The CIWDC’s Online Construction Estimating Certification Program is designed to prepare participants for the competitive construction estimating and bidding arena.

Certificates of Completion will be issued for each course completed with a passing grade. Upon completion of our program participants will receive a mounted Certificate of Completion from the Inland Northwest AGC and the CIWDC. To receive the certification participants must pass five of the following courses within a 2 year period.  Courses may be taken individually by participants that do not desire the certification.

Certification Program Parameters

Choose two of the following courses:

• Introduction to Construction Estimating*

• Essential Construction Math*

• Construction Blueprint Reading

Required courses:

• Estimating and Bidding 1

• Estimating and Bidding 2

• Construction Materials and Processes

 *Denotes self-paced course.

All of the courses are endorsed by the American Society of Professional Estimators.

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 exams or pre-requisites are required but students must possess a high school diploma or GED. Participants with little or no construction experience may find it necessary to take all six classes for maximum benefits. 

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 are Certified Professional Estimators.

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.     Return to top

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.    Return to top

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.    Return to top

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.     Return to top

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.   Return to top

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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