management methods and software can be a way to strengthen your communication skills along with what you’ll learn in a construction class. 

What Kinds of Training Options Are Available to Learn Construction?

In-person

In-person classes are ones you attend by going to a classroom or training facility. Enrolling in an in-person class means you’ll commit to attending regularly scheduled classes taught by a live instructor with other students. Taking courses at a training facility can mean that you’ll be able to access the education provider’s computers and any required software. In-person construction classes are most likely to take place at community colleges, vocational schools, or other career-oriented education providers. 

Live Online

Live online classes are similar to in-person ones in that you’ll attend regularly scheduled classes alongside other students. These are also taught by a live instructor, but instead of going to another physical location, you will usually attend via a video streaming platform like Zoom. Live online classes allow for at-home learning and usually follow similar curricula to in-person courses. These courses can also come with additional forms of online engagement like message or discussion boards and digital training material or practice material. 

Self-directed

Self-directed classes are self-paced, asynchronous online classes. These classes provide students with course material, like lectures, videos, books, quizzes, and practices, and allow students to work through the material at their own pace. Students learn remotely with this option and do not need to attend classes with other students. Unlike other self-paced courses, self-directed classes come with some amount of instructor guidance or mentorship, which can include 1-on-1 instruction, the ability to message instructors as you study, and career support services. 

On-demand

On-demand courses are also asynchronous online classes. These self-paced classes are often offered through large online companies like Udemy, Skillshare, and Coursera. Unlike self-directed courses, they usually do not provide students with access to an expert instructor, offer graded projects, or give students individualized feedback. On-demand classes are more likely to involve students needing to teach themselves the course material. 

Choosing the Right Training Method for You

Choosing the right training method for you will involve weighing your own learning needs against the benefits of particular courses or programs of study. Many learners thrive in in-person courses due to the high level of student-instructor engagement and the ability to focus on their studies in a dedicated classroom or training facility. In-person learning allows learners to ask questions in real time and learn alongside other students who might be your future colleagues. Attending an in-person training course is not right for everyone, however, as these classes can be more expensive and are often scheduled during the workweek so that those who work full-time or have other responsibilities cannot attend. 

Online training is a great alternative to in-person training. Whether instructor-led, on-demand, or self-directed, online courses are usually more convenient as they allow you to learn from home or from another quiet, studious location. Live online options provide similar benefits as in-person training, as learners will be able to engage with a live instructor and other students and benefit from the communal atmosphere of this mode of instruction. Live online courses can be cheaper than in-person options and are more likely to be offered for part-time, evening, or weekend enrollment, making them a more accessible option for those with full-time jobs or busy weekday schedules. 

On-demand and self-directed courses also have their own advantages to consider. With these training options, there are no live classes to attend, so learners can learn entirely where they want and when they want. This can mean that dedicated, self-motivated learners can actually complete these training programs at a quicker pace than they would in an instructor-led class. On-demand classes also tend to be a very cost-effective training option, as they are often offered through large, online education companies that do not need to pay for training facilities or keep a roster of expert instructors on the payroll. 

Self-directed courses are best for more career-oriented learners or those who want to gain professional-level construction training. These courses come with instructor guidance and often have other support services to aid learners in launching their careers after completing training. On-demand classes are best for those looking for a cheap, quick way to learn some of the basics of construction. As with all online classes, some learners will struggle to stay engaged and complete the course material. Finding a program that allows for more instructor-student or student-student interaction is the best way to ensure you remain focused and can complete the program without feeling disengaged. 

How Hard is It to Learn Construction?

Construction is not considered too difficult to learn, though it can be challenging for beginners. Learning construction involves a mix of hands-on skills, conceptual skills like math and geometry, software knowledge, and the ability to plan and manage a project. Like learning any new skill, learning construction will take time and effort. On-the-job experience is especially valued in the construction industry, as whatever professional role you desire will involve needing to keep physical sites of construction in mind as you plan and implement projects for different clients. 

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Construction?

How challenging it is to learn construction will depend on the skills a learner already possesses. Those who have some background in building, planning, or mathematics will have an easier time learning construction. The most challenging part of learning construction is the variable skill set you will need. It can be difficult to bring together skills in construction practices, project planning, and CAD and management software while needing to adhere to industry building standards and safety regulations. Those willing to put in the effort to learn the requisite skillsets will not find construction too difficult to learn, even if it initially presents some challenges. 

How Long Does It Take to Learn Construction?

In just a few months, someone can learn the basics of construction, though it will take longer to become proficient or master construction skills and software. Two to three months is enough time to learn some of the practical and theoretical skills and get started with important concepts like reading construction documents, using CAD software, and managing projects. It often takes at least a few years to become proficient in construction, and many enter the industry by undertaking a multi-year construction apprenticeship. How long it takes to learn construction will ultimately depend on the skills you enter with and how much time you’re willing to learn and practice new skillsets. 

Can I Learn Construction Free Online?

There are a variety of free resources you can find to learn about construction, including courses, videos, websites, and seminars. Noble Desktop’s YouTube channel can be a good place to start learning about the design aspects that serve as the basis for construction projects. In general, YouTube is a great resource for learning about the construction industry or getting started learning the technical skillsets necessary to work within it. You can also find short courses or workshops through providers like Coursera or LinkedIn Learning. LinkedIn Learning is free for most public library card holders and offers on-demand courses in topics ranging from Revit basics to putting together a construction cost estimate. 

While you can learn the basics of construction, construction management, blueprint reading, software, or cost estimating from free resources, these resources will not teach the kind of professional skill development you will need to launch a successful career in construction. For that kind of training, you need to find a certificate program, bootcamp, or other comprehensive, career-oriented training course. 

What Should I Learn Alongside Construction?

Learning to use design and modeling software will be useful for someone learning other construction skillsets like blueprint reading, cost estimating, or construction management. While some construction certificate programs will teach software like AutoCAD or Revit, you often need to take specific courses to learn these industry-standard modeling programs. AutoCAD is used to create 2D technical drawings of construction projects and generate construction documents. Revit is BIM software used for 3D and 4D modeling, construction documentation, collaboration, and project management. 

In addition to design, modeling, and construction software, taking a project management course can be especially useful for someone looking to pursue senior- and manager-level construction positions. Project management courses cover common methods to manage projects and lead teams and important skills like starting projects, creating budgets and schedules, collaborating with stakeholders and team members, ensuring quality standards, and completing projects. Learning project management methods and strategies will enhance your skill set as a leader and allow you to work more easily with others and keep construction projects on time and within budget. 

Industries That Use Construction

Most who learn construction will work in the AEC industry, which is an in-demand and growing industry in Miami and many other cities in the US. There are a wide variety of fields and specializations within the construction industry, so learning construction can lead to someone working on residential projects or on building commercial projects for various business interests. In addition, individuals can work on industrial or manufacturing projects or even on essential city infrastructure like roads and bridges. Someone can also specialize in designing and building electrical systems, plumbing systems, or landscaping.

Construction, broadly, is an especially important industry in Miami, which has thriving residential, commercial, and industrial manufacturing sectors. Someone learning construction can find on-site work helping to build various structures or systems in and around Miami or managing projects through their different phases of construction. Knowing CAD and BIM software can also allow someone to work on the design and management side of construction projects. 

It can also be useful for those interested only in design to learn construction basics to enhance their professional work. Interior design professionals, for instance, can benefit from learning how to read blueprints. This skill will help Interior Designers to design and organize interior spaces while adhering to a project's requirements to maintain specific dimensions, stay within a certain budget, or use a defined set of materials. 

Construction Job Titles and Salaries

Construction Project Manager

A Construction Project Manager is responsible for guiding construction projects through all phases of construction, from start to finish, so that projects remain on time and within their projected budgets. This can involve developing plans, budgets, and schedules, generating construction documents, overseeing construction, communicating with project stakeholders and project vendors, and ensuring safety standards are met and industry regulations are followed. Construction Project Managers in Miami earn around $98,000 annually, which is slightly higher than the national average for this profession. This salary can range from around $65,000 to $156,000 and depends on a number of factors like on-the-job experience and educational background. 

BIM Manager

BIM Managers are professionals who set standards and protocols for how their organization uses BIM software like Revit. They will usually be the BIM experts in an organization and individuals will need 5-10 years of on-the-job experience before they can apply for these management positions. BIM Managers can be tasked with creating and managing construction models, training colleagues to use BIM software, overseeing the use of BIM for various projects, and troubleshooting issues with model clashes or software issues. In the US, BIM Managers earn an average annual salary of $83,000. What you actually earn can range from around $66,000 to $100,000 and will depend on factors like location, industry specialization, education, and experience. 

Construction Estimator 

Construction Estimators are trained professionals tasked specifically with calculating all of the costs of a construction project. They need to know how to read blueprints and create detailed breakdowns of the costs of materials, labor, equipment, permits, and anything else that costs money. Their job responsibilities can involve visiting construction sites, contacting various subcontractors to determine service rates, and coordinating with other stakeholders and construction team members. Miami-based Construction Estimators earn an average of $81,000 per year, which is on par with the national average for this profession. One’s actual salary depends on considerations such as training and experience and can range from around $50,000 at the low end to as high as $131,000. 

Construction Corporate Training

If you’re looking to upskill or reskill your workforce in necessary construction skills, consider VDCI’s corporate training options. Your team can learn everything they need to know about the construction process in the Construction Fundamentals Course or enroll in hands-on courses focused on teaching learners about construction management. VDCI’s courses are self-directed and online, allowing your workforce to start their training immediately and learn at their own convenience. Learners can also take courses at VDCI’s training facility in Manhattan, live online from any location, or onsite at your location. 

Discounted bulk vouchers are available for enrollment in VDCI’s regular class offerings. This option allows you to determine which VDCI courses to offer to your workforce and it allows your team members to schedule themselves for the courses that will best suit their needs. To learn more about corporate training options or to schedule a free consultation for your business or organization, email partnerships@vdci.edu. VDCI can also put together a custom curriculum based on the construction skill sets your team needs to learn.