Construction Classes Live Online: Best Remote/Virtual Construction Training

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Construction predates modern man. 1.8 million years ago, a stone circle at Olduvai Gorge was formed, and it is now considered the first man-made construction. During the Mesolithic era, hunter-gatherers built temporary shelters to suit their nomadic lifestyles. The Neolithic era saw a shift from nomadic lifestyles to more permanent settlements. As a result, people began constructing shelters with walls and forming cities. By the Copper Age, humans across the globe had developed durable tools and materials for construction, like fired bricks and measuring rods.

Construction varies depending on the region. Tropical regions use materials that provide natural cooling, such as wood and bamboo, while arid regions commonly use adobe and stone. Cold regions, like Canada and Russia, need to keep insulation in mind to help retain heat. Culture also plays a significant role in construction designs and materials. Homes in Japan often include sliding screens for privacy, while homes in China may have a siheyuan, a traditional Chinese courtyard. Countries in Western Europe with a long history of masonry and carpentry often incorporate courtyards, balconies, and aesthetic details like columns.

Construction in the US today reflects a growing demand for sustainability. As environmental concerns rise, the construction industry aims to assuage societal concerns by using sustainable construction strategies. People and companies have also turned toward green building designs which rely on eco-friendly materials. US construction also manages to incorporate new and improved technologies. You can frequently find “smart homes” that utilize energy-efficient, internet-enabled devices and appliances. Over 4 million single-family homes in the US have solar panels as of 2024, reflecting a growing commitment toward environmentalism in home design and function.

What Can You Do with Construction Training?

Construction training will help you start a career in construction. The skills and knowledge you learn in a construction class will help you work as a construction worker, a construction manager, or even own a construction company. Classes will teach you technical skills that you need, like operating machinery. You can also focus your training on a specific trade, such as carpentry or plumbing, to pursue a more specialized career track. The US currently has a high demand for employees across various roles in the construction industry. An increased demand for new homes and renovations, along with labor shortages, has made construction a great career path to start on.

In addition to starting a career in construction, construction training can help you work on personal projects. In a construction class, you can learn the skills you need to begin projects on your home. You can also use what you learn in a construction class to help choose a construction company or contractor for your home or commercial building.

What Will I Learn in a Construction Class?

What you learn in a construction class depends on the school hosting the class, the class’s main topics, and the difficulty level of the class. Beginner-friendly classes typically follow a similar curriculum, although you’ll see differences based on the class topics. In a construction management class, you can expect to learn topics like construction history, blueprint reading, project and master planning, and project delivery systems. You will also learn effective communication strategies for a construction project.

Construction History

Construction classes don’t have time to go through every bit of construction history considering how long construction has been around. However, you can expect brief lessons on construction history in a beginner-friendly class. Your class may cover global construction history or focus solely on the US. To learn more about construction history, look for free books and videos online that dive into the evolution of construction.

Blueprint Reading

If you want to work in the construction industry, you need to learn how to read blueprints. Blueprints serve as a means to understand construction project plans and communicate with stakeholders. Blueprints themselves are drawings that detail a construction project. Nearly every professional working on a construction project uses blueprints, from contractors to engineers to construction workers. In a class covering blueprint reading, you’ll learn the differences between residential and commercial blueprints. You can also expect lessons on how to analyze the drawings and how to submit blueprints for permits.

Project and Master Planning

Project and master planning are approaches for driving project development and growth. Project planning takes a short-term direction. When project planning, you’ll focus on the project objectives, create timelines, estimate costs, and allocate resources. Master planning takes a more comprehensive approach. When creating a master plan, you develop a long-term framework. The master plan includes broad goals and a site analysis and may even include different phases of development. Enroll in a construction management class to learn more about these planning approaches.

Project Delivery Systems

Project delivery systems, or methods, are ways professionals organize and manage the construction process. These systems communicate how various relationships within a project operate, such as the relationship between the project owner and the construction team, or the project owner and the design team. These systems also detail who is responsible for managing and financing the project. Learn more about project delivery systems by enrolling in a construction management program.

Communication

Everyone working in the construction industry needs to know how to communicate. Communication is essential to creating a safe work environment. With proper communication channels, teams can work seamlessly together, leading to an efficient construction process. When conflicts arise, having professionals on-site who know how to communicate with others and resolve conflicts is important. Enrolling in a construction class will help you learn how to communicate with people on your team and on other teams.

How Hard is It to Learn Construction?

How hard you find learning construction will depend on your prior experience and your goals. Students with experience in construction will have an advantage over students with no prior experience. They may pick up technical or practical skills faster than students starting from scratch. Construction covers a wide range of skills, so any experience in architecture, engineering, or materials science will benefit you as a student.

Your learning goals will also impact how hard you find learning construction. You’ll find that different construction jobs require varying skill sets and knowledge. Pursuing a more complicated aspect of construction means that you can expect to learn more challenging material. If you plan to learn more than one area of construction, you can also expect more challenges in training, as you’ll need to acquire more technical, practical, and power skills.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Construction?

You can determine the length of your construction training based on your prior knowledge and the area of construction you plan to study. As with most skills, learning construction helps if you have prior experience. Students who have studied construction before or even helped out on construction projects will find themselves at an advantage over their classmates with no prior experience. Having a background in construction—however big or small—also has the potential to save you time and money when you need to sign up for training.

The area of construction you want to focus on and the career you want to pursue will also influence how long it takes you to learn construction. If you pursue training in a construction-related trade at a trade school, you can expect your training to last anywhere from six months to two years. An associate’s program focused on construction management, building codes, and project management lasts about two years. Four-year bachelor’s degree programs provide the time needed to study construction management or civil engineering. Longer degree programs will give you plenty of time to gain hands-on experience.

Another option is to participate in an apprenticeship program. Apprenticeships combine classroom learning with onsite training. Construction apprenticeships typically last several years. No matter which training method you choose to pursue, you can also expect that you’ll gain more experience when you begin a career in construction.

Should I Learn Construction in Person or Online?

When searching for the perfect construction course to enroll in, you’ll likely come across three different types of construction training: in-person classes, live online classes, and on-demand classes. Before choosing a class, consider what class type best fits your schedule and learning needs.

For a traditional learning experience, enroll in an in-person class. In an in-person class, you’ll learn face-to-face from an instructor. Your instructor can answer any of your questions, provide you with feedback, and offer class demonstrations. Classes take place on weekdays, in the evenings, and on weekends, providing you with a variety of class times to choose from. You’ll have to commute to an in-person class, so make sure that if you enroll in one, you can make the meeting time. In-person classes cost anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars, with the final price depending on the material covered and the length of the class. One-day classes, for example, will cost less than a boot camp, which typically costs less than a certificate program.

For a similar but remote learning experience, enroll in a live online class. This class type allows you to learn via a web conferencing platform, so prepare to get comfortable while learning from the comfort of your home or office. Similarly to an in-person class, you’ll learn from a live instructor. Only this time, you’ll meet over a web conferencing platform instead of face-to-face. Live online classes offer a degree more flexibility than in-person classes because they eliminate the need to commute. When you enroll in a course that a school offers in both in-person and live online versions, you’ll usually find that the curriculum and cost of the class are the same.

The final type of class to check out when looking for construction training is the on-demand class. On-demand classes, also called self-paced or asynchronous classes, allow students to learn in their free time. Instead of learning from a live instructor, you’ll work through the class material by yourself. This material often includes pre-recorded video lectures and assignments. Students who have busy schedules and can’t attend a live class can turn to on-demand classes to learn construction. On-demand classes usually cost substantially less than live classes. Some students find learning on their own challenging; fortunately, many on-demand learning platforms offer tutoring services and mentoring sessions to assist students.

Can I Learn Construction for Free Online?

Before committing to an expensive construction class, learn the basics of construction online for free. You can watch training tutorials uploaded to YouTube by schools and training centers to learn the basics of construction. These videos aim to introduce students to construction before they pursue formal training. Another way to introduce yourself to construction is to sign up for a free, short-form, on-demand construction class. Short-form on-demand classes offer brief lessons that can help you decide if you want to enroll in and pay for a longer construction class. If you find self-teaching difficult, utilize another free online resource: community forums. Visiting forums for construction students and professionals will provide you the chance to ask experts questions and for advice. After exhausting free online resources, check out the formal training options available to you so that you can take your skills and knowledge to the next level.

What Should I Learn Alongside Construction?

Formal construction training will teach you the essential skills you’ll need to succeed in a construction career. Enrolling in a boot camp will help you gain hands-on skills, while a certificate program will provide you with opportunities to seek professional advice and prepare a solid career portfolio. If you’re looking to supplement your construction training in hopes of making yourself a more appealing candidate, or simply to learn more skills that will benefit you in the long run, consider learning project management and sustainable construction methods alongside construction.

Project management refers to the process of supervising a team during the duration of a project to achieve project goals. Learning project management skills will help you succeed in construction management roles. You’ll learn how to budget, work within time constraints, communicate with clients and stakeholders, and how to manage a team. These skills come in handy when overseeing a construction project. For more specialized project training, enroll in a construction management course.

Sustainable construction has become more popular as public concerns about the environmental impact of construction rise. As a solution, the industry has turned toward finding solutions to help negate the environmental impact of construction work. These solutions include using durable materials and energy-efficient systems. Lessons on sustainable construction will teach you how to approach projects with the economic, environmental, and social impacts in mind. You can also look for classes that will help you become LEED-certified. This certification provides a framework for the sustainable design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings, homes, and neighborhoods.

Industries That Use Construction

Ready to find a job in construction? Check out these major industries in which construction workers play a significant role.

Landscaping

Landscaping modifies features of the land with the goal of improving the area’s appearance and functionality. This is a distinct field from construction, but many construction projects include landscaping aspects. After construction crews have finished their work, landscapers often come in and install landscaping features like plants, trees, paths, walls, and fences.

The landscaping industry in the US is quite large, with the market size of landscaping services totaling approximately $154 billion in 2023. Landscapers divide their services into sectors like landscape design, hardscaping, irrigation systems, and tree care. Demand for landscaping services comes from various markets, including homeowners and business owners. Like the construction industry, landscaping has seen a trend toward sustainable practices. Some landscape companies have switched toward practices like xeriscaping, which reduces or completely eliminates the need for irrigation, and native plant selection. Construction workers play an important role in the landscaping industry by building elements of a landscape, like pathways, while other trades within the world of construction engage in the creation of aesthetic landscapes.

Real Estate

The country’s real estate industry consists of several market segments: residential, commercial, industrial, and retail real estate. This industry contributes significantly to the US GDP (15-18%) and provides jobs to over 2 million Americans. Interest rates, economic health, shifting demographics, government policies, and technology all impact the real estate industry. In addition to these key drivers, the industry has also seen trends in recent years. Suburban migration has increased after the COVID-19 pandemic, cities have begun to revitalize their downtown areas, demand has grown for green building practices, and people have rapidly integrated smart home technology into their dwellings.

The real estate industry turns toward construction workers to help develop, build, and maintain properties. Construction managers and their crews help this industry by working on projects from start to finish. Tradespeople like electricians and plumbers also play a significant role in these construction projects. Oftentimes, real estate agencies partner with builders and construction companies. They’ll work together on a project or a host of projects, forming a symbiotic relationship.

Civil Engineering

Civil engineering is a field within engineering that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure projects. Within the US, civil engineering plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of important infrastructure. Civil engineers ensure that society has properly functioning roads, bridges, buildings, airports, and water systems. The field covers a variety of specialties that focus on different aspects of infrastructure. Some professionals in the field work on transportation, for example, while others focus on environmental engineering.

Construction workers assist in the projects that civil engineers work on, from the planning stage to the execution stage. Civil engineers often conceptualize the structure of projects and check out sites before building to ensure that the area is safe for construction. Construction workers prepare the site and handle the logistics of the project onsite. The two work in tandem to ensure that important projects run smoothly.

Construction Job Titles and Salaries

Population growth across states is one factor contributing to the growing demand for workers in the construction industry. Here are several construction roles that you may have the skills to qualify for.

Construction Manager

Construction Managers oversee construction projects. They prepare budgets and cost estimates, coordinate with subcontractors, and ensure that the projects comply with legal requirements and building codes. Construction Managers typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in business or engineering, although some Construction Manager roles only require an associate’s degree in construction management or construction technology. In addition, Construction Managers should have analytical and project management skills. Construction Managers in the US make an average annual salary of $101,500, with variations occurring by state.

General Contractor

General Contractors manage and coordinate construction projects. To become a General Contractor, you need industry experience and specialized training. Most states also require General Contractors to obtain a license. License qualifications vary by state and, sometimes, by city. A General Contractor should have good attention to detail and know how to adapt during a project. In the US, General Contractors make an average annual salary of $63,000. This salary may vary wildly depending on the state and even the city. General Contractor salaries also vary based on the type of construction project they’re working on.

Construction Foreman

A Construction Foreman leads crews on construction job sites. They usually have their specialization but take on a leadership and supervisory role during a construction project. Most of the time, they receive tasks and responsibilities for the day from a Construction Superintendent. Large-scale projects typically hire multiple people for this role to ensure that everything is running efficiently. A good Construction Foreman has problem-solving skills, leadership qualities, and knows how to read blueprints. In the US, a Construction Foreman makes an average annual salary of $95,000.

Construction Classes Near Me

You can find construction classes offered live online today. Consider the type of class you’d like to enroll in before checking out the construction classes below.

VDCI offers accredited construction classes, including their bundled Blueprint Reading Fundamentals course. The self-paced class teaches students how to read residential and commercial construction blueprints. The course includes 30 clock hours during which students will learn about the interrelationship between the drawings included in blueprints, how to analyze the drawings, and how to evaluate the similarities between blueprints submitted for permits. VDCI encourages students to participate by posting in group discussion forums and reaching out to their instructors. They can also interact with classmates and alumni in VDCI’s Student Lounge. Students who complete the class will receive a Blueprint Reading Course Certificate, and students who finish with a grade of 70% or higher will receive a Blueprint Reading Digital Credential.

Students can also attend a VDCI course to learn about construction estimating. In Introduction to Construction Estimating, students will spend 3 weeks learning how professionals make estimations. Lessons cover the tools learned in construction estimating, and class discussions go over cost estimate proposals.

VDCI’s Construction Management Fundamentals Bundle bundles together courses covering an array of construction management topics. In the first course, Construction Management I, students will learn about the construction industry, including the parties involved. Lessons will also cover project and master planning, industry sectors, and design versus construction. The second course, Construction Management II, dives into cost estimating and scheduling. Students can also expect to learn about contracts, safety plans, and site logistics.

You can find more construction training programs offered at colleges, universities, and trade schools in your area. Major universities offer bachelor’s degree programs in construction management and related areas. Two-year colleges offer associate degree programs in a variety of construction-related topics. In addition, if you have some construction experience already, you can seek out apprenticeship programs.

Construction Corporate Training

Do you want your team to receive construction training? Noble Desktop can provide your organization with training that meets your employees’ learning objectives and scheduling needs. When enrolling in corporate training, you have the option of selecting live online or onsite training options. Teams interested in corporate training can purchase group vouchers in bulk at a discount from Noble Desktop. When purchasing group vouchers, you can select the courses available to your team to choose from. They can then schedule their training at a time that fits their schedules.

Reach out to corporate@nobledesktop.com to learn more about Noble Desktop’s corporate training services and receive help in determining which options best fit your team’s needs and goals.

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Key Insights

Learn More About Live Online Construction Courses

What Can You Do with Construction Training?

What Will I Learn in a Construction Class?

Construction History

Blueprint Reading

Project and Master Planning

Project Delivery Systems

Communication

How Hard is It to Learn Construction?

How Long Does It Take to Learn Construction?

Should I Learn Construction in Person or Online?

Can I Learn Construction for Free Online?

What Should I Learn Alongside Construction?

Industries That Use Construction

Landscaping

Real Estate

Civil Engineering

Construction Job Titles and Salaries

Construction Manager

General Contractor

Construction Foreman

Construction Classes Near Me

Construction Corporate Training

Live Online Construction Corporate & Onsite Training Noble Desktop

Virtual Design & Construction Institute Construction Course Online (Self-Paced)
Sponsored

Live Online Construction
Corporate & Onsite Training