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Published: February 15, 2007
Like any skilled trade, construction work requires specialized construction training. Depending on the type of construction training, construction tradesmen and professionals usually receive a varying combination of classroom instruction and practical on-site training. Continuing education is a necessity in the construction industry and successful construction industry training, testing and gaining more experience earns specialized certifications, degrees or titles.
In many ways, the construction industry is very similar to health-care.
Individuals usually seek advancement to higher positions over lateral movement. Advancement from position to position requires a combination of experience and additional classroom training and instruction. The final step before promotion is a state or industry sanctioned exam. While progressing through the ranks, a general tradesman will gain more expertise and specialization in a specific area or focus. And like in health care, there are skilled labor career paths and professional career paths.
The diversity of the types of career opportunities in construction is evident in the numbers of different construction industry training programs and reflects the the complexity of the industry. Someone interested in construction work as a career would have hundreds of possible specialties to consider. For example, someone interested in heavy/ highway construction will most likely require heavy equipment construction training. In addition to classroom instruction, students would learn the ins and outs of operating equipment commonly used in construction. Equipment like bulldozers, backhoes and track-hoes as well as graders, scrapers and loaders. Additional general training in basic surveying, flagging, project layout, safety and maintenance are also taught.
Advancement in heavy/highway construction requires specialized training. For example, equipment like cranes require construction training in crane operation and rigging. Programs offer in-classroom training and firsthand experience operating truck and track mounted cranes and hydraulic and lattice powered booms. Further instruction in rigging and operating hook blocks, clamshells and drag-lines are also taught. Some programs also offer rigger and signal person certification, as well as general and special safety and maintenance training.
The next step for most tradesmen is subcontractor or contractor. Contractors require specific construction contracting training. Depending on the project, contractors are usually the go-between between the client and subcontractor. In home construction, for example, a general contractor would perform general construction and hire subcontractors for specific duties such as drywall installation, plumbing, carpentry and electrical work.
General contractor licensure varies from state to state and industry to industry. Conventionally, contractors are required to have industry relevant certifications in their trade, several years of experience in their trade ,and are required to take and pass exams for their license. Classifications for contractors include general engineering and general building, as well as subcontractor specialties that include carpentry, electrical, and plumbing. More specific specialties include premanufactured housing, lathing and plastering, and water well-drilling. Most exam preparation classes dedicate time to teaching aspects of the law, standards and codes of a community, finer points of the trade, and specific construction contracting training.
Although most people are aware that architects, engineers and the like require advanced degrees, many other construction careers, especially specialized trade positions, require advanced study and a minimum of an associate degree, but in many cases a bachelor's degree. Professional, administrative positions usually require construction plan training. Although construction training programs are not as wide spread as some arts, science and humanities programs, universities and colleges throughout the United States do offer programs in construction planning and management. Four-year degree programs generally have detailed study in many facets of construction plan training that includes graphics communications, energy controls, surveying, estimating, and a long list of other courses in conjunction with field work. Many university programs also offer more advanced degrees in construction planning that includes master's degree programs.
Regardless of the specialty or industry one chooses, one can almost guarantee that construction training is an ongoing process. As industry standards, local codes, and state laws change, the tradesperson, no matter their experience or time in the field, will have to be relicensed and recertifiied.
Sources:
State Experience Requirements. 2007. License Instruction Schools. 2 Feb 2007 <http://www.contractorschool.com/lislist1.htm&g t;.
Classifications Available. 2007. License Instruction Schools. 2 Feb 2007 <http://www.contractorschool.com/lislist2.htm&g t;.
The Exam. 2007. License Instruction Schools. 2 Feb 2007 <http://www.contractorschool.com/lislist3.htm&g t;.
Exam Preparation. 2007. License Instruction Schools. 2 Feb 2007 <http://www.contractorschool.com/lislist4.htm&g t;.
Regional Directory . 2007. Associated Schools of Construction. 2 Feb 2007 <http://www.ascweb.org/>.
CM Course Descriptions. 2007. Colorado State University. 2 Feb 2007 <http://www.cm.cahs.colostate.edu/cm_descriptio n.stm>.
Home. West Coast Training Inc. 2 Feb 2007 <http://www.heavyequipmenttraining.com/>.
In many ways, the construction industry is very similar to health-care.
Related Articles
The diversity of the types of career opportunities in construction is evident in the numbers of different construction industry training programs and reflects the the complexity of the industry. Someone interested in construction work as a career would have hundreds of possible specialties to consider. For example, someone interested in heavy/ highway construction will most likely require heavy equipment construction training. In addition to classroom instruction, students would learn the ins and outs of operating equipment commonly used in construction. Equipment like bulldozers, backhoes and track-hoes as well as graders, scrapers and loaders. Additional general training in basic surveying, flagging, project layout, safety and maintenance are also taught.
Advancement in heavy/highway construction requires specialized training. For example, equipment like cranes require construction training in crane operation and rigging. Programs offer in-classroom training and firsthand experience operating truck and track mounted cranes and hydraulic and lattice powered booms. Further instruction in rigging and operating hook blocks, clamshells and drag-lines are also taught. Some programs also offer rigger and signal person certification, as well as general and special safety and maintenance training.
The next step for most tradesmen is subcontractor or contractor. Contractors require specific construction contracting training. Depending on the project, contractors are usually the go-between between the client and subcontractor. In home construction, for example, a general contractor would perform general construction and hire subcontractors for specific duties such as drywall installation, plumbing, carpentry and electrical work.
General contractor licensure varies from state to state and industry to industry. Conventionally, contractors are required to have industry relevant certifications in their trade, several years of experience in their trade ,and are required to take and pass exams for their license. Classifications for contractors include general engineering and general building, as well as subcontractor specialties that include carpentry, electrical, and plumbing. More specific specialties include premanufactured housing, lathing and plastering, and water well-drilling. Most exam preparation classes dedicate time to teaching aspects of the law, standards and codes of a community, finer points of the trade, and specific construction contracting training.
Although most people are aware that architects, engineers and the like require advanced degrees, many other construction careers, especially specialized trade positions, require advanced study and a minimum of an associate degree, but in many cases a bachelor's degree. Professional, administrative positions usually require construction plan training. Although construction training programs are not as wide spread as some arts, science and humanities programs, universities and colleges throughout the United States do offer programs in construction planning and management. Four-year degree programs generally have detailed study in many facets of construction plan training that includes graphics communications, energy controls, surveying, estimating, and a long list of other courses in conjunction with field work. Many university programs also offer more advanced degrees in construction planning that includes master's degree programs.
Regardless of the specialty or industry one chooses, one can almost guarantee that construction training is an ongoing process. As industry standards, local codes, and state laws change, the tradesperson, no matter their experience or time in the field, will have to be relicensed and recertifiied.
Sources:
State Experience Requirements. 2007. License Instruction Schools. 2 Feb 2007 <http://www.contractorschool.com/lislist1.htm&g t;.
Classifications Available. 2007. License Instruction Schools. 2 Feb 2007 <http://www.contractorschool.com/lislist2.htm&g t;.
The Exam. 2007. License Instruction Schools. 2 Feb 2007 <http://www.contractorschool.com/lislist3.htm&g t;.
Exam Preparation. 2007. License Instruction Schools. 2 Feb 2007 <http://www.contractorschool.com/lislist4.htm&g t;.
Regional Directory . 2007. Associated Schools of Construction. 2 Feb 2007 <http://www.ascweb.org/>.
CM Course Descriptions. 2007. Colorado State University. 2 Feb 2007 <http://www.cm.cahs.colostate.edu/cm_descriptio n.stm>.
Home. West Coast Training Inc. 2 Feb 2007 <http://www.heavyequipmenttraining.com/>.
