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Overview

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into the practical application of commercial construction estimating.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of estimating and budgeting for commercial construction projects, with a strong focus on real-world applications through case studies. You'll explore the entire budget development process, from creating pre-bid estimates to conducting post-bid analyses and learn the benefits of using elemental formats for budgeting.

We also cover critical elements at construction sites, the roles of various business units and the key factors affecting construction project costs, including the impacts of seasons and environments.

You'll gain the skills to accurately estimate excavation, concrete, carpentry and masonry quantities based on measurement rules and presentation standards. You'll also learn to price the work measured in takeoffs for these materials, as well as construction equipment and general expenses.

You’ll have access to fresh, interactive online content with tools and resources that can be immediately applied to real-world projects and gain hands-on experience using Bluebeam construction software while completing coursework and assessments.

Additionally, you can join weekly one-hour online drop-in sessions with your instructor and peers to further enrich your learning experience. By the end of this hands-on course, you’ll have the necessary skills to perform commercial construction estimation.

This course is ideal if you:

  • are an early or mid-level construction professional seeking to strengthen your estimating and bidding skills
  • are preparing for a role in project management, cost estimation or planning/scheduling
  • are interested in learning how to use Bluebeam construction software to create estimates and digital documents.

This course is required for our Construction Estimating and Bid Preparation Certificate of Achievement and prepares you for the final course in the program, ESTM 008 - Construction Estimating Cost Management and Bid Preparation.

Upon successful completion of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • outline the steps in the estimating process for commercial construction
  • develop a preliminary project budget using an elemental breakdown
  • summarize the budget development process from the creation of pre-bid estimates to post-bid analysis to establish costs associated with seasonal and environmental factors
  • takeoff quantities of excavation, concrete, carpentry and masonry according to the rules of measurement and the requirements of presentation
  • price the work measured in takeoffs of excavation, concrete, carpentry and masonry
  • price construction equipment and general expenses.
You’ll demonstrate your skills and knowledge through six graded assignments and a number of online discussion board posts. All coursework must be completed as outlined in the course schedule and no later than the course end date.

Upcoming dates

Select an available section and add it to your cart. When you're ready, proceed to check out to sign into your student account and complete your registration.

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Registration for this course closes two days prior to the start date.

After you've completed this course

Upon successful completion of this non-credit course, you can self-print your unofficial completion document from your Continuing Education student account.

Costs

Textbook and reading list

You are required to purchase reading materials for this course. Visit SAIT’s Bookstore's website to purchase the following.

  • David J. Pratt, Fundamentals of Construction Estimating, 4th Edition, 2019, Delmar, NY: Cengage

Technology

To be successful in this course, you’ll need:

A functional webcam and microphone are recommended to allow for a more collaborative learning experience.

Access to Bluebeam construction software will be provided.

Aldred building

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

Applicable certificates

This course applies to the following certificate programs:

Certificate Certificate of Achievement

Train your team

Interested in group training opportunities for this course? Tell us about your organization's needs, and one of our training consultants will contact you within one business day.

Contact us

Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.

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