Construction management, as we mentioned in a previous blog, is an essential part of any construction management. Without it, a project’s order and success cannot be ensured. And we’ve even mentioned several problems that might be encountered when there’s no construction manager on site.
This is why a lot of civil engineers go into supplemental training or courses just to learn proper construction management. They know that they will be indispensable in the industry when they show excellent construction management skills. Sure, there is a wide selection of construction management software in the market like Pro Crew Schedule, but even these tools need a smart manager to control it and analyze the data.
So today, we are going to recommend the top 5 construction management online courses.
The PM PrepCast by OSP International
The PM PrepCast is a course led by Cornelius Fichtner, PMP. It’s made up of 140 video lessons covering the entirety of the PMP syllabus plus a few more extras. With the aim of getting you quickly up to speed, the course has an impressive record of success stories. It’s a low-cost option when you compare its price to similar classroom-based courses.
The other benefit of this course is that it counts towards your 35 hours PMP study requirement. If you have no prior formal project management training but do intend to take the PMP exam, you’ll be able to use this course to verify your education on the topic.
This course is perfect for people who want an online option but who prefer to study on a mobile or tablet device.
BrainSensei: Online PMP Certification Exam Prep by BrainSensei
This highly engaging online project management course is designed to take you through the topics you need to know for the PMI PMP Exam. It’s a self-paced, comprehensive course that includes six modules with multiple self-assessments.
There are over 900 practice exam questions so you can test yourself to be well-prepared for the test. The complete exam prep course also offers a 100% exam pass guarantee, indicating how confident the company is that its material can get you through the test successfully.
However, even if you have no interest in taking the qualification, this program is still worth checking out. Told through animated stories set in feudal Japan, it’s an affordable and enjoyable option.
Take this online course if you are someone who finds most traditional online courses dull and learns well through the power of stories.
Project Management: The Basics for Success by University of California, Irvine
Lead Rob Stone, PMP, M.Ed leads this course and is offered through the Coursera platform. It has great reviews from past students. Unlike some of the other courses on this list, this one is instructor-led, so you’ll have to wait for the next course to be available to take it. While this one isn’t a “sign up and go” course, the benefit is that you get an experienced lecturer guiding you through the materials.
This course is free so it’s perfect for those who are on a budget. But note, you can’t access the graded material or receive a final grade or certificate without purchasing the course.
Master of Project Academy: Project Management Bundle by Master of Project Academy
Master of Project Academy is a relatively new training firm offering project management training online, along with other topics. The ‘all courses’ project management bundle gives you access to six courses covering PMP, Microsoft Project, and Agile Scrum. If you don’t need all these topics, you can buy the courses separately.
What’s interesting about their payment model is that you have two options:
- monthly subscription
- lifetime one-off payment
If you choose the monthly subscription and then work your way through the course material quickly, you could save a lot of money against the lifetime access deal. However, consider how realistic it is for you to complete all the training in a timely manner along with all your other obligations, such as your day job. If you don’t have a lot of time to work through the program quickly, the one-time lifetime payment might be a better option.
If you need a broad base of knowledge and flexibility, then this course is perfect for you.
Simplilearn: Project Management Expert by Simplilearn
Simplilearn offers a range of courses for project management training online. Most are aimed at people seeking certification, but they also have an Introductory course. Their Project Management Expert bundle includes six courses covering PMI certifications and a software course.
Some of their courses are instructor-led online classes, others you can get immediate access to as self-paced learning, allowing you to choose the option that is best for you. Just note that instructor-led programming may not be available right when you’re ready to start.
It’s perfect for those who learn best in a group where the instructor-led classes will help you structure your learning and benefit from a classroom format.
Final Words
There are actually a lot of online courses you can find to learn construction management without the costly and time-consuming university courses. In fact, Pro Crew Schedule also came up with its own learning material. Our “Crew Management 101” ebook compiles important lessons from our founder’s own experience in construction. The points are simple and should be easy for newbies to understand. The ebook discusses the common causes of poor crew management and tackles ways to improve them so one can meet success in handling crew members. Check it out today and learn the basics of leading a crew in the construction site.
