Enhance your modeling and drafting capabilities through Revit programs in Portland. You’ll gain hands-on experience designing and managing projects in a BIM environment.
Develop expertise in Revit Architecture and prepare for the Autodesk Revit Certified User Exam with this comprehensive course bundle. From beginner to advanced, you’ll master the skills to create 3D models and detailed construction documents using Revit.
Build a strong foundation in Revit Architecture and explore its role in Building Information Modeling (BIM). This course introduces you to the basics of 3D modeling, architectural design, and project documentation.
Gain fundamental skills in Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems design and integration with Revit MEP. This bundle prepares students for the Revit MEP Certified User Exam while providing hands-on experience in building systems coordination.
Build a strong foundation in Revit Architecture and explore its role in Building Information Modeling (BIM). This course introduces you to the basics of 3D modeling, architectural design, and project documentation.
This series prepares you to take either the Autodesk Certified User or Autodesk Certified Professional Exam in Revit. You’ll gain practical, job-ready skills while working with an Autodesk Certified Instructor and seasoned architectural project manager who brings daily, real-world experience from commercial, medical, and biotech projects directly into the classroom.
Learn 2D drafting skills with AutoCAD and enhance your design capabilities with specialized tools like Revit and SketchUp. This program prepares you for a successful career in construction design, with real-world applications and project-based learning.
Revit is Building Information Modeling (BIM) software developed by Autodesk. Originally created by Charles River Software in 1997 to simplify parametric modeling, Autodesk has owned Revit since 2002, after acquiring it. Revit is widely used within the AEC industry for its design, documentation, visualization, project management, and collaboration features. Professionals use Revit to create 3D models of buildings, structures, or systems, store and manage project documentation, create project visualizations and design renders, generate plans and blueprints, and collaborate with team members through Revit’s cloud-based interface.
Revit knowledge is a highly sought-after skill set, and mastering this software can open up career opportunities in the AEC and design industries. Designers, architects, engineers, and contractors all learn Revit, as well as professionals in roles like Construction Manager, Construction Cost Estimator, and BIM Manager. Learning Revit is a great choice for those looking to master CAD and BIM software, design buildings, structures, or even landscapes, or manage projects from the initial planning phases through to the final construction phase.
With Revit training, you will be able to design and create accurate 3D models. Creating 3D models is essential for many projects, including projects where architects design buildings, landscapes, or infrastructure and those where engineers design electrical systems, HVAC systems, or plumbing facilities for a building. Like other CAD and modeling software, you can design and plan exteriors and interiors and make designs more realistic by adding colors, textures, or specific materials to surfaces, which will also be useful during the construction phase of a project. Hobbyists can also learn to use Revit to create models for 3D printing, something that you can do for fun or as a small side business to earn additional income.
In addition to 3D modeling, AEC professionals use Revit for project planning and to generate necessary plans and construction documents. Construction documents or blueprints are essential for physically creating your project, and Revit allows users to turn 3D designs into these 2D plans. You’ll learn how to generate floor plans, elevations, and schedules for your project, which are essential parts of most Revit courses. Because Revit is also BIM software, you can track and manage costs and the lifecycle of a building or structure and use Revit to coordinate with team members or various project stakeholders.
Most Revit courses will start by showing you how to navigate and open projects within Revit’s user interface. You’ll learn how to open views of your model and even how to customize your Revit browser to make it particular to your own needs. Another common aspect of the interface to learn initially is the properties palette that you’ll find important when modifying 3D models. Beginners will quickly learn that Revit has a variety of features and toolsets, and some do find the interface difficult to navigate, so this introduction is an essential way to let you know about the most useful features for your industry specialization.
In addition to its other features, AEC professionals use Revit for 3D modeling. Most Revit courses are project-based, so they will teach you how to design a project, like a residential or commercial building, for instance, from scratch using Revit’s drawing and editing tools. You’ll not only learn how to create shapes and surfaces but also how to add important elements like windows, roofs, doors, and staircases.
Another key practice to learn in a Revit course is how to generate construction documents. These include schedules as well as blueprints like floor plans and elevations. These plans are necessary to communicate vital features of your project to clients and different team members. They are also used to create an initial budget for a project, and they will be what construction professionals follow when physically building a structure or system.
Revit courses will also cover key Building Information Modeling concepts. These will include incorporating Revit into your workflow and learning to use Revit to increase your efficiency and productivity. Additionally, you will learn how to use Revit to store information and manage projects and how to use it as a program where you can collaborate and communicate with others, as multiple team members can work on the same project simultaneously.
Revit courses will also strengthen your communication skills. The communication skills you already have will be enhanced in your courses as you learn to communicate your design ideas and work better with others during the design and construction phases of a project. Building a 3D model is all about communication, as you’ll need to take an idea from your head or a client’s head and turn it into a data-rich model. You’ll learn ways that Revit can enhance and facilitate your communication with your colleagues, as many use Revit to provide feedback on designs and to refine them to avoid any issues during the construction process.
Revit is considered to be complex software that is challenging to learn. While Revit is often compared to 2D software like AutoCAD, it is more complex and comes with a wider range of features, meaning it will usually take longer to learn and be harder to master. It is especially difficult to learn Revit on your own, as beginners will initially find the interface, toolsets, and features frustrating to understand. With Revit, you’re not just learning modeling software, you’re also learning BIM software, which has a unique workflow that users will also need to learn.
One of the most challenging parts of learning Revit is working with parametric modeling. Those used to drafting in AutoCAD might find parametric modeling especially difficult because different objects or structures are defined through their relationships to each other. This means that changes in one part of a design can change the whole design, which can be tricky to learn at first, though it will make it easier to modify and change your model quickly. Additionally, Revit has a lot of features, so users find it difficult to learn all the tools they will need, especially when learning this software on their own outside of a course or certificate program.
How long it takes you to learn Revit will depend on how much time and effort you’re willing to devote to learning this software. You can learn the basics and be able to create simple models in a few short weeks, though it will take longer to become proficient enough to use Revit professionally. Expect it will take three to six months of steady training and practice to create 3D models and documentation for your own industry-specific needs. Usually, you will learn basic modeling features and then build on this knowledge with more advanced topics and ways to use Revit Structure, Revit MEP, or Revit Architecture toolsets and features. Mastering Revit can take a year or more, and many find that there is a need to consistently refine their use of this program and its complex features.
Both in-person and online education have their benefits and disadvantages. One of the main things you’ll want to consider is how you learn best. Learning Revit in-person at a training facility allows you to engage with an instructor and interact with other students in real-time. It also provides a more focused learning environment, and students can often use the educator’s technology and software instead of having to provide their own. In-person courses, however, can be costly, harder to find in your area, and less accessible for full-time workers or those with other weekday obligations.
Online Revit training comes with the benefit of convenience. You can learn Revit from home and at your own pace. Even live online, instructor-led Revit courses often offer more flexible training options for online learners, like enrolling in a class part-time or taking classes on the weekend or in the evening. Self-directed and on-demand Revit courses allow you to learn course material at your own pace so that you can move quickly through easy material and slow down, focus, and review more difficult topics. Online learning is not right for all learners, however, as some find it less engaging and have a hard time focusing when learning on their own.
While most learners will naturally find in-person training the easiest way to complete their Revit education, self-motivated students with busy schedules will find online learning to be the best option. Consider, however, whether a program or training course offers any additional structure, 1-on-1 training, or career support services. The best online courses will provide ways for students to remain engaged and will provide opportunities for students to speak with expert instructors or mentors to receive additional help when needed.
Yes, you can find online guides, video tutorials, webinars, and other resources to get started learning Revit for free. A good place to start is Autodesk’s own resources, as they provide free short tutorials for their software, including Revit. Noble Desktop’s YouTube channel is a great resource for learning AutoCAD and software related to Revit. YouTube, in general, is a great resource for beginner's guides to Revit or step-by-step video tutorials to master specific features of this software. Online training schools like Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning also offer on-demand courses in Revit. While free resources are a great way to learn some Revit basics, the kind of professional skill development that will allow you to use Revit professionally cannot be learned in a free course or video tutorial.
Someone learning Revit should also consider learning other 2D, 3D, and BIM management software to expand their ability to use Revit within their industry. Autodesk’s AutoCAD is the most used CAD program for creating 2D technical drawings, and it is also frequently used to generate construction documentation. AutoCAD is industry-standard software for most professionals in the AEC industry, and some will need to learn it to create accurate 2D models, while others will need to learn how to generate and read blueprints and construction plans within this software. Architects and interior design professionals will often learn SketchUp Pro, as well, to create quick 3D mockups of their projects.
Another common software to learn is Autodesk’s Navisworks. Navisworks is BIM management software used to detect clashes in 3D models and make it easier for teams to coordinate and communicate across industries or departments. Navisworks allows users to unify project data in one central platform, and different teams working on the same project will use Navisworks to collaborate through the Autodesk Construction Cloud. Other common BIM and BIM Management software to consider learning includes Vectorworks, BIM 360, and Archicad.
Revit is industry-standard software in the AEC industry. Architecture, engineering, and construction are stable industries in Portland, and the demand for those with detailed knowledge of Revit and other CAD and BIM software is high. Many AEC and design firms in this region are focused on environmental sustainability and socially conscious projects, and the greater Portland region boasts 1.5 times the national average of architects, engineers, designers, and artists. According to a recent report on this industry, AEC firms with the most optimism and growth potential have embraced technological advancement, which includes learning how to use Revit and other software.
The construction industry is considered a fast-growing industry in Portland. Over the past couple of years, this industry has experienced an increase in jobs and a need for skilled labor. While residential construction is driving much of the growth in Portland, commercial and industrial construction is also important to the region as manufacturers and businesses look to build new facilities to accommodate their needs.
Construction professionals will use Revit to store detailed information about the specifications for the projects they are building, collaborate with other team members, and generate blueprints and construction plans. As BIM software, Revit allows one to track and manage a project through its phases of design and construction, which is how construction professionals will use the software. Those in construction will pay particular attention to maintaining accuracy in dimensions, specifications, and materials and can use Revit and other BIM software to detect model clashes or resolve model issues prior to entering the construction phase of a project.
Architecture is a central industry in Portland that maintains a stable level of job growth and employment opportunities for trained professionals. Portland, in particular, is known for its focus on innovations in urban planning and sustainable architecture. The city enjoys a large number of sustainably built, LEED-accredited architecture projects, thanks to the focus on building for the environment and for the community.
Architects will use Revit to create 3D models for various projects, from residential homes and commercial buildings to various industrial and infrastructural buildings and structures. They will create the initial designs with an eye to form, function, and aesthetics, but they will also need to use Revit’s 4D features to consider how their designs interact with the surrounding environment and hold up over time. Architecture is a large field, and those specializing in urban planning or landscape architecture can also use this BIM software to design and plan for their projects.
Engineering is another important sector of the AEC industry in Portland. Engineers work in design firms alongside other AEC professionals and in a diverse array of engineering firms. Some of the largest areas of concentration for engineers in Portland are in designing and planning projects for Portland’s tech industry, focusing on environmentally sustainable designs, and maintaining local civic infrastructure so that city services run smoothly.
Engineers use Revit in ways similar to others in the AEC industry as they, too, will want to create 3D models for the structures and systems they are planning and designing. What is particularly useful for engineers is that Revit has different software options, Revit MEP and Revit Structure, with specific tools and features for engineers in different disciplines. This will allow Electrical Engineers, for instance, to create detailed circuit diagrams or accurately place electrical fixtures for a building project.
Working alongside other AEC professionals, Interior Designers are another vital segment of the construction and design industries in Portland. Most interior design professionals work on commercial projects for corporations or places of business in the Portland region. That being said, many of these professionals also work solely on multi- or single-family residential projects or a mix of both commercial and residential projects, depending on the focus and needs of the firm they work for.
Interior design professionals use Revit to create 3D models of interior spaces. They can plan the layout for different rooms, including specifying details of furnishings, lighting, and other objects. Revit also allows users to add textures, materials, and paint to surfaces, which these professionals will do to create more accurate designs. Interior design professionals will also use Revit’s ability to create photorealistic project renders to provide team members and project stakeholders with a detailed idea of design plans.
CAD Designers are the professionals who create detailed 2D and 3D model designs. Depending on their industry and role, they might be using Revit to create designs for buildings, structures, or even building systems, and their designs will be the basis for necessary construction documentation used to physically build a project. CAD Designers will often not only need to know how to use Revit for 3D modeling and documentation, but they will also need training in other software like AutoCAD for 2D modeling.
CAD Designers earn an average yearly salary of around $69,000. In Portland, this salary ranges from around $53,000 at the lower end to around $84,000 at the higher end. What you earn in this role will depend not only on your industry and location but also on your educational background and experience.
Architectural Designers are tasked with creating detailed building design models using computer software. They are a more industry-specific kind of CAD Designer and will have a background in architectural drawing and design, though they do not usually have to go through the same licensing as architects in the US. These professionals use Revit to create 3D building models, construction documentation, and project renders that can be shared with various stakeholders.
An Architectural Designer, on average, makes $71,000 a year. In Portland, the salary for an Architectural Designer starts at around $54,000 and goes up to around $83,000. What someone actually earns depends on several additional factors beyond location, like training and the number of years of on-the-job experience you have working within the architectural field.
A Construction Estimator or Construction Cost Estimator is in charge of calculating a construction project's total costs. These professionals look at construction documents and tabulate the total costs of materials, labor, equipment, permits, insurance, and anything else a project will need to be completed. Construction Estimators will often need to also determine the rates for any necessary subcontractor labor. This role requires a firm grasp of math and the ability to read blueprints generated from software like Revit.
On average, a Construction Estimator makes around $81,000 per year in the US. Entry-level salaries can start around $68,000 for this role in Portland, while more experienced Construction Estimators can earn as much as $136,000 per year. Construction Estimators in Portland are earning around 17% more than the national average for this role, according to sites like Indeed, making this a great career to pursue in the greater Portland area.
BIM Managers are responsible for establishing protocols for how a business or organization uses BIM software. They will be the Revit experts in an organization as they need to know how to use the BIM software, will be tasked with teaching others in the organization how to use it, and will have to troubleshoot any software issues that arise. This is a higher-level position in an organization, and you will typically need five to ten years of on-the-job experience within your industry to prepare for this role.
The average yearly salary for a BIM Manager is about $83,000 in the US. In Portland, however, a BIM Manager can earn a salary that starts at around $82,000 and goes up to a high of $125,000 per year. According to Indeed, BIM Managers in Portland earn around 18% more than the national average, which shows how in-demand this career is for those in the great Portland area.
ONLC Training Centers is a private IT training company that offers Revit classes for those in the Portland region. Most of their courses are two to five days long and are catered to the learner’s skill level or industry, with courses on Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, and Revit MEP. A good course for beginners is the Autodesk Revit Architecture for Novice Users Course, which provides training in using the interface and basic drawing, editing, and viewing commands. Learners will end the course knowing how to create a complete 3D building model, knowledge that they can enhance with further training in other Revit courses.
Another Portland-based option for Revit training comes from the Heritage School of Interior Design. Their seven-week Revit course is a great way for beginners to learn Revit for interior design projects. Students will learn the basic concepts and skills necessary to complete their own project detailing a two-story apartment loft with 2D and 3D views. This course requires learners to use their own PC computer and mouse, but it will provide the other necessary training materials.
NetCom Learning offers both in-person and online options for Revit training. Those in Portland can schedule individual training sessions through NetCom Learning based on their skill level and training needs. NetCom Learning offers beginning, intermediate, and advanced Revit courses, certification exam preparation courses, and industry-specific courses in Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, or Revit Structure. Beginners can enroll in one of their industry-specific fundamentals courses to receive comprehensive instruction in using the toolsets and features of Revit for their specific discipline.
VDCI (Virtual Design & Construction Institute) is a nationally accredited institution that offers top-rated online Revit classes. VDCI’s courses and certificate programs are self-directed and online, meaning that you can start learning necessary Revit skills immediately upon enrollment, and you will be able to control where you learn the material and how much time you devote to your studies. Students who enroll in VDCI’s Revit courses will receive hands-on, project-based instruction guided by Autodesk Certified Instructors and AEC industry experts. Many courses come with additional 1-on-1 tutoring, and all students will have access to the VDCI Student Lounge, where they can engage with other students, program alumni, and industry experts.
A good option for beginners is VDCI’s Revit Fundamentals Course. This course bundles two of VDCI’s most popular Revit courses, Introduction to Revit and Intermediate Revit, so that students receive 60 hours of comprehensive, project-based Revit training. Most students complete this training in about six weeks, where they will learn to create 3D building models and 2D construction documents. The Revit Fundamentals Course comes with bonus 1-on-1 training and all necessary software and materials.
More career-oriented learners should consider a complete certificate program, which provides students with training intended to teach everything they’ll need to enter the workforce upon completion of the program. For Revit training, enroll in the eight-month BIM Certificate Program. This program includes comprehensive Revit training as well as modules in generating construction documents and ensuring accurate project detailing. Students will also choose to take elective courses in Revit MEP, Revit Structure, or SketchUp Pro and will complete a graded capstone project to show their skills at the end of the course. VDCI also offers training courses to prepare learners for Autodesk’s Revit certification exams, in the Revit Certification Course for Revit Architecture, the Revit MEP Certification Course, and the Revit Structure Certification Course.
If you’re looking to upskill or reskill your workforce, consider Noble Desktop’s corporate training options. Your team can take courses for beginners and intermediate-level Revit learners or to prepare for Autodesk’s certification exams. Noble Desktop’s courses are hands-on and project-based so that learners can easily transfer skills from the classroom to the workplace. Courses through Noble are self-paced, part-time, and online, which offers learners flexibility in how and where they learn the content. Additional options are available to learn in-person at Noble’s Manhattan training facility or schedule training onsite at your location.
Discounted vouchers are available for bulk enrollment in Noble’s regular courses. This option allows you to decide which of Noble’s classes your workforce can enroll in, and it allows your team members to handle the logistics and scheduling themselves. For more information on corporate training and to receive a complimentary consultation for your business, email corporate@nobledesktop.com. Noble’s expert instructors can also put together customized training options adapted to your organization’s needs and your workforce’s skill level.