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Overview

In today’s competitive construction industry, accurate cost estimation is crucial for effective project management and competitive bidding. Commercial and residential construction companies require skilled estimators who can provide precise forecasts to secure profitable contracts and ensure project success.

Taught by industry-experienced instructors, this program features interactive, modular learning content with assessments, tools and resources that can be immediately applied to real-world projects.

For courses ESTM-005 to ESTM-008, you'll use Bluebeam to complete coursework and assessments. For courses ESTM-004 to ESTM-008, you'll have the option to participate in weekly one-hour virtual drop-in sessions with your instructor and peers to enrich your learning experience.

This program is ideal if you:

  • are an early-to-mid-level professional in the construction industry, particularly if you're involved in project management, quantity surveying or cost estimation
  • want to work in construction estimating roles that require a deep understanding of both traditional and digital estimating processes.

By the end of the program, you'll be well-prepared to produce accurate estimates and distinguish yourself as a skilled construction estimator in Canada’s thriving construction industry.

In this comprehensive program, you'll learn how to:

  • understand the basics of construction bids, project delivery systems and cost-estimating principles
  • perform site investigations, measure quantities and create accurate estimates and material lists
  • prepare bid document and manage the document lifecycle, including scheduling interpretation
  • use the latest construction software, Bluebeam, to create digital estimates and documents
  • identify different contract types
  • conduct post-bid reviews to ensure estimates meet project specifications
  • accurately price materials, labour and equipment while considering seasonal and environmental factors
  • use cost reporting systems to track project progress against budgets and manage changes.

Program outline

To successfully complete this certificate, you are required to complete six mandatory courses. 

You must complete CNST-003 first and complete the remaining courses in the order listed.

Required courses & electives

How to apply for this certificate

Once you have registered for any course offered in this certificate, you will be automatically eligible to complete the certificate. You will have up to three years to complete this program. You may track your progression by signing in to your Continuing Education student account.

Certifications and professional designations

Upon successful completion of all the required courses in this certificate program, you’ll receive an electronically issued SAIT Certificate of Achievement and transcript.

You’ll be able to self-print a proof of completion document from your Continuing Education student account. Please note parchments are not issued for individual courses.

Costs

This program consists of six mandatory courses with varying fees. Fees include access to all course-related materials and resources found in Brightspace (D2L).

Please review the individual course pages for this certificate to determine costs and to learn more about additional learning materials including textbooks.

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Financial support

Financial opportunities are available to help pay for your course fees. Learn more about how to reduce your education or training costs with available awards, bursaries, loans and grants including the Canada Alberta Job Grant. 

Learn more

Careers and opportunities

Skills learned in this program can be applied to a variety of supervisory and management careers. Expect to start at the entry-level and as you gain experience and with additional education, your career opportunities will expand.

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SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.

We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.

Visit Natoysopoyiis Resource Centre