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Q:
What will I learn?
A:
Estimators….
First
we will brush you up on your construction math, but
actually most of this is done by using our construction
calculator. Then things start from the beginning by
introducing you to blueprint reading. By the time you have
completed our BP course you will be very good at both
residential and commercial blueprint reading. From
blueprints we will teach you how to produce detailed take
offs of virtually everything one the job. (We place a very
high emphasis and producing Take Offs. If the Take Off is
wrong, then the Estimate is wrong!) This means that by the
time you have completed our course you will be able to
estimate nearly everything on a construction project, with
the exception of electrical, mechanical and plumbing. We
will then show you how to submit those take offs into a
construction estimating software program known as
Timberline Precision Estimating. (www.timberline.com
for a complete demo.)
Project Managers…
PM’s
will also learn the above referenced material as well as
the Critical Path Method of scheduling, also known as the
CPM. This procedure is essential in understanding the
scheduling process and most also be known if you are to
use scheduling software. The software we provide basic
instruction on is Primavera’s SureTrak Project Manager.
Superintendents….
This
course also includes most of the estimating curriculum,
but also includes curriculum on how to deal with sub
contractors and follow PM produced schedules.
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Q:
Will this training provide me with the skills I need
to move up into my company?
A: Yes. This curriculum is designed to give a graduate the
Entry Level skills necessary so that an employer can train
them on how they want it done.
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Q:
Will my employer possibly reimburse my tuition?
A: Many employers will reimburse, or fully fund an
employee to enroll and successfully complete our training.
Give us a call regarding your particular situation as we
have several ways that you can present this to your
employer including template letters for presentation.
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Q: Will this help me to become a
Contractor?
A: Yes. In many states it is very easy to obtain a
contractors license, but being able be successful in the
bidding and scheduling process is not quite as easy.
Therefore our material will give a new contractor the
skills needed to begin producing detailed Take Off’s
(material lists) and computer skills so that they can be
competitive contractors.
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Q: Will this help me brush up my skills?
A: It all depends on your present skill level. If you are
a contractor that is self taught and has never really
learned how do produce detailed Take Offs and use
estimating and scheduling software, then this is the
course for you. If you have been an estimator for many
years, can produce these Take Offs, use the computer and
perhaps already have college background in construction
management, then this is probably a bit redundant to you.
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Q:
Can
I use my VA benefits for tuition?
A: Yes. This is a wonderful career for Veterans and
employers will usually seek out Veterans because they
realize the efficiency and dependability that comes with
an Honorably Discharged Veteran. In addition, this career
is high paying and in high demand. Presently our school in
the San Francisco Bay Area city of Castro Valley is Title
38 approved to accept VA education benefits in the
following categories. VA Chapter 31 Vocational
Rehabilitation is available for both Distance Education
and On Campus programs. VA Chapter 30 Vocational Education
is available for On Campus training. Please visit or VA
website are
www.veterantraining.com
for further contact information.
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Q:
Do
I need experience in the construction industry?
A: No, there is no question that some kind of construction
experience will be beneficial in both completing the
curriculum and securing employment, but many of my
students and successful, working, graduates, have No Experience
in the industry at all. In other words “You don’t need to
know how to build it, to know how much it costs to build
it,” but it sure helps. It is especially helpful to have
experience if enrolled in our distance Education course,
but once again not a requirement.
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Q:
Do
I need computer experience to take this course?
A: No. It is
not required to have computer background to take this
course, but it is helpful and we recommend starting with
Video Professor Training courses. You can research this at
www.videoprofessor.com.
We first recommend learning your own operating system,
then MSWord and Excel are common software programs used in
this industry.
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Q:
Can
I use this to train an employee?
A: This is perfect material
to offer a good employee that you may be thinking about
moving up in your company. Many employers pay the total
tuition for an employee so long as that employee maintains
a pre-approved GPA and does not fall behind in the
curriculum.
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Q:
How
does this curriculum compare to a college or university
Construction Management Course?
A: This curriculum was
developed by people from the construction industry and we
do not teach “Theory”. Everything we do is “Hands On” and
taught by people from the construction industry. In
addition many contractors have stated that they felt the
graduates of our program are “over qualified” as entry
level personnel. It does not keep our graduates from
securing employment, but they are so pleased with their
new staff, they often return many more times over the
years to hire more graduates as their company grows.
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Q:
Will TCMI help me find a job?
A: As California approved
Private Postsecondary School, we are required to maintain
a moderate rate of successful placements just to continue
offering our program. We have a vested interest in making
certain that our graduates are as successful as possible.
Most colleges do not need to produce such placement
statistics. Therefore, included free with your paid
tuition is a very professionally produced resume designed
specifically for the construction industry employers. We
will also provide you with job seeking skills and what to
say to potential employers.
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Q:
What other types of careers are available to TCMI graduates?
A: Many
job titles are available to our graduates once they have
completed our course of instruction. The courses have
specific Job Titles, but in reality our graduates have
secured entry level jobs as Quantity Surveyors,
Construction Administrators, Schedulers, Construction
Managers, Engineers and many more.
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Q:
How is the Distance Education course taught?
A: Distance Education (DE) is taught via DVD and text. The on
campus Estimator & Project Manager course is a full time,
16 week program. We know how much curriculum an average
student can complete in a week, so we have designed the DE
course to be 16 lessons. This allows a student to complete
the material at their own pace. Some students can work
non-stop and complete 2 or 3 lessons a week while others
work on the material in their spare time and may take 2
weeks just to do 1 lesson. The DVD walks you through the
entire course and any time you get stuck, just pick up a
phone and give us a call during normal school hours. You
will be given approximately 6 lessons to begin the course,
so you should never have any down time between lessons.
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Q:
How
is On Campus taught?
A: Our schools are designed to be
like a construction office and students work at their own
pace and instructors are always available to the students
while in class. This method allows a student to feel
virtually no stress regarding the progress, or lack of,
other students. If a student does well in one subject,
then they can excel onto the next subject and not wait for
someone to catch up to them. On the other hand, perhaps a
student may wish to spend a bit more time on a subject, or
just do it again for peace of mind, this is easily done
and no other student is being held back because of this.
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Q:
How
is Distance Education instruction delivered?
A: Our Distance
Education course is an exact duplicate of the On Campus
Construction Estimator / Project Manager course, but is
instruction is conveniently delivered via DVD and text.
Instead of a 16 week program, we call it 16 lessons. We
know hoe much material an average student can complete in
one week, so we now call the week a lesson. This means
that a student may take 2 weeks to complete 1 lesson as
they work on their own time, although this format has the
benefit of being completed ahead of schedule because some
students work on the material 7 days a week. Upon
approval, you will be shipped your first kit which
contains approximately 6 lessons including course tools.
Also included are postage paid envelopes so that you can
mail each lesson back to the school for grading. When you
send us your material for grading, you will already have
what you need to proceed to the next lesson. We will then
send your corrected material back to you.
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Q:
How
much does it cost?
A: Our On Campus programs can be
customized for specific training, although our listed
complete course tuition ranges from $4,500.00 to
$7,612.00. These programs are compared to two years of
college education, although the tuition is much less than
the total cost of attending college and occasionally we
offer discounts and specials, so please call our main
Castro Valley campus for specific quotes and any immediate
offerings.
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Q:
What if I can’t finish the course, is there a refund provision?
A: TCMI staff will always do their best to keep a student
motivated and on track, although occasionally an enrollee
must withdrawal from the program and requests a refund. If
this happens, TCMI will refund tuition based upon the
remaining amount of unused curriculum and on the return of
books and tools that are in reusable condition. The exact
formula is included on the Enrollment Agreement.
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Q:
What are the financing options?
A: 1.
Discounts are occasionally offered for payment of full
tuition and tuition can be paid with a VISA or MasterCard.
2.
You can make several payments throughout your training,
contact the school for information.
3.
Financing is available by applying for a Sallie Mae
educational loan and you can do this by clicking on their
icon on the front page of this website.
4.
Veterans can apply for funding through their local VA
office, but please note that only Chapter 31 VA Vocational
Rehabilitation will fund our Distance Education and On
Campus training so long as you have a service related
injury with a disability of 10% or more and you did not
receive a dishonorable discharge. Chapter 30 VA Vocational
Education will only fund you to attend our On Campus,
Castro Valley, Ca school. More information can be obtained
by visiting our VA website at
www.veterantraining.com.
5.
Many states offer vocational rehabilitation funding if you
were injured and can no longer return to your normal job
and this must be researched through your own states
programs. I recommend contacting your local State
Rehabilitation office.
6.
We are on the Eligible Training Providers List (ETPL) in
California, which means that if you are a displaced worker
you may receive funding through the Workforce Investment
Act (WIA). Contact your local EDD office, or One Stop
Center, for more information.
7.
Injured workers can often receive funding through their
employers Workers Compensation Vocational Rehabilitation
program.
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Q:
How
long will it take to complete the training?
A:
Our on campus programs vary in length
from 12 weeks to 16 weeks, but this can be negotiated
depending on your needs. Our distance Education program
can be completed in 16 weeks or less, but often can take
as long as 1 year, although we encourage a program length
of no longer the 6 months.
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Q:
I’m
an injured worker; can this help me into a new career?
A: This is a great opportunity to start a new career in a
industry that is growing, stable and providing high
salaries. Construction Management has been thriving for
many years and due to the national tragedies caused by
recent storms, the industry is in even a higher demand for
people with ANY skills in the construction industry.
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Q:
Is this a
good career for a High School Graduate?
A: Even though
most contractors consider maturity as an asset to be a
Construction Manager, the need for people with these
skills is in such high demand that employers are
interviewing anyone with entry level skills. We do have
some very good success stories from our younger graduates,
especially if the graduate is going to work for someone
they know who owns or represents a construction company,
like a parent, friend or relative. In other words “Yes”, a
determined and tenacious High School Graduate can be
successful in this career.
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