Certification Program Parameters

Required courses:

• Introduction to Construction Estimating*

• Essential Construction Math*

• Construction Blueprint Reading

• Estimating and Bidding 1

• Estimating and Bidding 2

• Construction Materials and Processes

• Leadership & Motivation - STP 1

• Oral & Written Communications - STP 2 

• Construction Problem Solving & Decision Making - STP 3

• Contract Documents & Construction Law - STP 4

• Planning & Scheduling - STP 5

• Cost Awareness & Production Control - STP 6

• Accident Prevention & Loss Control - STP 7

• Project Management for Construction Supervisors - STP 8

• Construction Productivity Improvement - STP 9

   

 *Denotes self-paced course.

All estimating courses are endorsed by the American Society of Professional Estimators. All STP curriculum is developed by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Cost per class including text book: 

  AGC Members $450 (tuition $350, text book $100) 

  Non-members  $525 (tuition $400, text book $125) 

Each course, made up of 10 lessons, requires approximately 5 hours of seat time per week or 50 hours total, depending on experience.

Self-paced courses may be started anytime but must be completed within 10 weeks of start date. The class may be completed anytime within the 10 week period and there will be no weekly goals or student interaction.

Paced courses will have a specific start and completion date. Specific assignments and discussions by bulletin board must be completed weekly and the class will move to the next lesson as a group every Monday.  Within these parameters students can still choose their own class hours and log in at their convenience.

Program Admissions Standards

No entrance exam is required but students must possess a high school diploma or GED. Participants must be able to demonstrate proficiency with some type of spreadsheet software.

Registration

A CIWDC course registration form must be completed and signed. Online registration is available or registration forms may be faxed or mailed with a credit card number or a check for the total course cost one week prior to the class start date on paced courses and 1 week prior to desired start date on self-paced courses. Online registrants paying by credit card will be contacted for card information. The corresponding text book will be mailed to you at the address listed on the registration form unless otherwise noted.

Course Specifics

For information on grading policies, course supplies and class syllabus please visit constructionclasses.com.  Individual course information can be accessed from the class schedule.

Online Course Demo

For an online demo please visit:    http://www.constructionclasses.com/potential_student.htm

Course Orientation

One week prior to the start date of each course students will be given access to the online course for orientation purposes.  Students will be able to look over the course materials that they will be covering in the following 10 weeks.

Instructor Credentials

All instructors for this program have a Construction Degree and/or are Certified Professional Estimators or Project Managers. Individual instructor profiles may be viewed on the constructionclasses.com website.

Computer Requirements

The following minimum system requirements are suggested for online courses, however if you are able to access the internet there should be no problem accessing online training:

• 133 mhz Pentium computer

• 28.8 k internet connection

• Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator as a browser

• Web TV will not work with the courses and Netscape 6.0 is not recommended.

Withdrawal & Refund Policy

All course withdrawals must be done through the Construction & Industrial Workforce Development Center. They may be emailed to ciwdc@northwestagc.net or mailed directly to the CIWDC at 4935 E. Trent Avenue, Spokane, WA 99212 or phoned in to (509) 535-0391.  Notifying the instructor does not constitute an official withdrawal.

Refunds will be issued in accordance with the CIWDC’s official Refund Policy For Online Classes as follows:

1. Students may request cancellation in any manner.

2. Applicants may cancel up to five business days after signing the enrollment agreement. In the event of a dispute over timely notice, the burden to prove service rests on the applicant.

3. Students canceling after the fifth calendar day but before the first lesson has been turned in will be responsible for a registration fee of $50 or 15% of tuition, whichever is greater but not to exceed $150

4. If the class is terminated by the student after the first lesson has been turned in the school may retain the registration fee as established under 3 of this subsection, plus a percentage of the total tuition as described in the following table. The percentage will be calculated by dividing the total number of lessons in the class by the number of lessons turned in by the student.

If the student completes this percentage of lessons:                         The school may keep this % of tuition

• 0% through 10%                                                                                10%

• 11% through 25%                                                                               25%

• 26% through 50%                                                                               50%

• More than 50%                                                                                 100%

American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE)

The ASPE is developing an Estimating Proficiency exam for entry-level estimators to show employers that they have the required skills to perform as an estimator.

They also offer the Certified Professional Estimator exams for experienced estimators.

For more information on these exams please visit their website at www.aspenational.com.

Class Descriptions

Introduction to Construction Estimating

Students who successfully complete Introduction to Construction Estimating will learn the basic principles of construction estimating.  Topics to be studied include: 

• Organization of the estimate,

• Types of estimates

• Elements of an estimate

• Quantity take off techniques

• Pricing techniques

• Adjusting the estimate for a variety of variable factors

• Estimating labor, materials and equipment

• Profit and overhead markups

Upon completion of this course students will understand the different types of estimates and how to organize an estimating document.  This course will build a foundation of knowledge that the student will use while estimating virtually any individual trade or project type.

This is a self-paced course.    

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Essential Construction Math

This class is designed to develop mathematical skills that can be applied through the construction trade through practice and application. Students who successfully complete Essential Construction Math will be able to: 

• Use and understand all operations on fractions and decimals that are common to the construction industry

• Convert fractions to decimals

• Calculate area, and volume of various shapes

• Convert measurements from cubic feet to cubic yards

• Measure the volume of concrete footings, slabs, walls, and columns

• Calculate board feet

• Calculate and measure for basic constructions in woods and concrete

This is a self-paced course.   

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Construction Blueprint Reading

The reading of construction blueprints is a foundational skill in construction. All construction professionals, regardless of whether they are working in the field or in the office, must know how to read blueprints. Blueprint reading requires practice and some basic knowledge of blueprints to be proficient at it. Upon completion of this course you will: 

• Have an elementary knowledge of blueprint reading as it relates to building construction projects

• Understand in general terms the design process and the role of design professionals

• Be able to find trade information using blueprints

• Be able to answer basic construction questions related to the layout and installation of materials

• Be able to identify elementary problems or short comings of the blueprints you are using

This is a  paced course.   

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Estimating & Bidding I

This 10-week course features hands-on estimating and quantity take off activities associated with general conditions, site work, concrete, framework and masonry estimating. At the completion of the Estimating & Bidding I course students will be able to: 

• Estimate the cost of general conditions

• Prepare quantity take off of excavation and backfill

• Prepare a quantity take off of concrete and framework

• Use unit prices to price an estimate

• Prepare a quantity take off and conceptual estimate of masonry work

This is a  paced course.    

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Estimating & Bidding II

Estimating & Bidding II  features hands-on estimating and quantity take off of activities associated with metals, wood, doors and windows, finishes, electrical, and mechanical estimating.  At course completion of this 10-week course students will be able to:

• Estimate the conceptual cost of structural metals

• Prepare quantity take off and an estimate of rough carpentry and various finishes

• Prepare a quantity take off of roofing and waterproofing

• Use unit prices to price doors and windows

• Prepare a quantity take off and conceptual estimate of mechanical and electrical systems

This is a paced course.  

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Construction Materials & Processes

This  10-week course provides an overall and elementary understanding of construction materials and processes.  One specific material category, one specific construction process, and an overall construction system will be studied each week. Students will have the opportunity to expand the studies to include materials and processes which are normally encountered by the student in his/her workplace. By the completion of this course students will be able to: 

• Recognize quality control procedures for various materials

• Be familiar with material manufacturing processes and know where to find information about them when needed, including the relevant history of each material

• Understand the physical limitations of the materials being studied and how they are used in construction

• Understand the regulatory environment under which materials are manufactured and incorporated into new structures

• Know the important aspects of how each material is used in construction processes

This is a  paced course.    

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Leadership & Motivation for Construction Supervisors, STP 1

This 10-week course will teach the student how to recognize their style of leadership and how to utilize other styles when appropriate.  Students will learn how the analysis of worker needs will affect worker motivation.  The affect that attitudes and abilities have on job performance and how to positively influence attitudes and abilities will be studied.  The leader as goal setter, communicator and role model will all be discussed.  Job site applications of all subjects will be stressed.  

This is a paced course.

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Oral & Written Communication for Construction Supervisors, STP 2

Positive direct communication is the goal all supervisors should set for themselves.  In this 10-week course students will learn about positive direct communication with an emphasis on construction supervision.  The course will cover how to help people communicate with you, how to listen better, and how to deal with the difficult person.  Negotiating will be studied.  Communicating with all organizational levels and with groups will also be studied . 

This is a paced course.

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Construction Problem Solving & Decision Making, STP 3

The purpose of this 10-week course is to provide the student with the knowledge of how to solve and prevent problems and how to make decisions.  They will study technical problems, human performance problems and scheduling problems.  Students will learn how to avoid barriers to creative problem solving and how to create a problem solving atmosphere at the jobsite.  

This is a pace course.

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Contract Documents and Construction Law, STP 4

In this 10-week course students will learn about common construction contract clauses and how to read a contract.   Construction disputes, including differing site conditions, claims, delays and construction defects will be studied.

This is a paced course.

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Planning & Scheduling, STP 5

The purpose of this 10-week course is to provide the student with basic construction planning and scheduling skills. The student will learn how to prepare bar chart schedules and critical path schedules. They will be able to read complex project schedules, and will learn the basics of project management by scheduling, as well as how to employ acceleration techniques. 

This is a paced course.

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Cost Awareness and Production Control, STP 6

This 10-week course will focus on construction cost control procedures utilized by both small and large construction companies. Cost control will be discussed at both the project level and the corporate level.  Students will learn about the cost control cycle and how to ensure effective production control.  

This is a paced course.

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Accident Prevention & Loss Control, STP 7

This 10-week course will focus on managing the construction safety function. Students will learn how to use the project schedule to help prevent losses. They will learn how to select methods and equipment to prevent loss and ensure a safe working environment. Students  will study the delegation of responsibility for safety, equipment maintenance, and common construction hazards. They will learn how to administer an accident prevention program at the job site level and how to handle a job site inspection by a regulatory agency. We will review the documentation, reference materials and advisory services that are available to the construction supervisor.

This is a paced course.

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Project Management for Construction Supervisors, STP 8

In this 10-week course students will learn how project management roles are changing as innovative contracts, alternate delivery systems, alternative dispute resolution, and creative project financing are increasingly changing how projects are administered.  The modern project manager has more information available than ever before and information technology is changing rapidly.

Students will learn about cost and risk control as well as developing and applying policies and procedures.  Other topics will include subcontractor management, purchasing and project financing.    Project start up and close out techniques will be covered. 

This is a paced course

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Productivity Improvement, STP 9

In this 10-week course organizing a project with productivity improvement as a goal will be studied.  Students will learn how to calculate and measure worker productivity.  During this course students will challenge the work process, learn about personnel management, and practice work improvement analysis.  Understanding worker's abilities and the impact of environmental factors will be studied.  The course will be completed with a discussion of implementing and monitoring the productivity program.  

This is a paced course.

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