Best Construction Classes in Phoenix

What is Construction?

Construction includes everything that goes into building structures (such as houses), from mapping out the project on paper to assembling materials into a finished structure. This art is as old as human culture, beginning as far back as,000 BCE as a natural consequence of our need for shelter. Over time, construction methods and materials have evolved with advancements in technology. Today, construction projects commonly rely on prefabrication, computer-aided design (CAD) tools, building information modeling (BIM), and project management methodologies. While applicable in every industry, construction is most frequently associated with the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) field. 

Construction Classes Near Me

Construction classes offer focused instruction, enabling you to quickly build skills and gather experience. Phoenix offers a diverse range of construction courses including in-person, online, and self-directed options. In addition to many short classes (ideal for beginners), the city also has longer career programs that offer more comprehensive training. 

Want a high-quality AEC education without the stressors that come with fast-paced, structured training? Consider signing up for one of the Virtual Design and Construction Institute (VDCI)’s self-paced classes. The part-time, self-directed training style that VDCI is famous for includes live 1-on-1 mentorship and hands-on activities built to provide a mix of structure and flexibility. Their Construction Professional Course Bundle includes 14 classes designed to provide the skills needed to thrive in a construction career. In this comprehensive program, Among the numerous skills drilled in this comprehensive program are MEP, software proficiencies (such as Revit), construction management, site preparation, collaboration, blueprint reading, and construction estimation. 

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If you prefer to tackle one aspect of construction at a time, VDCI also offers individual courses and smaller bundles. For example, the Construction Estimator Course hones in on skills needed to estimate costs and quantities for construction projects. The course begins with foundational training to help you understand the theory behind cost estimation, including different types of estimates, their components, and how they’re organized. Once this foundation is solid, a construction estimating expert will guide you through the hoops of creating your own estimates, including how to create a professional cost estimate proposal.

By signing up for VDCI’s Construction Management Fundamentals Course Bundle, you can prepare for construction-related leadership roles. This smaller course bundle includes several courses that provide focused training on construction management essentials like project planning, delivery, costs and cost estimating, contracts, and proposals. In addition, the program also provides an overview of the construction industry with tailored insights into industry sectors like design. While open to beginners, this program is ideally suited to professionals who already have some experience with AEC. 

For students who want to support local institutions, construction training is built into regional schools such as Gateway Community College. Their Fundamentals of Blueprint Reading & Construction Estimating program was created in collaboration with Ed2Go and aims to provide students with an understanding of how construction drawings and cost estimates are related. The program is open to non-university students, making it notably cheaper than attending full-time. At their own pace, course participants complete assignments designed to teach document interpretation along with how to estimate quantities, takeoffs, and financial costs. 

Through the Home Building Academy, a school based in Phoenix, students can receive construction career training focused on carpentry or electrical construction. Their Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training Carpentry program offers in-person instruction in construction best practices, materials, hand and power tools, and other equipment. Students also learn the basics of construction math and learn how to read simple construction documents. To optimize safety, students learn how to maintain industry regulations, navigate job sites safely, and perform simple first-aid tasks. Students finish off their coursework with a unit in professional development that covers interviews and job applications. 

More training options are available at schools like Habitat for Humanity Arizona, Maricopa Community College, Academy for Construction Experience, Arizona Builders Alliance, and AZ Job Connection.

What Can You Do with Construction Training?

An education in construction can supply you with the skills for a career or improve the quality (and legal permissibility) of your amateur construction projects. Whether you’re a professional or an amateur builder, construction skills are useful for building a variety of structures. These can include: 

• Full-scale buildings (for commercial and residential use). 
• Industrial facilities. 
• Small buildings (such as workshops, sheds, container homes, and treehouses). 
• Large landscaping projects.
• Civil and structural engineering projects (examples include seismic and natural disaster supports, greenhouses, stadiums, town centers, playgrounds, towers, and dams, along with infrastructure roads and transit systems). 
• Major landmarks such as memorials and statues.
• MEP systems (these include fire protection, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC).
• Renovation and maintenance projects. 

What Will I Learn in a Construction Class?

Students participating in construction classes can learn skills for building structures (from planning to completion). With many classes available, students can choose to explore construction at a range of depths. While some courses focus on just a few skills, others can provide thorough training for specific careers. 

Skills often covered in these classes include:

• Building Methods and Practices: Best practices for building a range of structures, including maintaining industry standards and following regulations. 
• Physical Tools and Materials: Understanding material properties and properly using power tools. 
• BIM: Managing the informational side of construction. 
• Construction Safety: Maintaining safe job site practices and responding decisively to incidents. 
• Construction Estimating: Calculating costs for construction projects. 
• 3D and 2D Modeling: Creating scale-accurate representations of structures. 
• Blueprint Reading: Interpreting construction documents to ensure accurate builds. 
• Documentation: Thoroughly recording each project stage to help with troubleshooting and legal concerns. 
• Architecture: Designing and overseeing the construction of large structures. 
• Engineering: Using technology, math, and science to create structures and MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) systems that function as intended for as long as possible. 
• Collaboration: Applying soft skills like communication to effectively work with (and manage) teams.
• Construction Management: Using specific methodologies to oversee all phases of a construction project. 

What Kinds of Training Options Are Available to Learn Construction?

The diverse variety of construction classes available today come in multiple formats to suit the needs of different students.

In-person Construction Training

Participating in an in-person construction class gives students access to a dedicated learning space that often includes complimentary equipment. Onsite classes also provide an interactive experience that includes face-to-face instructor support, and group activities. 

Live Online Construction Training

Live online construction classes recreate the interactive learning experience of being in an in-person class by using video conferencing tools to provide real-time instruction. However, students can participate in live online classes at home (or anywhere with Wifi). 

On-Demand Construction Training

This second form of online class offers students an alternative to scheduled, live classes. Instead, participants learn from pre-prepared materials at their leisure. These materials can include 

Reading packets, demonstration videos, quizzes, and recorded lectures. Students can find on-demand construction training on platforms like Udemy, Coursera Autodesk, and ONLC Training Centers. 

Self-directed Construction Training

Blending characteristics of on-demand and live online training styles, self-directed courses enable students to access live teacher support as they work toward self-determined goals and deadlines. Some self-directed construction programs also include perks such as job support and 1-on-1 mentoring. 

Choosing the Right Training Method for You

By comparing the pros and cons (explored below), students can identify which training format is best suited to their needs. 

In-person construction classes are best known for their interactive live training. Students in onsite classes can enjoy group activities, networking, demonstrations, and real-time instructor support. These programs are best for students who don’t mind attending scheduled classes on location. 

Live online courses come with the same perks as the average in-person course but allow students to opt out of commuting. This trade-off means students can learn the same skills with a smaller time commitment. These classes demand high-speed internet and may not work well for students navigating attention difficulties or photosensitivity. 

Despite being one of the most flexible options for learning construction, on-demand training has many drawbacks. These programs lack instructor support and offer beginner-focused training that neglects professional experience. This class style is well suited to amateur students who want to save money and time. 

While providing plenty of flexibility, self-directed classes maintain many of the benefits characteristic of live classes. Self-directed students can easily connect with instructors in real-time but won’t typically be required to participate in scheduled classes. These programs also provide holistic training that covers more ground and can include progressional experience. 

How Hard is It to Learn Construction?

Even for people with no experience, construction is an easy skill set to start learning. However, experience with relevant skills (like BIM, MEP, CAD, blueprint reading, and math) will ultimately ease beginners into the field. In general, it’s also considered easier to learn basic construction for amateur projects than it is to master the skill of a professional. 

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Construction?

The unique roadblocks each construction student faces can be overcome with practice and guidance from an expert instructor. The most common ones are: 

• 3D Spatial Reasoning: Novices typically take time to fully learn to think in three dimensions, with particular sticking points including detailed measurements and scale. 
• Site Work: Beginners may also need practice when it comes to intuitively navigating job site responsibilities, including safety procedures and incident response. Those who work at unique sites (such as underground or underwater) must also adapt to unique conditions. 
• Regulations: Learning and fulfilling the numerous regulations and building codes required by construction projects can feel overwhelming to some students. 
• Engineering: Other students may find it difficult to build MEP systems, due to their complexity and potential for clashes. 
• Coordinating with Teams: Usually a communal effort, construction requires many soft skills (such as communication) that take longer to develop than technical prowess. 

How Long Does It Take to Learn Construction?

Training time varies from person to person, with determining factors including temperament, background, training modality, and goals. In three to six months of structured training, you can develop the foundational skills necessary to read blueprints and work on a construction site. Amateur learners can gain the know-how necessary to complete personal projects on a similar timeline. However, gaining the full mastery and experience required for a long-term construction career takes at least five years (for management roles, specialized training is necessary). Students who already have experience with AEC and those who participate in live classes will learn faster. 

Can I Learn Construction for Free Online?

The internet makes it possible for novices to explore beginner construction topics at no cost. That said, free construction resources can’t offer professional experience or career training. Common resource types include:

• Educational blogs (like this one).
• Construction video tutorials and lectures (popularly found on YouTube). 
• Free seminars (find them at vocational school websites).

What Should I Learn Alongside Construction?

By adding more versatility to your skill set, studying complementary topics makes construction knowledge more marketable. According to experts, the best way to choose additional skills is to consider what you want to accomplish and identify which skills fit your goal. For example, construction professionals need to coordinate projects with people from a variety of fields, making collaborative skills essential. Similarly, those who want to specialize in engineering benefit from gaining engineering skills. 

In-demand skills commonly used alongside construction include:

• Software skills (such as Revit, SolidWorks, Civil 3D, and AutoCAD). 
• 3D modeling or CAD design. 
• Technical drawing and drafting.
• Blueprint reading.
• Documentation.
• Architectural design.
• BIM.
• Data management. 
• Engineering (including mechanical, structural, and civil engineering).
• Structural design and analysis. 
• MEP systems. 
• Welding.
• Mathematics.
• Programming.
• Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI).
• Robotics.
• Project management. 
• Real estate and property development. 
• Soft skills (such as communication, problem-solving, and analytical thinking).

Industries That Use Construction

With physical spaces such as shops, housing, and other structures being essential to many fields, construction projects pop up in just about any industry you can think of. In Phoenix, construction is popular in key industries like healthcare, retail, and business. However, it’s also common in smaller local industries such as manufacturing. 

Commerce and Business

Phoenix is a popular location for business thanks to its massive talent pool and low costs. This popularity is increasing exponentially, with statistics showing an 83% growth in business investments each quarter since 2020. Among the diverse collection of companies found in Phoenix are Fortune-500 companies like Avnet, chain stores like Spout’s Farmer’s Market and PetSmart, and start-ups like GoDaddy. These businesses commonly look to construction when it comes time to build commercial facilities, retail stores, and workspaces. 

Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing

Construction is a key aspect of the local manufacturing industry and provides companies with efficient facilities for product assembly and storage. Phoenix’s strong market of aerospace and military employers supplies the 4th highest concentration of aerospace manufacturing jobs in America. Top regional employers include start-ups (such as Gulfstream), military bases (such as Luke Air Force Base), and legacy companies (such as Lockheed Martin). Daily, professionals from each of these fronts support Phoenix’s efforts to manufacture machines, airplane parts, weapons, electronics, and semiconductors.

Healthcare

Among the fastest-growing fields in Phoenix, healthcare, and biotech are anticipated to add 90,000 new jobs in the next decade. Phoenix provides top-notch patient care along with thousands of clinical trials contributing to local research. In addition to the 40+ academic establishments (including Arizona State University) found in the city, Phoenix also houses numerous independent research companies (such as Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, Neurological Institute, and Mayo Clinic). Construction supports patient care and research efforts by providing streamlined facilities that are built to facilitate healing. 

Construction Job Titles and Salaries

While construction jobs are incredibly diverse, they all center around building projects. In America, these roles can earn you $36,000 more than the national salary average. 

Construction Manager

Professionals in this role rely on leadership, BIM, construction estimating, and project management methodologies to oversee all phases of the building process. Their average annual salary is approximately $79,000 and $120,000 in Phoenix.

Construction Superintendent

Taking their directions from Construction Managers, Construction Superintendents take charge of managing workers and onsite tasks for construction projects. The local salary averages between $87,000 and $127,000 each year.

Architect

Harkening back to famous artists like Filippo Brunelleschi, the Architect's job role involves designing and overseeing the construction of buildings and other structures. Their work moves beyond the function-focused efforts of Engineers to include aesthetics and beauty. In Phoenix, an Architect can earn $92,000 to $132,000 per year. 

Civil Engineer

In this role, professionals design, build, and maintain important infrastructures like roads, bridges, and dams. Civil Engineers need skills in construction management, structural analysis, material science, soil mechanics, and problem-solving. Local salaries for this role average approximately $85,000 to $117,000. 

Construction Corporate Training

Corporate construction training offers an efficient way to train teams in the latest construction practices, from onsite safety or construction management and estimating. With customizable options, VDCI’s corporate construction training can help teams and individuals level up in a format that works well for them. Options include online courses, self-paced programs, and even onsite visiting instructors. 

To offer workers more independence, employers can gift class vouchers to their teams, allowing individual members free reign to select their mode of training. When purchasing vouchers in bulk, companies can also access group discounts to save on training. Interested in learning more about corporate construction training? Reach out to VDCI at partnerships@vdci.edu.