Construction Professional Online Classes and Curriculum

If you are new to construction, you can begin with self-paced courses that build a solid foundation. These classes are designed for students with no prior experience:

• CP 9100 Introduction to Construction
  Get an overview of construction roles, processes and project stages
• CP 9101 Introduction to Construction Estimating
  Explore the basics of estimating across trades and project types
• CP 9102 Construction Math
  Learn core math skills used in estimating and project work

After completing these courses, you will be ready to continue with blueprint reading, equipment, supervision or project management classes that match your career goals

Find full course descriptions on the Construction Experts Course List. Find textbooks on the Construction Experts Textbook Information page.

CP 9099 Introduction to Concrete

Learn the basics of working with concrete in this self-paced seminar. Develop an deeper understanding of the most commonly used construction material.

CP 9100 Introduction to Construction (self-paced)

Develop familiarity with the construction industry, its parties, and processes, and different types of construction, the diverse roles, stages, and processes of a construction project.

CP 9101 Introduction to Construction Estimating (self-paced)

Develop foundational knowledge of the procedures, materials, equipment and practices that are needed in estimating for any trade or type of construction.

CP 9102 Construction Math (self-paced)

Develop mathematical skills through practice and application to the construction trade. Calculation of board feet, area, volume of shapes and concrete footings, slabs and conversions are amongst the topics studied. While this class is not a prerequisite for any other classes, it does provide a foundation for them.

CP 9103 Construction Blueprint Reading

Learn how to read architectural, structural, civil, mechanical and electrical blueprints. Practice looking up information and solving common construction problems by reading the blueprints.

CP 9105 Estimating and Bidding 1

The first of two hands-on detailed estimating courses in which students learn how to estimate general conditions, site work, excavation, concrete and masonry. Be sure to look over the prerequisites for this class.

CP 9106 Estimating and Bidding 2

The second course features hands-on estimating and quantity take off activities associated with metals, wood, doors and windows, finishes, electrical and mechanical estimating. You may take 9105 and 9106 in any order.

CP 9107 Construction Materials and Processes

Develop foundational knowledge of construction materials and processes that utilize these materials. One material category, process and system is covered each week. Expand your studies to include materials and processes which are normally encountered by the student in his/her work place.

CP 9108 Construction Equipment and Methods

Develop an overall understanding of construction equipment and selected construction methods. Students will determine earthwork quantities, under-stand equipment economics and utilization, production rates, fundamentals of earthmoving and excavating, loading and hauling equipment.

CP 9109 Practical Applications of Civil Site Work

This course focuses on understanding civil construction techniques. This includes site preparation and grading, excavation, backfill, compaction, trenching, paving and dewatering.

CP 9110 Civil Blueprint Reading and Materials

The purpose of this course is to give the student an overall and elementary understanding of civil construction blueprints and materials. This includes understanding and interpreting civil construction blueprints, reading specifications, manufacture and use of civil construction materials such as aggregates, concrete, asphalt, pipe and geosynthetics.

CP 9114 Estimating Civil Construction

This course introduces students to estimating civil engineering, heavy construction projects and site work construction projects. This course will cover reading and understanding civil construction plans, determining earthwork quantities, determining crew make-up and fundamentals of estimating various civil and site work components.

CP 9201 Leadership and Motivation

Leadership can be learned. While some people are natural born leaders, the rest of us have to learn how to be good leaders. Leadership is one of the most important skills a construction supervisor can master.

Motivation is a subject of extreme importance to anyone who supervises people. Motivated workers are happier, more productive, more satisfied with their job and more willing to put forth extra effort. The leader who truly understands human motivation will find much success in this industry.

CP 9202 Oral and Written Communication

Acquire skills and understanding of positive direct communication with an emphasis on construction supervision. Grow in your abilities to help people communicate with you, listen better and deal with the difficult person. Develop your skills in negotiating and communicating with all organizational levels and groups.

CP 9203 Risk Management and Problem Solving

Understand how to solve and prevent problems and how to make decisions. Technical problems, human performance problems and scheduling problems will be reviewed. Learn how to avoid barriers to creative problem solving and how to create a problem solving atmosphere at the job site.

CP 9204 Contract Documents and Construction Law

An overall understanding of construction contract principles, dispute, resolution, public works, mechanic’s lien and construction law are explored in this class.

CP 9205 Planning and Scheduling

Learn and apply basic construction planning and scheduling skills. Prepare bar chart schedules and critical path schedules. Read complex project schedules and understand the basics of project management by scheduling, Employ schedule acceleration methods.

CP 9206 Productivity and Cost Management

Study construction cost and apply principles and practices associated with cost awareness and production control. Students will learn how to calculate and measure worker productivity. Understanding worker’s abilities and the impact of environmental factors will be studied.

CP 9305 Building Green Buildings

The purpose of this course is to provide construction professionals with information that will help them effectively bid, contract, build and close out green building projects. We will explore the green building process from the contractor’s and subcontractor’s points of view.

CP 9308 Construction Project Management

Students will learn the tenants of project management including feasibility and qualifying, to estimating and scheduling. An introduction to contracts and risk will be included in addition to preconstruction, scheduling work changes and getting paid.

CP 9310 Practical Applications of Construction Law

Students will actively take part in discussing the legal environment, how to avoid litigation, explaining the legal liabilities of construction professionals and the protections afforded from bonds, liens and waivers, the methods of protection in a litigious society, how to avoid disputes and more.

James Dorman

James Dorman is an Associated General Contractors of America Instructor. He is a partner at E & D Excavation and a civil project manager. He has construction project experience in civil, structural and flatwork, concrete materials and methods, and commercial, residential construction and public works management.

David Hahn

David Hahn is a seasoned construction professional and has worked at large national general contracting companies as well as smaller regional companies. He currently serves as Executive Vice President of Construction for a national Real Estate Development Company.

Hahn’s career started as an apprentice carpenter and he has held just about every position in between. He is well versed in the entire construction field. His knowledge has been used as an expert witness testimony, as a third-party consultant and he has held just about every position at some point during his long tenured career. David holds a Master of Science degree in Green Building from San Francisco Institute of Architecture. He is a certified Sustainable Building Advisor, (NaSBAP) holds an Executive Certificate in Home Modifications from the Andrus Gerontology Center at the University of Southern California, and Master Certificates in Project Management and Strategic Organizational Leadership from Villanova University. He is a licensed PA Real Estate Salesperson. David is a past member of the board of directors for the Delaware Green Building Council (DVGBC) and has served on many of their committees as well as committees for the USGBC. Hahn has been responsible for the construction of over 1,400 residential apartment units certified under LEED for Homes including the largest gut rehabs at the gold and platinum levels when certified.

Hahn has been honored with elected membership to the Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia as a Master Builder for his contributions to the Philadelphia built environment.

Jessica Jacobsen

Jessica Jacobsen is the Implementation assurance lead/construction manager for the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, where she oversees multiple projects related to the construction on the Alaska Pipeline as a construction manager, planner and implementation lead. She serves on the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) College of Engineering Advisory Board and as the President of the UAAA Board of Directors.

Harry Kominski

Harry Kominski, CPE is a Certified Professional Estimator (CPE) and has held this position for over 45 years. Kominski has served as Chief Estimator, Project Manager, guest lecturer and estimating instructor. Kominski’s estimating experience is in estimating wet utilities (sewer, water, storm drain), dry utilities, structural concrete, sewer and water pump stations, treatment plants and water storage tanks/ reservoirs both public and private. His experience extends to estimating for military, municipal work, health and education facilities and commercial and industrial projects. He has taught estimating for over 20 years. In addition to estimating, he has also been Project Manager Safety Director, and is currently President of H.C. Kominski & Associates, Construction Consultants.

Kominski holds a BS is in Management and holds an active California Contractor's License in General Engineering (A) and General Building (B).

He is a Certified Professional Estimator and Past President and Treasurer of the San Diego Chapter of American Society of Professional Estimators.

Kominski has been an instructor in Site Work Estimating for the past 20 years, giving seminars throughout the United States and British Columbia.

Martin Lightle

Martin Lightle has performed various roles in international engineering and construction project management. He is a consultant helping companies realize their major capital projects as the owner's project manager on a biomedical manufacturing facility outside Washington DC. Lightle’s career in construction began 35 years ago working predominantly with international engineering, procurement, construction and construction management organizations (EPC/EPCM) as well as with owners' teams developing major international capital projects. “I have had the opportunity to fill many roles in and outside of the office but prefer being in the field where the work is being done; the new project will make the 6th continent I have had the opportunity to work on.”

Getting his start as occasional laborer in high school then landed a job with a large EPCM firm as a document control clerk at the age of 21. Lightle’s construction career has taken him across the US: California, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Hawaii, Maryland and Alaska as well as internationally in the Philippines, Indonesia, both Eastern and Western Russia, Australia, Guinea and Ghana in West Africa, Mexico, and soon to add Chile and Peru. He is currently President of MEL EPCM Consulting in Phoenix.

Steven Richardson

Steven Richardson CPE, LEED AP, BD +C, EJD retired US Army officer, Steven has over 20 years experience in construction as an estimator, project manager and preconstruction manager. He wrote construction contracts and was actively involved in negotiations. Richardson earned his BS in Construction, MBA and EJD. He is currently President of Proterra Builders,

Inc and Chief Estimator for RIC Construction. Richardson has experience in correction/detention facilities, healthcare, biotech, education, commercial and marine construction.

Evdokiya Rowe

Evdokiya Rowe draws from her experience as a civil engineer to teach various construction professional program courses. Her career experience includes capital projects, water plan design, substation design, solar ranch design, engineering drawing packages associated with the substation layout and land development for NASA, grading and stormwater management, and permitting for capital improvement projects. Currently, she is responsible for the design, review and construction management of land development and capital improvement projects.

In her building and civil construction course, Dr. Rowe teaches how to manage equipment selection based on restrictive parameters, move large quantities of earth and determine the best outcome for various civil construction projects.

Joshua Thibodeaux

Joshua Thibodeaux has his Masters in Educational Leadership and BS in Mathematics. Thibodeaux is the Director of Data and Assessment for Oceanside Unified School District where prior to serving in the educational leadership team he taught mathematics for 15 years. He trains teachers, administrators and other educational support staff in data analysis, testing procedures and software implementation.

Find textbooks on the Construction Experts Textbook Information page.

Once you have completed the necessary coursework, submit the Certificate of Completion Request Form.

• Construction - Civil Site Work
• Construction Estimating
• Construction Practices
• Construction Project Management
• Construction Supervision — Building
• Construction Supervision — Civil Site Work